Avid Technology: Difference between revisions
Wildwood2017 (talk | contribs) Added the 2012 Sibelius incident |
Wildwood2017 (talk | contribs) Added major section: Policies dictating the anti-consumer policies of Avid explained in more detail. |
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This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | ||
=== Avid divests London Sibelius branch and replaces original development team (July 2012) === | ===Avid divests London Sibelius branch and replaces original development team (July 2012)=== | ||
Following losses in profit margins in 2012, Avid divested off parts of its consumer audio branches and closed the Sibelius' London office and laid off the original development team. This prompted users to create the "Save Our Sibelius" campaign which was a petition for Avid to sell off Sibelius to another company amid concerns of the future.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schofield |first=Jack |date=8 Aug 2012 |title=Users petition Avid to sell Sibelius music software arm |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/users-petition-avid-to-sell-sibelius-music-software-arm/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2026 |website=ZDNet}}</ref> Following the layoff, Avid hired a completely new development team based in Canada and Ukraine. | Following losses in profit margins in 2012, Avid divested off parts of its consumer audio branches and closed the Sibelius' London office and laid off the original development team. This prompted users to create the "Save Our Sibelius" campaign which was a petition for Avid to sell off Sibelius to another company amid concerns of the future.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schofield |first=Jack |date=8 Aug 2012 |title=Users petition Avid to sell Sibelius music software arm |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/users-petition-avid-to-sell-sibelius-music-software-arm/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 Apr 2026 |website=ZDNet}}</ref> Following the layoff, Avid hired a completely new development team based in Canada and Ukraine. | ||
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===Avid is Acquired by an Affiliate of STG for USD $1.4B (Nov 2023)=== | ===Avid is Acquired by an Affiliate of STG for USD $1.4B (Nov 2023)=== | ||
Avid Technology was acquired by an affiliate of [https://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_Technology_Group STG (Symphony Technology Group)] for 1.4 billion dollars on November 7, 2023 in a cash-only deal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 Nov 2023 |title=STG Completes Acquisition of Avid Technology |url=https://stg.com/news/stg-completes-acquisition-of-avid-technology/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260307073724/https://stg.com/news/stg-completes-acquisition-of-avid-technology/ |archive-date=7 Mar 2026 |access-date=16 Apr 2026 |website=STG}}</ref> This delisted Avid from the NYSE and returned its status as a private entity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avid Technology (AVID) - Stock split history |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/avid-technology/stock-splits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416175443/https://companiesmarketcap.com/avid-technology/stock-splits/ |archive-date=16 Apr 2026 |access-date=16 Apr 2026 |website=CompaniesMarketCap.com |quote=This company appears to have been delisted Reason: Acquired by Private Equity Firm STG Last recorded trade on: January 9, 2024}}</ref> Subsequently, some of Avid's product development has been moved to STG Labs, the primary engineering office for STG in India, alongside other portfolio companies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About STG Labs |url=https://stg.com/stg-labs/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref> | Avid Technology was acquired by an affiliate of [https://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_Technology_Group STG (Symphony Technology Group)] for 1.4 billion dollars on November 7, 2023 in a cash-only deal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 Nov 2023 |title=STG Completes Acquisition of Avid Technology |url=https://stg.com/news/stg-completes-acquisition-of-avid-technology/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260307073724/https://stg.com/news/stg-completes-acquisition-of-avid-technology/ |archive-date=7 Mar 2026 |access-date=16 Apr 2026 |website=STG}}</ref> This delisted Avid from the NYSE and returned its status as a private entity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avid Technology (AVID) - Stock split history |url=https://companiesmarketcap.com/avid-technology/stock-splits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260416175443/https://companiesmarketcap.com/avid-technology/stock-splits/ |archive-date=16 Apr 2026 |access-date=16 Apr 2026 |website=CompaniesMarketCap.com |quote=This company appears to have been delisted Reason: Acquired by Private Equity Firm STG Last recorded trade on: January 9, 2024}}</ref> Subsequently, some of Avid's product development has been moved to STG Labs, the primary engineering office for STG in India, alongside other portfolio companies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About STG Labs |url=https://stg.com/stg-labs/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-04-16}}</ref> | ||
== Policies == | |||
Avid has enacted several anti-consumer policies which are explained in more detail here: | |||
=== Software Product Model === | |||
All Avid Software Products are using a subscription-based or a perpetual + support plan model. Those which have expired support plans for perpetual users cannot upgrade their software version past bug fix releases for their current given year and major release. Renewal contracts for perpetual users are usually fixed in 1-3 year renewals, requiring constant purchasing unless the user lapses every few years. | |||
=== Avid Advantage Support System === | |||
Avid's support system is complex and not all support options are available for all users. This table defines the support system and hierarchy. | |||
Purchase of a Pro Tools Artist or Studio license, Media Composer Standard license, or Sibelius Artist and Ultimate license includes the Standard tier of support while there is an active Subscription or Software + Support Plan contract. Purchase of a Pro Tools Ultimate or Media Composer Ultimate license includes the ExpertPlus tier of support with an active plan. Purchase of a VENUE S6L system includes a 3-yr initial term for an Elite tier of support, with options for continuing support contracts. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ | |||
!Support Tier: | |||
!No Plan/Expired Plan | |||
!Standard | |||
!ExpertPlus | |||
!Elite | |||
|- | |||
|Availiability | |||
|N/A | |||
|24x7 | |||
|24x7 | |||
|24x7 | |||
|- | |||
|Online Case Creation | |||
|No | |||
|Yes | |||
|Yes | |||
|Yes | |||
|- | |||
|Priority Phone Support | |||
|No | |||
|No | |||
|Yes | |||
|Yes | |||
|- | |||
|Case Response Time | |||
|N/A | |||
|24-48 hrs | |||
|4 hrs | |||
|1 hr | |||
|- | |||
|Software Upgrades | |||
|No | |||
|Yes | |||
|Yes | |||
|Yes | |||
|- | |||
|Critical Escalation | |||
|N/A | |||
|No | |||
|Yes | |||
|Yes | |||
|- | |||
|OnCue Incident Mangement | |||
|N/A | |||
|No | |||
|Yes | |||
|Yes | |||
|- | |||
|Proactive Project Assessment | |||
|N/A | |||
|No | |||
|Yes | |||
|Yes | |||
|- | |||
|Extended Hardware Coverage | |||
|N/A | |||
|Add-on | |||
|Add-on | |||
|Yes | |||
|- | |||
|For-fee Options | |||
|N/A | |||
|ASC, Advance | |||
Exchange | |||
Hardware Coverage | |||
|Advance | |||
Exchange | |||
Hardware Coverage, | |||
Onsite Support | |||
|Onsite Support, | |||
Dedicated Support | |||
Expert, Avid Service | |||
Account Manager | |||
|- | |||
|Self-Help Options | |||
|Avid Knowledge Base, | |||
Avid Forums | |||
(Digidesign User Community, | |||
Avid Video Community, | |||
Sibelius Community) | |||
|All | |||
|All | |||
|All | |||
|} | |||
=== Hardware Restrictions === | |||
Use of Avid's HDX series of hardware (HDX Core, MTRX Family, Carbon Family, legacy HD Devices) all require a Pro Tools Ultimate license to be able to interface with the hardware and a complete system requires at least one HDX Core card and one HD audio interface to be installed and connected. The interfaces use a proprietary connector called DigiLink Mini that can only link with Avid designed hardware or licensed hardware from 3rd parties. | |||
==Products== | ==Products== | ||