Legit Reviews

MANHATTAN, NY, June 25, 2008 – Pinnacle Systems, Inc., the consumer division of Avid Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVID), announced today the worldwide availability of its new Pinnacle Studio™ version 12 family of consumer video editing applications. Developed with an emphasis on speed and simplicity, Pinnacle Studio version 12 offers more than 25 new features including Pinnacle Montage, an innovative tool that virtually anyone can use to achieve fast, professional-looking results. Videos created with Pinnacle Studio version 12 can be directly uploaded to web sharing sites like YouTube® and Yahoo! Video®. Content can also be archived on a DVD disc or enjoyed on-the-go with Sony® PSP™, Apple® iPod®, DivX®- certified players and 3GP cell phones.

Winner of 36 consumer and retail awards in the past year alone, Pinnacle Studio is the number one consumer video editing software in the U.S. and many countries in Europe1. Pinnacle Systems has continued to increase Pinnacle Studio's market share by expanding its appeal to the growing number of female memory keepers and casual users who typically have very little time to spend creating videos.

According to Decision Analyst Inc., an Arlington, TX research firm, of the more than 4,000 moms nationwide who responded to their survey, ninety-nine percent reported that they are the ones who preserve their family's memories. Forty-nine percent use both a digital camera and a camcorder.²

From novices to hobbyists and advanced users, the Pinnacle Studio line offers affordably priced solutions for every budget and every level of experience. In addition to Pinnacle Studio, the basic version, Pinnacle offers Studio Plus and Studio Ultimate with more advanced audio and video tools, including a complete HD workflow.

All three editions (Standard, Plus and Ultimate) are Vista-certified and include these new features:

* Pinnacle Montage, a theme-based editing tool designed by professional producers and artists that provides Hollywood-style multi-layered effects, animated graphics, titles and Hi-Fi audio. Exclusive to Pinnacle Studio version 12, the Pinnacle Montage feature includes more than 11 pre-defined themes with over 80 single templates.

* Marker tools for the timeline to provide direct access to content.

* Direct crop control to automatically remove black bars of a video or image.
* Rotation feature for rotating video and stills, making horizontal and vertical size adjustments.
* Improved effects performance on lower-end computers.
* New content for titles and DVD menus.
* Expanded format compatibility now includes photo import in Adobe® Photoshop®'s native PSD format and the GIF format.
* New export options include creating MP3, Flash Video, WAV files.
* Export pause during the exporting process if additional drive space needs to be freed up.
* Audio alerts that notify the user when the process of making a file or burning a disc is complete.
* Automatic shutdown of the system when the file is created or the disc burning is completed.
* Simplified web publishing with direct uploads to YouTube and Yahoo!Video.

Among the first to offer native HDV and AVCHD editing software, Pinnacle Systems' Studio Plus and Pinnacle Studio Ultimate now include new Blu-ray disc burning capabilities in BD-MV with motion menus. AVCHD 1920 and support for various HD camcorder types including JVC full HD, Canon Vixia, Sanyo Xacti have also been added.

Designed for the most serious video enthusiasts, Pinnacle Studio Ultimate version 12 includes a green sheet for Chroma keying effects and integrates three of the industry's most highly acclaimed professional video tools: ProDAD Vitascene transitions and lighting effects (a $399 value), Magic Bullet Looks for professional motion picture looks (a $399 value), and Boris Graffiti industry-standard titling (a $299 value).

Pricing and Availability

Designed for Microsoft® Windows® XP and Windows Vista™ systems, the Pinnacle Studio version 12 family of products includes Pinnacle Studio, as well as Pinnacle Studio Plus and Pinnacle Studio Ultimate with full HD support. MSRPs are US$49.99, $99.99 and $129.99, respectively. The Pinnacle Studio version 12 family of products is available now at the Pinnacle Systems estore and will be at e-tail and retail stores by July 4th. Upgrades from all of the previous Pinnacle Studio versions to version 12 are also available from the Pinnacle Systems website with prices ranging from $69.99 (upgrade to Pinnacle Studio Plus) to $99.99 (upgrade to Pinnacle Studio Ultimate).

For tips, tricks and techniques on all Pinnacle solutions, visit Pinnacle Life.

About Pinnacle Systems, Inc.
Pinnacle Systems, Inc., a part of Avid Technology, Inc., is an industry leader in providing a complete set of home video editing and TV viewing tools for the consumer market. The company's product lines including Pinnacle PCTV™, Dazzle®, Pinnacle ShowCenter®, and its flagship Pinnacle Studio™ line, cover the needs and requirements of any level of video storytellers or consumers who simply want to enjoy TV from their computer. Pinnacle Systems has received nine prestigious Emmy® Awards for its technical innovations and carries the commitment to help consumers enhance, preserve and share their memories with ease. For more information, visit www.pinnaclesys.com.

About Avid Technology, Inc.
Avid is a worldwide leader in tools for film, video, audio, 3D animation, gaming and broadcast professionals – as well as for home audio and video enthusiasts. Avid professional and consumer brands include Avid, Digidesign, M-Audio, Pinnacle Systems, Sibelius, Softimage and Sundance Digital. The vast majority of primetime television shows, feature films, commercials and chart-topping music hits are made using one or more Avid products. Whether used by seasoned professionals or beginning students, Avid's products and services enable customers to work more efficiently, productively and creatively. 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. For more information about the company's Oscar, Grammy® and Emmy award-winning products and services, visit www.avid.com.

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© 2008 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice. Promotions and discounts are subject to availability and change without notice. All prices are MSRP for U.S. only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local reseller for prices outside the U.S. Avid, Digidesign, Film Composer, M-Audio, Pinnacle Systems, Sibelius, Softimage, Sundance Digital, the Pinnacle Pinwheel logo, Pinnacle PCTV, Dazzle, Pinnacle ShowCenter, Pinnacle MobileMedia, and Pinnacle Studio are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. 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.

Sources:
1 The NPD Group/Retail Tracking/Consumer Video Editing (Annual 2007) - US

Based on consumer sales for 4 European countries (DE, FR, IT and GB cumulated) annual 2007 in the GFK Retail-Market

2 http://www.photomarketing.com/newslette ... 04/21/2008