Audio Video News

Yesterday, software maker Avid kicked off its Gen Cre8 campaign, a series of events intended to highlight the accessibility of its new consumer-level production software. The first event, held in Brooklyn, highlighted Avid's new trio of Pro Tools M-Powered Essential title4s intended for casual, amateur, and entry-level users (despite the "Pro" Tools name).

Pro Tools M-Powered Essential Vocal Studio, Recording Studio, and Keystudio include Avid's Pro Tool M-Powered software and its own purpose-minded accessory. While they all offer the same software package (a streamlined version of Pro Tools M-Powered, with a broad library of loops and instruments on DVD), Vocal Studio includes a USB microphone, Recording Studio includes a USB capture device, and Keystudio includes a 49-key USB keyboard. Vocal Studio and Recording Studio retail for $99 each, while the larger package of Keystudio retails for $129.

Avid also showed off the most recent version of its consumer video editing software, Pinnacle Studio 14. The new version features HD video support, more special effects, a motion capture video tool, and a new "montage" filter that lets users scroll and pan multiple videos in a "wall" across the screen. Pinnacle Studio 14 also comes in 3 different versions. The most basic version, Pinnacle Studio 14 HD, retails for $49, while Pinnacle Studio 14 HD Ultimate and Pinnacle Studio 14 HD Ultimate Collection, featuring more filters, tools, and for the latter version, a pack-in green screen cloth, retail for $99 and $129.

— Will Greenwald