Review: Avid's Free NLE, Media Composer First — PremiumBeat

Media Composer First is a free and “limited” version of the industry-standard NLE, but is it worth a download? Top image via Avid. Avid has released the free version of the Hollywood film- and television-standard non-linear editor: Media Composer. With Media Composer First, you have free access to use a light version of this powerful tool. Avid announced Media Composer First back in 2015, and it is just now seeing its release. Avid spent the past two years tuning the features they would be willing to make available in a free version of their NLE. Perhaps it was the growing competition with younger editors learning on Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro, or even industry competition with Blackmagic’s release of a free version of DaVinci Resolve (which now includes its own NLE), but Avid saw it fit to make their tools more accessible to novice users. What Is Avid Media Composer First? Image via Avid. Avid Media Composer First (properly known as Media Composer | First) is the free, entry-level version of Avid’s flagship Media Composer NLE. It’s the non-linear editor standard for countless blockbuster film productions and major television series. Whereas Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro have dominated the indie and online video markets, Premiere Pro is just now inching its way into feature production. Neither program comes close to the massive industry user base Avid has always maintained. Many claim that this is just a stripped down version of Media Composer, but that is not a hinderance. This is still a very powerful program — and at no cost it’s foolish to immediately downplay Media Composer First. This is a serious tool that is now accessible to everyone. How to Download Avid Media Composer First The process of downloading Media Composer First is easy, but there are a lot of steps to start the download. Visit the Media Composer First website. . Create an Avid Master Account. . Verify your email address. . Fill out your name and physical address. . Take a ... Read more