Avid Releases Avid Free DV

[MacRumors]

Avid has released Avid Free DV (http://www.avid.com/freedv/index.asp) on their website. The free video editing application was announced in January (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2003/01/20030109181759.shtml) and provides a free Digital Video editing solution for Windows XP and Mac OS X:

Perfect for students, DV camera owners, video enthusiasts or anyone exploring video editing - Avid Free DV software is an easy, free way to join the Avid family and test-drive the industry-standard editing interface used by more professionals than any other video editing solution.

Avid Free DV is feature-streamlined, standalone software which includes basic video and audio editing capabilities, up to two streams of real-time effects and support for both Windows XP and Macintosh OS X platforms.

A feature comparison of Avid's video products is provided here (http://www.avid.com/freedv/welcome.asp). Of note, the product does support two video video tracks, which has been a frequently requested feature for Apple's free iMovie application.

[jouster]

I guess you can't complain about any free software........

[kb9000]

cool, it could be a nice alternative to iMovie...

[Powerbook G5]

Cool, I always love free options :) Now I just need a free video camera...

[blueflame]

sounds like they want back in o the video editing market, apple beware
Andreas

[From Win to Mac]

it's good, they're still making Mac software, unlike the Adobe Premiere team... ;)

Keep 'em coming.

[BrianKloc]

A few people, me included, have had problems booting after installing Avid Free DV. It looks like this is happening in 10.2.8. To fix the problem, you have to boot from another disc, and then delete all the .ktext files that were installed. This caused for a very frustrating evening. If you are interested in the program, wait a week or so to see if theres an update.

[G3nius]

The only bad news here is that, if the software is really good, consumer-level video editing just got that much easier on Windows. Apple loses their significant edge in that arena.

[dho]

choice=good

I am getting tired of i-Movie

FCP -e still costs money

FCP is way to much for me

:) :D :cool:

edit:

G3nius, you have got a very good point unfortunately.:( :rolleyes: :mad: :eek:

[Ramsos]

I think this is great for those who can't afford a higher end system. Imagine being able to say you have an avid system and it was free. The avid brand name is well respected with most video professionals. FCP is getting more and more respect but it still does not get that avid respect. BTW I'm an FCP user and I won't put this on my system but I know plenty of folks that will.

[VicMacs]

couldnt hurt to see what its like.... downloading!

[Sol]

Better late than never. I applaud Avid for showing support for OS X, even when Apple is putting on the pressure with their own video editing solutions.

Avid's software is miles away from iMovie and just because both are free does not mean that they are competing in any way. iMovie is a no-brainer application while Avid Free DV offers extensive complexity.

In the reviews of Avid DV that I have read it was often noted that many real-time effects and renders were faster than the Final Cut Pro equivalents. If this is indeed the case then it would be Avid that is putting the pressure on Apple.

[pepeleuepe]

Originally posted by BrianKloc
A few people, me included, have had problems booting after installing Avid Free DV. It looks like this is happening in 10.2.8. To fix the problem, you have to boot from another disc, and then delete all the .ktext files that were installed. This caused for a very frustrating evening. If you are interested in the program, wait a week or so to see if theres an update.

I'm interested in installing this but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced the same problems as described above. I don't really want to deal with that if it happens when I install the software.

Also, has anyone successfully installed the software on OS 10.2.8?

[MacAficionado]

If you look at the features and limtations, it is really lacking in basic areas of non-linear editing. I thought it would be more like the complete versions, that way you get to learn or have a better feeling for it in order to get an edting job as an Avid editor. That and the booting problems have led me to erase this and stick with FCP.
I wanted to try it out, but it disappointed.

Limitations (http://www.avid.com/freedv/features.asp)

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by Sol
Better late than never. I applaud Avid for showing support for OS X, even when Apple is putting on the pressure with their own video editing solutions.

Avid's software is miles away from iMovie and just because both are free does not mean that they are competing in any way. iMovie is a no-brainer application while Avid Free DV offers extensive complexity.

In the reviews of Avid DV that I have read it was often noted that many real-time effects and renders were faster than the Final Cut Pro equivalents. If this is indeed the case then it would be Avid that is putting the pressure on Apple.


Do you any links to those reviews? I'm curious to what people have said.

I wish I had a machine to try it out on. I don't have XP on my PC and I'm not about to install it on my FCP NLE. Maybe I'll sneak it onto a computer at work. :)

Someone mentioned this might give Windows users one less reason to switch but I'm not so sure. Avid software, even this Free DV, is more complex than any other low-end editing software and I bet it has a tigthter hardware tolerence as well. And since Avid is not offering any support for Free DV I think windows users will hit more walls w/FreeDV than Mac users will. Of course the user will probably chalk the problems up to "crappy" Avid software and not realize it's their platform, not their editing software, that is the source of their headaches.


Lethal

[LethalWolfe]

Originally posted by MacAficionado
If you look at the features and limtations, it is really lacking in basic areas of non-linear editing. I thought it would be more like the complete versions, that way you get to learn or have a better feeling for it in order to get an edting job as an Avid editor. That and the booting problems have led me to erase this and stick with FCP.
I wanted to try it out, but it disappointed.

Limitations (http://www.avid.com/freedv/features.asp)

Not to sound like a smart @ss but it's free. How feature rich do you think it should be? It's not for pro use it's for home/hobbiest use.


Lethal

[fpnc]

I've already downloaded and looked at this software (installed it on a clean 10.2.8 test system -- external drive). It's got a very complicated interface, definitely not a standard Mac GUI, looks like something half Windows and half roll-your-own. I couldn't get it to recognize my DV capture device (Formac Studio DV/TV), so I think it may only work with a so-called controllable DV device (i.e. a DV camera with an installed tape). I can understand that, but it's unfortunate that it won't work with DV capture devices (apparently, maybe something in the setup can change this behavior).

There is no manual with the download; however, they have a help system (HTML-based) and it seems to work. Perhaps you can download the manual from AVID's web site (as a PDF, hopefully). They also pop up several AVID ads every time you launch the application, one to take you to their product information on the web, and another that asks you to buy (upgrade) to the full version of AVID DV. These seem to appear each time you launch the program. Again, understandable since they are offering this as "free" software.

After the install you should find an AVID FreeDV uninstaller script on your desktop. I've already run the script, since the program didn't appear to work with my Formac Studio DV/TV. In any case, probably worth a look if you find iMovie too limiting and don't want to purchase Final Cut Express.

[Sol]

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
Do you any links to those reviews? I'm curious to what people have said.

Here is one:
http://www.macworld.com/2002/11/reviews/avid/

I am assuming that this Avid Free DV uses the very same engine as the Avid DV product reviewed.

[Debman]

umm iMovie has MOST of the features of AVID Xpress pro.

why would I want this POS let alone pay for the other two.

[MacAficionado]

Originally posted by LethalWolfe
Not to sound like a smart @ss but it's free. How feature rich do you think it should be? It's not for pro use it's for home/hobbiest use.


Lethal

I understand what you are saying, I'm one not to complain about free stuff, especially food, but if they want people to switch from FCP, those people that have not messed around with Avid before, then it is not worth it. Last time I edited on an Avid Media Composer was back in 1998, I wanted to see how much I remebered and to get reaquainted with the software. I just don't think it will serve that purpose.

[shadowfax]

Originally posted by G3nius
The only bad news here is that, if the software is really good, consumer-level video editing just got that much easier on Windows. Apple loses their significant edge in that arena. the only thing is, this is exactly what we need. competition forces further innovation. apple will have to give us more to retain the edge, so this is good for us.

[LethalWolfe]

fpnc,

IIRC by default Avid assumes deck control. When you open the Digitize menu there should be an icon that looks like a video deck/vcr. If the icon has a circle w/a line thru it then Avid is *not* looking for deck control and you should be able to capture just by pressing the record button. I've never used/scene FreeDV but Avid tends to keep the GUI consistant. Hopefully I'm guessing correctly. :)

MacAficionado,

That was my first reaction too, but then I realized that isn't who Avid is targeting. They are looking for people who want more than a basic consumer app (like iMovie) but are hesitant to drop a few hundred bucks on a better program. They are hopping that a young filmmakers/editors will kick around FreeDV, find out they like it and hope they will be more willing to drop a grand on a "familiar face" Avid XDV and not a "stranger" Premiere Pro, FCP, Vegas Video, etc.,. FreeDV is not aimed at snagging switchers but at snagging virgin users. Getting people to swtich NLE's is a royal PITA so the earlier you get someone using your software the better.

Debman,

iMovie is perrfect if you do basic editing every now and then. But iMovie is very easy to out grow and anyone who uses it on semi-regular basis will quickly hit it's limititations. Especially if you've ever used anything higher up the editing software food chain (FCE, Vegas, Premiere, FreeDV, etc.,) you quickly realize how confining iMovie is and how poor the interface is. iMovie is a great, simple product for the casual user (its target audience), but you sacrifice a lot to make the learning curve that shallow.


Lethal

[freddiecable]

agree totaly!

Originally posted by shadowfax
the only thing is, this is exactly what we need. competition forces further innovation. apple will have to give us more to retain the edge, so this is good for us.

[davegoody]

Hmmmm - looks interesting - may well plug the gap between (another) free product (i.e. iMovie) and FCE / FCP / PREMIERE etc. I cannot understand why people are bitching about this when it is FREE - FREE means you do not have to pay anything for it, if it works for you then fine, if not then throw it away !!!

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH - AVID have not produced this software out of "the goodness of their heart" - they are a commercial software company - i.e. they make money from SELLING their wares. This is a way for increasing brand awareness, purposely leaving out more useful features that are only available on their higher end (i.e. expensive) products.

My argument is basically, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT DON'T USE IT - AND STOP MOANING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hvfsl]

It is free, so that is good, but I do have to say that I think iMovie is better, it has more features and is easy to use. The Avid software does not even have a lot of features my $50 Ulead Video Studio on the PC has, so it looks like I will be sticking to iMovie.

[BevvyB]

This is a good thing

It will make apple take a good look at iMovie and make it even better!

[QuiteSure]

This "free" app requires a 667 G4 to run! Even FCP 4 only needs a 350 G4. So you can forget using this app on any iBook or G3 imac.

Makes iMovie look better and better ...

[MacIke]

I am using iMovie for basic editing. I just bought a new AlBook and bought FCE for the $99 mark.

Now I am having some real fun editing. I am not to sure that Avid will have a real impact on the mac side of things.

If I was using Windows.... that would be another issue.

I was also thinking that Macs lead the use on creative people something like 80% to 20%, whereas in the rest of business we only have a 5% tops. I wonder is it becasue the creative people have to do actual work. Whereas the rest of people do not?

[CmdrLaForge]

Originally posted by davegoody
Hmmmm - looks interesting - may well plug the gap between (another) free product (i.e. iMovie) and FCE / FCP / PREMIERE etc. I cannot understand why people are bitching about this when it is FREE - FREE means you do not have to pay anything for it, if it works for you then fine, if not then throw it away !!!

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH - AVID have not produced this software out of "the goodness of their heart" - they are a commercial software company - i.e. they make money from SELLING their wares. This is a way for increasing brand awareness, purposely leaving out more useful features that are only available on their higher end (i.e. expensive) products.

My argument is basically, IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT DON'T USE IT - AND STOP MOANING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Yes - I absolutly agree. I cannot understand why people are voting negative for this news. I mean - you get a free program. Like it - GOOD. Don't like it - delete it ! So why ever could be this free piece of software be voted as negative.

And they made a OS X version as well !

[zaphoyd]

Originally posted by QuiteSure
This "free" app requires a 667 G4 to run! Even FCP 4 only needs a 350 G4. So you can forget using this app on any iBook or G3 imac.

Makes iMovie look better and better ...

Well iMovie's requirements are a 700Mhz G3/G4

however i have found that it is molasses slow until you get a dual 2324038402THz g31.8 so i would say avid wins the performance mark.

[MongoTheGeek]

I have some apple scripts that does crossfades with quicktime player(free version). It also does some other... interesting things.

I am contemplating making a shareware ASS app. Is there any interest? Any suggestions of features and price points and desired ETA?

[JW Pepper]

Is everyone having problems post install of this application or are some users unaffected?

[cc bcc]

Originally posted by MongoTheGeek
I have some apple scripts that does crossfades with quicktime player(free version). It also does some other... interesting things.

I am contemplating making a shareware ASS app. Is there any interest? Any suggestions of features and price points and desired ETA?
I understand that a lot of development will be involved, but shareware will not win over freeware unless it has significant benifits over iMovie and Avid Free DV.

[MongoTheGeek]

Originally posted by cc bcc
I understand that a lot of development will be involved, but shareware will not win over freeware unless it has significant benifits over iMovie and Avid Free DV.

Thats what I was looking for I guess. What would I need to add to make it worth while.

Are doing fades worth a dollar? Would adding a picture in picture be worth 2? Would watermarking be worth another dollar. Could I bring the total up to 5 with text scrolls?

What would it take to get it up to the $15 dollars that people would consider actually paying? :)

[hamishb]

Originally posted by JW Pepper
Is everyone having problems post install of this application or are some users unaffected?

Yup, my system refused to boot afterwards. I have another drive with OS X installed and I reapplied the (Combo) Mac OS X 10.2.8 updater which fixed it no problems. Not a happy day!

PS received Final Cut Express for free from Apple by sending in my Premiere CDs. thanks Apple!

[Balin64]

Hey There:

Well, my system is just fine after installing. The interface is rather confusing at first: definitely nothing like iMovie or FCE, which I use constantly. After setting some preferences, I noticed a bit of a slow down after I started capturing some clips. I am using on a 1.25 Ghz iMac with 768 RAM and external 80 GB. I think I will hold on to AVID, and try to learn its quirks but continue to use FCE primarily. It also works well on my 12" Powerbook, and I KNOW my PC friends will be jealous when they see my 'Book can run three different Movie editors. All in all, I think AVID Free is a good product for the price. One thing that was weird is that by default it created the media folder in my Home shared folder. I quickly changed that to my external FW drive and it remembered taht setting. Here's a screenie::)

[punter]

thanks for the screen shot.

I'm about to lend my imac17" to my boss (who is a pc boy, not by choice, but just because he doesn't know any better). He wants to edit DV movies for the first time, so I think I'll instal avid free, imovie and fc express and just let him use which ever one he likes the most.

I have no doubt it won't be avid free ;)

[uae]

"And they released an OSX version as well"

Avid has always been multiplatform - they started on Mac and have always been on Mac.

[mainemike]

Originally posted by pepeleuepe
I'm interested in installing this but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced the same problems as described above. I don't really want to deal with that if it happens when I install the software.

Also, has anyone successfully installed the software on OS 10.2.8?

I too, have had problems after installing Avid Free DVD (using latest 10.2.8 update). When I tried to restart I got what appears to be a partial kernel panic, sometimes I'd get the "prohibitory" symbol. In any case, the startup process freezes and I can go no further.

So far, no standard troubleshooting procedures have helped in any way. I suppose I need to look at deleting .ktext files as mentioned in an earlier post but am not certain how to go about doing this.

Avid seems to have no forum on their site re: Avid Free DV; maybe I'm missing something but can't find any forum support there.

:eek:

[BandoMac]

When I was sent the activations keys by Avid, Mail.app flagged it as Junk. Hmmm......maybe Apple is worried about consumer app competitition.

[mainemike]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mainemike
[B]I too, have had problems after installing Avid Free DVD (using latest 10.2.8 update). When I tried to restart I got what appears to be a partial kernel panic, sometimes I'd get the "prohibitory" symbol. In any case, the startup process freezes and I can go no further.

Just an update, folks. I started up from another drive (has OS 9.2.2 on it) and did a search for all things Avid on the drive that had the startup problems thanks to the DV Free software.

Deleted all Avid files and restarted in Mac OSX....worked like a charm and I'm back in business.

Thanks for Brian for the tip.
:)

[rDLr]

I have installed it on two Macs without a problem. (PM G4 Dual 1.42 & PB G4 400) Maybe it is picky about permissions, like many other programs are. Run Disk first Aid first before installing.

Both systems have 10.2.8 rev2

[rDLr]

Originally posted by QuiteSure
This "free" app requires a 667 G4 to run! Even FCP 4 only needs a 350 G4. So you can forget using this app on any iBook or G3 imac.

Makes iMovie look better and better ...

I installed it on my PowerBook G4 400 and it seems to be funtioning properly. I have been using Avid XPress DV on it for 7 months now without a problem. I have noticed that Avid Free DV is the same code base as the brand new Avid Xpress Pro. (That's why the higher requirments I guess.)

I was able to digitize and run two layers of video with a color effect and a dissolve in realtime. So I guess they just never tested anything lower than the 667mhz Macs.

As I have been an Avid editor for 9 years I can pick this up instantly and start editing since it is identical to the Avid product line. (from Xpress DV to Symphony...$995-$80,000 respectively)
I can see how it would be hard for a beginer to learn this interface. When I was a newbie, it took me 3 months of editing to feel comfortable. Although, once mastered, the workflow is unbeleivable! It is a very efficient interface. The key is use the keyboard commands and you will fly.

Someone mentioned earlier that this is designed to sell their products...that hits the nail on the head. Anyone serious about editing will soon see the limitations in the free iteration. Not being able to do a simple effect like a PIP would drive me insane.

All in all this is a good product. It is a good step up from iMovie. I wish it would run on a G3 so schools could utilize its power instead of iMovie.

[pjkelnhofer]

Originally posted by BrianKloc
A few people, me included, have had problems booting after installing Avid Free DV. It looks like this is happening in 10.2.8. To fix the problem, you have to boot from another disc, and then delete all the .ktext files that were installed. This caused for a very frustrating evening. If you are interested in the program, wait a week or so to see if theres an update.

Count me as one having a problem. It downloaded and installed fine. Now it just plain won't open.
I am on a 400 MHz G3 iMac using 10.2.8 and I don't really have anything else to boot from.

[pjkelnhofer]

Originally posted by QuiteSure
This "free" app requires a 667 G4 to run! Even FCP 4 only needs a 350 G4. So you can forget using this app on any iBook or G3 imac.

Makes iMovie look better and better ...

Should have read more. I guess I will be staying with iMovie for now.

[bretm]

Originally posted by Ramsos
I think this is great for those who can't afford a higher end system. Imagine being able to say you have an avid system and it was free. The avid brand name is well respected with most video professionals. FCP is getting more and more respect but it still does not get that avid respect. BTW I'm an FCP user and I won't put this on my system but I know plenty of folks that will.

It's on my system. I run an FCP shop. I download everything all the time. But I'm pretty good at keeping my Mac running clean. Don't usually have any problems. The Avid Free runs great.

IF you know Avid and FCP as I do, it's a great resource. IF someone needs to just do a rough cut in DV of some cloned digi-beta tapes, then it's great to have Avid Free if they insist on taking the project to symphony or adrenaline for on-lining.

I still freelance Avid a little, so it's good to have the program around to keep my skills up to date too.

[shangodee]

You guys are all sort of nuts. Half as many negative votes as positive? Do you guys like having limited choices? Do you like no competition? How can this possibly be a bad thing? If it makes video editing easier on Windows then maybe that will push Apple to do things like (as was mentioned before) add a second video channel to iMovie to make it competetive? I mean seriously.

[ReelFocused]

" If you are interested in the program, wait a week or so to see if theres an update. "


Seems they posted a fix last night:

http://www.avid.com/community/forums/Forum41/HTML/000054.html

"As of 5:20 p.m. EST 7 October 2003, a new Macintosh version of Avid Free DV is now available for download.

If you have previously registered and downloaded, please go to the download page, enter the email address you used for registration, and click the Submit button. You will be able to download without re-submitting all your information again.

If you have not previously registered, please complete the registration page to download."

[Sol]

Originally posted by shangodee
You guys are all sort of nuts. Half as many negative votes as positive? Do you guys like having limited choices? Do you like no competition? How can this possibly be a bad thing? If it makes video editing easier on Windows then maybe that will push Apple to do things like (as was mentioned before) add a second video channel to iMovie to make it competetive? I mean seriously.

I agree that anyone who would see the availability of Avid Free DV in a negative light is nuts. If those people can imagine Apple offering a free version of Final Cut Express with similar limitations then maybe they would appreciate Avid's latest product more.

As for Apple responding to this by incorporating more tracks in iMovie, I am not sure that would benefit the program. iMovie is the non-video editor's video editor. Multiple tracks would just make the program more complicated.

I would argue that Apple needs to optimise the Final Cut Pro engine to the point where it can perform real-time effects and renders as well or better than Avid Xpress DV and Free.

[bcsimac]

I just think it is cool that avid even released a free software package. Avid has always been expensive so this is really a switch for them if you ask me.

[Sol]

Originally posted by bcsimac
I just think it is cool that avid even released a free software package. Avid has always been expensive so this is really a switch for them if you ask me.

Not really. DigiDesign which is their audio division offered a ProTools Free for OS 9. I think Avid announced this to retaliate against Apple when Final Cut Express, a direct competitor to Avid Xpress DV, was unveiled.