Avid Announces New 4 Gb Version of Avid Unity MediaNetwork; New system delivers high-bandwidth, high-performance and real-time collaborationLAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2005--NAB 2005, (Booth #SL600) -

Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID) today announced Avid Unity^™ MediaNetwork 4.0 - the latest version of its industry-leading shared-storage system. Version 4.0 of Avid Unity delivers unsurpassed 4 Gb (gigabit) Fibre Channel throughput for seamless real-time collaboration in the most demanding postproduction environments. The system supports a broad range of media types, including mastering-quality Avid DNxHD^™ and uncompressed high-definition (HD) and is built around Avid's robust MEDIArray^™ ZX4 hardware.

"Professionals working on feature films, television programs, and other video projects, continue to tell us they need more and more powerful tools for storing and sharing a larger number of high-resolution projects - all simultaneously, and in real time," said Lesley Glorioso, product marketing manager for Avid. "Version 4.0 of Avid Unity delivers unprecedented collaborative access to high-bandwidth media, including multi-stream, high-resolution performance that is specifically focused on postproduction workflows."

Designed specifically for storing and sharing high-bandwidth, high-resolution media, Avid Unity MediaNetwork 4.0 combines reliable storage and networking hardware with the industry's most innovative, intuitive management software to accelerate production cycles and expand creative collaboration. In addition, the Avid Unity system offers significant performance, workflow, reliability, and administrative advantages over common storage area networks (SANs), delivering workflow efficiencies through true simultaneous sharing of media assets, down to the file level. Highlights of 4.0 include:

    --  4 Gb Avid MEDIArray ZX4 - delivering the fastest throughput
        available for data-intensive media formats and resolutions
        running on industry-standard Fibre Channel infrastructure;

    --  Support for up to 20TB - providing an extremely scalable
        shared-storage architecture for postproduction environments
        with multiple editors connected simultaneously and sharing
        media in real-time;

    --  Support for high-resolution, high-bandwidth media - allowing
        professionals to work with multiple streams of media in all
        resolutions from DV to uncompressed HD - including
        mastering-quality Avid DNxHD encoded media;

    --  Open connectivity framework - supporting a mix of Mac and PC
        clients for real-time collaboration throughout the entire
        facility; and,

    --  Multiple levels of redundancy - constituting a rock-solid,
        field-proven and reliable shared-storage system that ensures
        peace of mind in the most demanding media production
        environments.

    Pricing & Availability

Pricing for the Avid Unity MediaNetwork 4.0 system starts at $67,000 USMSRP. Upgrade programs are available for existing Avid Unity MediaNetwork customers. The system is qualified for both PC and Mac clients, and is expected to be available through Avid's worldwide reseller channel in Q2 2005.

    For more information, visit Avid at: www.avid.com.

    About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid Technology, Inc. is the world leader in digital nonlinear media creation, management, and distribution solutions, enabling film, video, audio, animation, games, and broadcast professionals to work more efficiently, productively, and creatively. For more information about the company's Oscar^®, Grammy^®, and Emmy^® award-winning products and services, please visit: www.avid.com.

^© 2005 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice. All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, Avid Unity, Avid DNxHD, MEDIArray, Digidesign, Film Composer, and Pro Tools are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Avid received an Oscar statuette representing the 1998 Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design, and engineering of the Avid^® Film Composer^® system for motion picture editing. Digidesign, Avid's audio division, received an Oscar statuette representing the 2003 Scientific and Technical Award for the design, development, and implementation of its Pro Tools^® digital audio workstation. Oscar is a trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Emmy is a registered trademark of ATAS/NATAS. Grammy is a trademark of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

    CONTACT: Avid Technology,
             Carter Holland, 978-640-3172, carter_holland@avid.com
             or
             Edelman,
             Debra Masters, 202-326-1821, debra.masters@edelman.com

    SOURCE: Avid Technology, Inc.