Avid® (NASDAQ: AVID) announced today that its wide array of audio and video solutions meet the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funding guidelines for education and training. Configured to address the respective skill and grade level of students ranging from elementary school through college, Avid is offering three new highly-customizable solutions: Avid Audio Recording Studio, Avid Film Production Lab and Avid Television and Video Production Studio. The solutions are available to educators at up to 85 percent off USMSRP and provide students with access to the media creation tools they will encounter in advanced education programs as well as in film, television, broadcast, music and audio production careers. Now, any school or institution that qualifies for ARRA funding can apply stimulus resources to invest in the same tools used by professionals creating today’s most listened to, most watched and most loved media in the world.
New Avid Education Solutions
Avid has integrated a selection of its best-in-class tools such as Media Composer® editing software, Pro Tools® recording and mixing systems, Axiom® MIDI keyboard controllers, and Sibelius® music notation software, into three solutions for technology-based curriculum. The solutions consist of the same tools used by creative teams behind “Star Trek,” “LOST” and Linkin Park, and are designed to help inspire creative expression and prepare students for advanced educational opportunities and/or digital media careers. The three solutions are:
— Audio Recording Studio is a collaborative solution that enables educators to teach audio recording and production workflow techniques such
as audio editing, mixing and mastering for students interested in music production careers.
— Film Production Lab consists of the same post production solutions used by professionals and is designed to prepare students aspiring to work on film and episodic television.
— Television and Video Production Studio addresses all facets of broadcast television such as commercial, talk show and local news show projects. The studio provides an integrated toolset for students to hone industry skills from script writing and on-camera performance to sound and video editing.
Under ARRA guidelines, qualifying schools and institutions can also apply funding for Avid’s complete support services as well as professional development and training programs for certification.
Education Success Stories
Feedback from educators across the nation highlights the unique advantages of leveraging Avid solutions in today’s classrooms: “Knowing how to use Avid solutions is a prerequisite for working in the media and entertainment industry,” said Jennifer Bryant, former graduate and current production specialist at John H. Patterson Career Center High School (PCC) of the Dayton Public School District. “By investing in Avid, we essentially created a fast-track to jumpstart careers by giving students the opportunity to learn in the same studio environment they will encounter in college or on the job. When students make the connection between what they’re doing in the classroom and what they see on television — the light bulb goes on and that makes it worthwhile.”
Within six months of graduation, more than eight out of 10 Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) alumni who participated in recent surveys said they were employed in their field or admitted to graduate school. Employers of SCAD graduates include award-winning companies, such as Rhythm and Hues Studios, Digital Domain, Fox, MTV, Panavision, Blue Sky, CNN and Digital Kitchen, among others. SCAD Professor Gokhan Ozaysin said, “Avid solutions give our students the professional skills and the competitive advantage they need to succeed in the industry. We look at Avid as an academic partner and as a team member. At SCAD, we don’t just look for the latest technology; we seek tools that serve our curriculum, support our faculty in classrooms, and facilitate an interactive learning environment for our students.”
Kirk Arnold, executive vice president of customer operations at Avid, said, “The audio and video professionals of tomorrow are starting to develop their skills as early as elementary school. Therefore, it’s critical that we work with our education customers to provide out-of-the-box solutions that help students across all grade levels to build and polish their skills for the future. We’re thrilled to be working with educators to develop the next-generation of musicians, composers, filmmakers and producers.”
ARRA Information and Resources
To learn more about Avid’s education solutions and how to qualify for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit: www.avid.com/arrafunding. Avid and its authorized education resellers can assist in developing complete systems and offer professional development resources, including Avid training and certification, third-party training for educators, and online Avid resources. Contact your local Avid representative or reseller with pricing inquiries. For more information, visit Avid at Booth #3004 during the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), held June 28 through July 1, in Washington D.C.
About Avid
Avid creates the digital audio and video technology used to make the most listened to, most watched and most loved media in the world — from the most prestigious and award-winning feature films, music recordings, television shows, live concert tours and news broadcasts, to music and movies made at home. Some of Avid’s most influential and pioneering solutions include Media Composer, Pro Tools, Avid Unity™, Interplay®, Oxygen 8, Sibelius and Pinnacle Studio™. For more information about Avid solutions and services, visit www.avid.com, del.icio.us, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube; connect with Avid on Facebook; or subscribe to Avid Industry Buzz.
© 2009 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, systems requirements and availability are subject to change without notice. All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, the Avid logo, Axiom, Pinnacle Studio, Avid Unity, Interplay, Media Composer, Pro Tools and Sibelius are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. The Interplay name is used with the permission of Interplay Entertainment Corp., which bears no responsibility for Avid products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
