Product
Media Composer – Media Composer | Ultimate – Media Composer | Enterprise
What is Media Composer | Enterprise? – See FAQ here
Media Composer | First – Free version (Note! Projects not compatible with full version)
Media Composer | First
Media Composer
Media Composer | Ultimate
Media Composer | Enterprise
Here is a comparison with the differences between the different packages, and the FAQ.
Media Composer | First is the free version of Media Composer
Start with checking the Compatibility Matrix and Download it from here
Documentation for
Media Composer | Software
Link to all Media Composer 2021.x docs
Quick collection of all “What is new” MC 8.0 to MC 2021.12
Quick list of all bug fixes in the Media Composer 2021.x patches
What’s New: MC 2021.3 – MC 2021.6 – MC 2021.12
Here is a doc with all fixes in MC 2021.x
Avid MediaCentral Production
(aka interplay)
If you are installing the interplay components on an editor, please use this guide for what interplay components that you install on the Media Composer Client, see page 2:
R = What you install on the Media Composer Client
S = What Interplay server version this Media Composer client can work with
Another great collection of compatibility guides here for Cloud Remote, Distributed processing, Pro Tools, Media Central Platform (Production management, Cloud UX, Ingest, Capture, Airspeed, Nexis), Interplay production and more.
Is my OS compatible?
Do I have the correct drivers?
MC 2021.12.10 Supports macOS 12.6.1, 12.5.1, 11.6.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.12.9 Supports macOS 12.6.1, 12.5.1, 11.6.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.12.8 Supports macOS 12.6.1, 12.5.1, 11.6.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.12.7 Supports macOS 12.5.1, 11.6.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.12.6 Supports macOS 12.5.1, 11.6.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.12.5 Supports macOS 12.5.1, 11.6.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.12.4 Supports macOS 12.5.1, 11.6.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.12.3 Supports macOS 12.3.1, 11.6.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.12.2 Supports macOS 12.3.1, 11.6.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.12 Supports macOS 12.1.x, 11.5.x, 10.15.7, (10.14.6 you might get a warning), Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.9 Supports macOS 11.x up to 11.5.x, 10.15.7, 10.14.6 – Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.6 Supports macOS 12.0, 12.5.1, 12.6.1, 11.x up to 11.6.x – Win11 21H2, Win10 v2004+
MC 2021.5 Supports macOS 11.2.3**, 10.15.7*, 10.14.6, 10.13.6 – Win10 1909+
MC 2021.3 Supports macOS 11.2.3**, 11.1.0**, 10.15.7*, 10.14.6, 10.13.6 – Win10 1909+
MC 2021.2 Supports macOS 11.1.0**, 10.15.7*, 10.14.6, 10.13.6 – Win 10 1909+
Avid KB here!
This link is really good for checking OS Compatibility
Link to: macOS 11 (Big Sur), OS12 (Monterey) and M1 Support for all Avid Products
* Note, Catalina (and higher) does not support Mojo DX, Nitris DX, Title Tool, Marquee Titler – see FAQ
** Only Intel, not Apple silicon M1. Before upgrading to Big Sur, double check that all audio, video, AMA plugins, and Video I/O drivers is also supported by Big Sur. Currently (Dec-2020) there are no Video I/O drivers for Big Sur, and only some AMA plugins have been qualified.
*** For Macs with Apple M1, see the MC 2021.12 documentation, and the Mac CPU specifications here
Qualified Hardware
Mac/Windows &
Slot Configuration
Link to: Media Composer System Requirements
Avid Qualified (=tested) systems: Qualified Mac And Windows Systems
For improved stability, Install Mac/Windows following the guides here:
BIOS, System Configuration Guidelines and Slot Configurations Link
CPU & RAM requirements for different codecs, formats and workflows
Here’s a link to a guide with information about system requirements depending of what kind of workflows,
codecs, and resolutions you are going to work with.
My personal recommendation:
16GB or more for smaller, simple timelines
32GB-64GB or more for larger timelines
32GB for smaller timelines (Media Composer Media Central/Interplay Client)
64GB or more for larger timelines (Media Composer Media Central/Interplay Client)
Be very careful with setting a high Video Memory Cache, it is the same as pulling out RAM from the computer!
NOTE! On Apple Silicon (pro max) we do recommend a minimum of 4GB
AMA Link Plugins extends support
for various cameras and formats.
Make sure to install updates to your AMA plugins, get the latest ones from here:
www.avid.com/ama
Where can I download updates for my Avid Video Product?
You can for download Media Composer 2021.x from here
From your account page: https://my.avid.com/products
Download Center direct link for updates: https://my.avid.com/esd
Or use Avid Link – Download link at the end of the page – Here’s the install guide
For more info about your Master Account: Click Here
Avid Link
All licensing and activation is now handled by Avid Link
Download Avid Link from here – or here – App store – google play
More details in the install guides and here in the FAQ.
If you have an Activation Card or Activation Key go here to register/login and activate
Note! Mac dongle drivers need manual install
Keep Avid Link up to date, no matter what Media Composer version you are running
Avid Artist I/O Info & FAQ
Avid Artist I/O – Feature Comparison – Open I/O
Get drivers here https://my.avid.com/esd for Avid Artist | DNxIO, DNxIQ, DNxID, DNxIV, DNxIP
Slot configuration guidelines for knowing What slot/port should I use?
Avid | Artist DNxIV, DNxIP
Product Page – DNxIV Doc – DNxIV FAQ – DNxIP Doc – DNxIP FAQ
Get drivers here https://my.avid.com/esd section: Avid Artist | DNxIV / DNxIP
Slot configuration guidelines for DNxIP / DNxIV What slot/port should I use?
Avid | Artist DNxIQ
DNxIQ Support Page – Product Page – Documentation – Feature Comparison
Get drivers here https://my.avid.com/esd section: Avid Artist | DNxIQ
Slot configuration guidelines for DNxIQ What slot/port should I use?
Avid | Artist DNxIO
DNxIO Support Page – Product Page – Documentation – Feature Comparison
Get drivers here https://my.avid.com/esd section: Avid Artist | DNxIO
Slot configuration guidelines for DNxIO What slot/port should I use?
If I’m stuck, where is the
Avid Knowledge Base?
http://www.avid.com/support
Scroll down to search the Knowledge Base – Search for keywords that are unique to an error message, or format, or version. I normally search sorted on date.
Here is a direct link to the KB Search for Media Composer Sorted on date.
What level of support can I get for my Avid product?
Info about the different support levels: Standard / Expert Plus / Elite
Need to call Avid Support? ..and you got Expert Plus, or Elite Support
Contact Avid Broadcast and Video Support
Here’s a guide on how to create a support case.
If it’s not a technical issue, but Web-Store support, or Physical Returns, or Digital Returns.
Then you can use This Link
Use this form if you have problems with your Portal Account or problems accessing support pages.
..and you just need to contact Avid support without the need to login.
Security Guidelines and Best Practices
What antivirus software is qualified? How should it be configured?
Check out: Avid Security Guidelines and Best Practices for Dealing with Virus Threat!
Media Composer and Quicktime
High-Resolution workflow guides
You can find the High-Resolution workflow guide here, and some tips here, and some more here
Avid Community pages
You can find a lot of help and friends through the Avid Community forums:
Avid Editors of Facebook is quite popular.
You also have the Avid forums: Professional Video Editing Forums – Broadcast NewsRoom – Avid Options
