Avid Free DV

Last updated

Avid Free DV
Developer(s) Avid Technology
Final release
1.8 (Mac OS X), 1.6 (Windows)
Operating system Windows, Mac OS X
Type Video editing software
License Proprietary
Website avid.com/us/resources/freedv

Avid Free DV is a non-linear editing video editing software application developed by Avid Technology. Avid introduced Free DV in January 2003 at the 2003 MacWorld Expo; [1] the company discontinued it in September 2007. [2]

Contents

Free DV was intended to give editors a sample of the Avid interface to use in deciding whether or not to purchase Avid software, so when compared with other Avid products its features were relatively minimal. [3] : 37  When it was available it was not limited by time or watermarking, so it could be used as a non-linear editor for as long as desired. [4] : 49–50 

Comparisons

When compared with other consumer-end non-linear editors such as iMovie and Windows Movie Maker, it sported more powerful video processing tools, but lacked the ease-of-use and shallow learning curve emphasized in similar programs because it had the full interface of the professional Avid system. However, Avid did offer a number of flash-based tutorials to help new users learn how to use the program for capturing, editing, clipping, processing, and outputting audio/video, among other things. [5]

Limitations

The limitations of Avid Free DV included that it allowed only two video and audio tracks, had fewer editing tools than other Avid products, had few import and export formats, and allowed capture and output of standard-definition DV only, via FireWire. Avid Free DV projects and media were not compatible with other Avid systems. [6] [3] : 30 

As the name implied, Avid Free DV was available as a free download, although users were required to complete a short survey on the Avid website before they were given a download link and key.

In addition to using Free DV to evaluate Avid prior to purchase, it could also act as a stepping stone for people wishing to learn to use Avid's other editing products, such as Xpress Pro, Media Composer and Symphony. While additional skills and techniques are necessary to use these professionally geared systems, the basic operation remains the same. [3] : 37 

Operating systems

Avid Free DV was available for Windows XP and Mac OS X. [3] : 37  The officially supported Mac OS X versions were Panther versions up to 10.3.5, and Tiger versions up to 10.4.3 only. [7]

Supported formats

Avid Free DV supported QuickTime (MOV) and DV AVIs. [3] : 208 

Reception

John P. Mello Jr. of The Boston Globe gave Free DV a negative review, finding the user interface obfuscatory and the process of ingesting video error-prone. He summarized: "Professional video editors who use an Avid competitor may jump at the chance to take a free look at how Avid does things. But for the merely curious, this software is a nightmare". [8] Video Systems's Steve Mullen opined that its lack of interoperability with Avid's professional editing software contracted Avid's stated goal to entice budding video editors into buying into the company's software ecosystem. [6]

References

  1. ↑ Crabtree, Sheigh (January 8, 2003). "New ammo in Apple–Avid price war". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 80 – via ProQuest.
  2. ↑ Avid Technology (August 26, 2007). "Avid Free DV". Archived from the original on August 26, 2007. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Fowler, Jaime (2007). Avid Made Easy: Video Editing with Avid Free DV and the Avid Xpress Family. Wiley. p. 37. ISBN   9780471794332 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Nathans, Stephen F. (December 2004). "Pre-Pro NLEs". eMedia. Vol. 17, no. 12. Information Today. p. 46–54 – via ProQuest.
  5. ↑ Avid Technology. "Avid Free DV Training". Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  6. 1 2 Mullen, Steve (April 2004). "Avid Xpress DV and Free DV". Video Systems. Vol. 30, no. 4. pp. 52–55 – via ProQuest.
  7. ↑ Avid Technology Inc (n.d.). "Avid Free DV System Requirements". Archived from the original on February 21, 2007. Retrieved May 14, 2008.
  8. ↑ Mello, John P., Jr. (October 11, 2003). "Free DV: Don't try this at home". The Boston Globe. p. D2 – via Newspapers.com.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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