Avid Empowers Educators and Students with the Latest in Video and Audio Creation at NECC

Company unveils new academic products and hosts tutorials

San Diego Calif, NECC Conference, Booth #335 – July 5, 2006 – Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID), today announced that it will attend the National Educational Computing Conference from July 5-7, 2006 in San Diego, California, where it will unveil an academic version of its Pro Tools® audio recording software and hardware bundles, and showcase an academic version of its Media Composer® film and video editing software. The company, which offers special academic pricing for its audio and video products, will also host a series of tutorial sessions and product demonstrations on how to create audio and video podcasts, record professional music CDs, and edit video and film using the same tools used by Hollywood professionals. Products from Avid’s video division and its audio businesses – Digidesign and M-Audio – are used to produce some of the world’s most recognized media, including music recorded by the Black Eyed Peas, movie blockbusters such as Pirates of the Caribbean, hit television shows like Grey’s Anatomy, and live sporting events such as the World Cup.

“With so many new mediums available to young adults for distributing digital videos and audio recordings, there is increasing demand for educators to teach students how to create this content with industry-standard tools,” said Steve Chazin, director of education and new markets at Avid. “Now, educators can empower students to create and edit their own movies, podcasts, and music with the wide range of video and audio products from Avid – the company that pioneered the digital media creation industry nearly 20 years ago. What’s more, with our special academic pricing, educators are able to cost-effectively build a digital media classroom and teach students on the exact same tools that professional artists use to make the world’s most popular movies, television shows, and music CDs.”

Digital Classroom Tutorials at the Avid Booth
Avid will host a number of hands-on, 15-minute demos at the booth, including:

* Advanced Video Editing – An introduction to the tools the pros use;
* ProTools in Schools: The art of mixing audio;
* Video Editing 101;
* The Desktop Music Revolution;
* Music Technology in Your Lab; and
* Audio and Video Podcasting Basics

For more information on the dates and times of these sessions, attendees are encouraged to stop by the Avid booth for a schedule, or visit: http://www.avid.com/solutions/education/.
Academic Products on Display

With its new Pro Tools Academic software, Avid’s Audio division – Digidesign – is offering a fully featured version of the industry-standard recording and music production software starting at $149 USMSRP, per license, for educational institutions (announced today in a separate release.) The Pro Tools Academic software allows students and educators with access to the tools that the world’s most renowned audio professionals use to create music and podcasts, as well as mix audio for video productions. The Pro Tools Academic software offers a range of plug-ins for audio processing and effects and includes the Academic Pack collection of software and tools for even more creative options. Flexible hardware options enhance the system’s audio input/output (I/O) capabilities and MIDI functionality.

Avid will also showcase its Media Composer Academic software – announced in April 2006. Priced at only $295 USMSRP per license for educational institutions, Media Composer software is the same tool used by industry professionals to create the majority of today’s feature films and television shows. Media Composer software includes both Mac and Windows editing software in the same box, HD editing tools, enhanced options for team-based collaboration, and hardware acceleration with either the Avid Mojo® or Avid Adrenaline™ systems. Avid will be demonstrating the powerful features of Media Composer at its booth and hosting hands-on sessions for educators.
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.

© 2006 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, Film Composer, Digidesign, Pro Tools, Media Composer, Interplay, Avid Mojo and Adrenaline, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries 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 trademarks 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 Information

Carter Holland

Director, Corporate Communications

Avid Technology, Inc.

Contact via E-mail