Avid Announces Avid Express Pro with Mojo

by News Editor
Published on Apr 7, 2003 12:00 AM



Avid Technology, Inc. has announced Avid Xpress Pro with Avid Mojo. This is a powerful combination of new nonlinear editing software and portable Avid Digital Nonlinear Accelerator hardware or Avid DNA,(announced in a separate release). Together with Avid Xpress Pro software, Avid Mojo instantly increases the media processing power found in today's leading personal computers to deliver true real-time video, film, and audio editing functionality, including DV and analog output, for both the Windows XP and Macintosh OS X platforms. With this both Mac and PC editing professionals get real time output power.

Steve Chazin, senior manager of product marketing for Avid Technology said, “Avid Xpress Pro with Avid Mojo is the first true real-time DV-out solution available for laptop computers.”

The system also includes support for 24p digital video projects, automatic expert color correction. But the thing many people will be psyched about is the revolutionary ability to send uncompressed video over a standard FireWire cable.

Chazin goes on to say. ''This solution packs a tremendous amount of real-time performance into an incredibly small and light package.''

Other Key Features included but not limited to are Avid Xpress Pro software which offers 24 video and 24 audio tracks (unlimited through nesting), 2D and 3D OpenGL technology-based effects, and enhanced titling, JKL edit.

As with Final Cut Pro 4 and other new NLE upgrades, customers are able to customize keyboards, toolsets and almost every parameter of the interface. Avid also includes IllusionFX, the FilmMaker's Toolkit, as well as many other professional software packages all in one bundle. Avid Xpress DV is a favorite among users of the original Avid system but still plays second fiddle to Apple’s Final Cut Pro. Not to mention the legion of Premier and Vegas Video fans out there on the PC side. But with this upgrade clearly Avid lets it be known it’s a contender for first place in the never-ending battle of the NLEs. DNA could be the key to winning back older Avid fans and may make some new ones.

Avid Xpress Pro software is expected to be available through Avid's worldwide reseller channel in the second quarter of 2003. Avid Mojo is expected to be available in the third. Pricing for the Avid Xpress Pro software is $1,695 USMSRP, with (now here’s a smart idea) Windows XP and Macintosh OS X versions included in one box.

Pricing for Avid Mojo, which is sold separately, is $1,695 USMSRP. More information about Avid Xpress Pro software and Avid Mojo can be found at www.avid.com.