avide Media Composer Video Editing Software Installation Guide

avide Media Composer Video Editing Software

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Installation Guide for Avid Media Composer  December 2020

Installation Guide for Avid Media Composer

Thank you for purchasing Avid Media Composer. This guide assists you with downloading, installing and starting your application. You will also find information on how to activate your software and how to install any third party software. Additionally, instructions on how to deactivate and uninstall your Avid product can be found in this guide. You can always find the most current information in the online version of the ReadMe, and should check there for the most recent release notes. The online version is updated immediately after new information becomes available. You can find the ReadMe on the Knowledge Page by clicking ReadMe under the Help menu in your application. The ReadMe can also be found on your Account Page.

Downloading Media Composer

You can either buy Media Composer from the Avid web store, or through an Avid reseller.

To buy through the Avid web store:

1. Go to shop.avid.com.
2. Choose the applicable product and subscription model.
3. Add your product to the cart and continue with the onscreen directions.
4. Once your order is complete, you will receive an order confirmation e-mail with links to download the application.

To buy through an Avid reseller:

1. Purchase a Media Composer registration card or code from the reseller.
2. Access the website indicated on the card: www.avid.com/register
3. Enter your Registration Code. This number is on your registration card.
4. Continue with the onscreen prompts to download Media Composer.

Before Installing

It is recommended that you read through the procedures prior to starting your installation in order to familiarize yourself with the process. To begin, please close any unnecessary windows or programs to ensure best performance. You will have to restart your computer in order to complete the installation process.
It is important that you check the ReadMe on the Knowledge Page to make sure your system is properly configured to work with your new software.

New Users
If you are a new Avid customer or have never installed this program before, the following instructions will help guide you through the process.

Returning Users
If you are upgrading from a previous version of Media Composer, you must first uninstall the previous version before you install and activate your new software. You will need your original System ID to activate your upgraded product if you originally activated it using your System ID. After you uninstall your old application, the installation process will be identical to the standard installation.

Installing Media Composer

Log in as an OS user with administrative privileges and launch the installer. After installation and after the required system reboot, you need to run the application as a user with administrative privileges. If you are working in a shared storage environment, mount your workspaces. You can then run Media Composer as a standard user.

(Windows) To install Media Composer:

1. Access the Media Composer download.
   If you move or remove the folder containing the Media Composer installer and then later try to uninstall the application, you will get a message during uninstall asking you to point to the folder containing the installation package. Avid recommends that you leave the installer folder in the default location.

2. Double-click Install Media Composer.exe. A window will open with instructions as well as options for choosing file locations and other custom settings.

3. Follow the on screen instructions.

(Macintosh) To install Media Composer:

1. Access the Media Composer download.

2. Double-click the .dmg file with the editing application name.

3. Double-click “Install Media Composer”.
   A window will open with instructions as well as options for choosing file locations and other custom settings.

4. Follow the on screen instructions to complete the installation.

Starting Media Composer

After installing and opening Media Composer for the first time, you will have to activate and license your new software.

(Windows) To start Media Composer, do one of the following:

• Click Start > All Programs > Avid > Media Composer Double-click the Media Composer desktop icon.
• The Welcome window opens.

(Macintosh) To start Media Composer, do one of the following:

• Click the alias icon for Media Composer on the Dock.
• Select Go > Applications, and double-click the Media Composer folder. Then double-click the Media Composer application.
  The Welcome window opens.

The Welcome window prompts you to activate your software. Until you activate your software, the Welcome window will open each time you launch the application. You activate your software using Avid Link. For details on activating and deactivating your software, see the Avid Link User’s Guide on the Avid Link Documentation page.

Additional Options and Features

In addition to activating Media Composer, there are several editing options or features that can be activated through the Avid Link. You can purchase these additional products by going to the Avid web store and clicking on Software Options for Video Editing.
Below are descriptions for some of the additional options and features available for your product.

Symphony Option
Symphony options allow you to access features such as advanced color correction and Universal Mastering without having to install additional software.

NewsCutter Option
(Windows Only) NewsCutter options allow you to access the Newsroom Computer System (NRCS) tool.

Running the 30-Day Trial

Before you purchase Media Composer or any additional options, you can test each product for a 30-day trial period. Please note that any bins or projects you create during the 30-day trial will only be usable when you activate a full editing license. To purchase the Avid Editing Application during the or after the 30-day trial, simply go to the Avid web store.
After your trial expires, you will no longer be able to use the product or feature. The system will keep you informed of how many days you have left before the trial ends.

To use Media Composer for a 30-day trial period:

1. Start Media Composer.
   The Welcome window opens.

2. Select “I want to run a fully-featured, trial version of Media Composer for 30 days.”

3. Click Continue.
   Your software has been temporarily activated. At any time during or after the 30-day trial period, you can choose to purchase a copy of Media Composer from the Avid web store. If you choose not to purchase the software, Media Composer is deactivated when the 30-day trial expires.

Uninstalling Media Composer

Log in and initially start the application as a user with administrative privileges. If you are working in a shared storage environment, mount your workspaces. You may then subsequently run Media Composer as a regular User.

(Windows) To uninstall Media Composer do one of the following:

1. Quit all active applications.
2. Access the Control Panel and select Programs and Features. Then select Media Composer and click Uninstall.

(Macintosh) To uninstall Media Composer:

1. Quit all active applications.
2. Go to Applications/Avid_Uninstallers/Media Composer.
3. Double-click the Media Composer uninstaller.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts.

References

• Avid Link Documentation
• Buy Music Editing and Notation Software, Video Editing Software - Avid
• Buy Music Editing and Notation Software, Video Editing Software - Avid
• Avid Technology, Inc. Virtual Patent Marking - Avid
• avid.com/register
• Avid Technology, Inc. Virtual Patent Marking - Avid
• Trademarks & Other Notices - Avid Technology
• Support | Avid
• Orientation
• Buy Music Editing and Notation Software, Video Editing Software - Avid

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