Re: So if Avid goes under, then what?

First of all, Avid isn't going anywhere. The video edit software, ProTools, ISIS/Unity (shared storage), Euphonix and news room products all seem to contribute equal percentages to the bottom line. So if your view is only as a Media Composer editor or Pro Tools mixer - or for that matter, an FCP editor looking on from the outside - you really haven't got the full picture of the company. They still have millions in the bank, so financials are more an issue of burn-rate and keeping the stock market happy.

Whether or not MC is an ideal editor for the individual user is probably of most concern to the folks who post on this forum. OTOH, if you are an enterprise user, like broadcast stations, large post facilities, et al, then FCP X and Premiere Pro aren't in the same league for satisfying those needs.

As far as the marketability of these products, take a look at Quantel. They have restructured over the years and run a fraction of the workforce that Avid does. They have focused solely on the pro market. Although they have a small footprint, they are still the dominant company in DI, Stereo3D post and also offer leading solutions for news editing and cloud editing.

If you are going to be a pro-oriented manufacturer, then you have to structure the outflow to match the intake.

- Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com