Ralph:
I use Avid Media Composers which only run on Macs. They do make an MCXpress (scaled down version of the Media Composer and off-spring of the Media Suite Pro) model that runs on Wintel.
It sounds like your experience with Avids was on some of the older steam powered models.
The systems I use are Power PC PCI Mac based (usually Apple 9500s or 9600s---Avid does not support any of the clones). They support real-time effects (including title graphics, dissolves, wipes, keys, picture-in-picture, resize etc. and 3D FX with the Pinnacle board installed)----for up to two layers of video. Start going beyond 2 layers and you start having to render layers. I'm not sure, but I think the Media 100 is the same---any more than dual stream means rendering. However, I estimate that 98% or more of the editing I do does not involve more than 2 layers of video. If your needs are more intensive than that you should probably be looking at an SGI based system anyway.
I have had very little exposure to the Media 100. I have heard (heven't seen) that the picture quality is excellent, slightly ahead of Avid AVR 77. However, this seem to be the only area that other editors generally rate it higher. The Avid AVR 77, when set up to output at Broadcast specs, is acceptable to most Broadcast clients. I am currently working for PBS and they take AVR 75 or AVR 77 for on-air use (they are very picky and I have to pay VERY close attention to the scopes).
However, the feedback I get from other editors who use both the Media 100 and the Avid is that the Avid editing software blows the doors off the Media 100. I am led to believe that simple and very routine editing functions like split edits and multiple video/audio track trims, dual trims, split edits etc. are blazing fast and quite simple on an Avid Media Composer (less so on an MCXpress) but very complex and time consuming on a Media 100. It's the simple editing tools that need to be fast and user friendly to keep an edit session going smoothly.
I am freelance and work for a wide variety of clients both broadcast (I've worked for all the Networks-except FOX- and most of the cable Networks from MTV, Nickelodeon, to Discovery, TLC and A&E). The station I am currently working at (WNET/THIRTEEN in New York) has thirty some odd Avids (mostly Media Composers with one or two MCXpress) and one Media 100. They plan to have forty Media Composers by end of 1998---many of which will be networked. They are gradually phasing out their on-line tape based technology. A broadcaster of this size generally does not make equipment buying decisions in haste or without a lot of research, so I figure there's a good reason they are going with Avid.
On the other hand, I know there are a lot of smaller cable operations, corporate video departments, and multimedia producers that are going with the Media 100.
I think that each is designed for a different market and price point. You should determine what type of editing you are going to do most on a day to day basis. Then have an editor test drive each system (side by side would be nice). Then buy according to your needs.
Hope this has helped. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any more questions.
Tony |
