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

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 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, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Perks

Wednesday July 9, 2025 9:20 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, did you know that Apple offers you five perks beyond the extra storage space, at no additional cost? Here are the perks included with all iCloud+ plans:Private Relay keeps your Safari browsing history entirely private from network providers, websites, and even Apple. Hide My Email generates unique, random email addresses whenever needed. Hom...

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)