Avid Takes on Apple's iMovie with Avid Studio for iPad

While companies such as Avid and Adobe have attempted to capitalize on Apple's Final Cut Pro X missteps by wooing users in need of professional video editing and production software, AllThingsD notes that Avid is pushing forward on the mobile "prosumer" front with its just-launched Avid Studio [App Store] app for iPad.

avid studio ipad 1
The iPad obviously imposes some limitations on what can be done with the software compared with the full Avid Studio for Windows, but Avid suggests that it is full-featured enough to be used for editing on the go and is ideally suited as a companion to the desktop app.

The idea is that the iPad app and the desktop software are complementary, [Avid vice president Tanguy] Leborgne said, so that users who want to create and edit projects on the go can do so, but ultimately preserve them by taking them to the PC.

The Avid iPad app does have some nice features, including an interface that includes a storyboard area and an editing timeline. And while some video editors rely heavily on customized keyboards or a mouse, others might appreciate the ability to pinch and squeeze videos and images to scale them on the touchscreen of the iPad, or the ability to move text and titles around with their fingers.

avid studio ipad 2
Avid Studio for iPad is launching with an introductory price tag of $4.99, which will increase to $7.99 after the first month.

Related Roundup: iPad
Tag: Avid
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

iPhone Driver's Licenses: These 17 U.S. States Offer Them or Will Later

Thursday June 19, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states and Puerto...
ios 26 call holding

iOS 26 Beta is Hiding a New Ringtone — Here's What It Sounds Like

Thursday June 19, 2025 7:25 pm PDT by
Apple is hiding a new ringtone within iOS 26. The new ringtone is an alternative version of the existing Reflection ringtone, which has been the default ringtone since the iPhone X was released in 2017. It was discovered within the code for the first developer beta of iOS 26, but it remains hidden, so you will not find it in the list of ringtones available in the Settings app for now. It...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in Three Months With These 12 New Features

Saturday June 14, 2025 5:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of June 2025:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a...
iPhone 16 Battery Life Feature

iOS 26's New Battery Life Mode Available Only on These iPhone Models

Saturday June 21, 2025 9:02 am PDT by
Last week, we reported that iOS 26 introduces an opt-in Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode. Apple says that Adaptive Power Mode can make "small performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness or allowing some activities to "take a little longer." The full description of...
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Wednesday June 18, 2025 10:24 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a few days after Apple provided the betas to developers. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. When the...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Monday June 16, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...
General Spotify Feature

Spotify Preparing to Launch Long-Awaited Lossless Audio Tier on iPhone

Thursday June 19, 2025 1:46 pm PDT by
Spotify appears to be gearing up to launch its long-awaited lossless music tier. Chris Messina (via TechCrunch) and Spicetify (via The Verge) spotted new lossless references within the code for Spotify's desktop app and web player. With assistance from Aaron Perris, MacRumors has confirmed that the latest beta of the Spotify app for the iPhone also contains new lossless-related code....
Craig Federighi No

John Gruber Reacts to Apple Declining His Interview After His Criticism

Wednesday June 18, 2025 8:10 pm PDT by
Every year between 2015 and 2024, at least one Apple executive agreed to be interviewed by Daring Fireball's John Gruber for a special WWDC episode of his podcast, The Talk Show. Last year, for example, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi, marketing chief Greg Joswiak, and top AI researcher John Giannandrea joined Gruber on stage at the California Theatre in San Jose to discuss...
iPhone 17 Base Model Rumored to Come in New Green and Purple Colors Feature

iPhone 17 Base Model Rumored to Come in New Purple and Green Colors

Friday June 20, 2025 7:24 am PDT by
Apple is testing new Purple and Green color options for the iPhone 17 base model, according to new information shared by a leaker known as Majin Bu. In a blog post today, Majin Bu said that only one of the two new colors might make the final cut, with Purple apparently being the more likely choice. The base model iPhone 16 is available in five colors: Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and...

Top Rated Comments

cdemiris99 Avatar
175 months ago
Compare with iMovie

How does it compare to the iMovie app?

(Disclosure - I am one of the developers on Avid Studio App)
Avid Studio has a very different set of features than iMovie. Most important is that we have a real timeline with frame accurate trimming. We have 3 full audio tracks where you can view waveforms for editing to your music. We provide Picture-in-Picture, Pan-and-Zoom (which iMovie also has), multi-layer compositions (called Montages), and fully customizable titles (including motion titles). I think our media library is also very strong, especially in organization (we support Events, Albums and Faces and with a large amount of media our library is very fast).
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lone Deranger Avatar
175 months ago
Wait, an Avid version of iMovie?

They must not care about us professional editors anymore...

Exactly!! I can’t believe Avid’s doing this!!! I just switched my entire editing suite over to Avid after Apple’s FCPX farce and this is how they thank me? I’m furious!! :mad:
Oh and before anybody dares question my validity as a PRO-EDITOR-GOD, I am the personal private editor for the top Hollywood elite, with 124 triple A Hollywood blockbusters under my belt! On top of that, I cut 15 hours of footage a day that goes out to 3 billion homes every night! Anyone who has the audacity to challenge these here facts (that’s right) is an idiot!

I, PRO-EDITOR-GOD have spoken!
;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arctic Avatar
175 months ago
Hope Avid also releases a Mac version if this is indeed good and "ideally suited as a companion to the desktop app.".
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
haruhiko Avatar
175 months ago
How does it compare to the iMovie app?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cdemiris99 Avatar
175 months ago
Exactly!! I can’t believe Avid’s doing this!!! I just switched my entire editing suite over to Avid after Apple’s FCPX farce and this is how they thank me? I’m furious!! :mad:
Oh and before anybody dares question my validity as a PRO-EDITOR-GOD, I am the personal private editor for the top Hollywood elite, with 124 triple A Hollywood blockbusters under my belt! On top of that, I cut 15 hours of footage a day that goes out to 3 billion homes every night! Anyone who has the audacity to challenge these here facts (that’s right) is an idiot!

I, PRO-EDITOR-GOD have spoken!
;)

Thanks Lone Deranger :)

To all who really are concerned about Avid's Pro dedication, understand that this product was developed by the "Creative Enthusiast" team at Avid (Pinnacle Studio and Avid Studio products). We worked closely together with the Pro (Media Composer) team to make sure that the app could appeal to professionals ('Spielburg on the beach' as we like to think of it). It definitely provides a major step up in professional features on the iPad, and we think it's still easy to use for those that just want to throw together a fun video slide show.

We will be making regular improvements and appreciate everyone's feedback.

- Chris Demiris
- (One of the developers on the Avid Studio App team)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cdemiris99 Avatar
175 months ago
My one big question: can I import an entire event camera roll event folder at once?

Biggest hangup I have now is gigabytes of imported raw video filling my iPad, and Reel Director requires I go thru a multi-tap-and-drag process for every single video I want to include and edit - prohibitive when one event folder can have over 100 videos. iMovie doesn't even run on iPad 1.

When you start Avid Studio App, it enumerates your entire photo/video library on your iPad, and properly categorizes by Event, Album and Faces (for Photos). It then provides very fast and easy access to your media. Videos and photos can be added to the project by either dragging-and-dropping from the album, or by quick double-tapping to add at the current time (you can start a project and simply double-tap to keep adding clips to the end of the project).

Avid Studio detects when your media changes and re-enumerates (a quicker enumeration to update our database)

- Chris Demiris
(one of the Avid Studio App developers)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)