Avid MC: Update not to 5.5.1 but 5.5.2 (& Additional Apps eg Boris etc)

Updating Avid Media Composer (MC) to v5.5.2:

  • I purchased an update from Avid Media Composer (MC) v5.0 to v5.5.
    • Actually I purchased PhraseFind, with which the MC 5.5 upgrade was bundled for free.
  • Following the purchase, I received an email with dowload links for PhraseFind and for MC 5.5.1.
  • I subsequently became aware that MC 5.5.1 had been superseded by an update to MC 5.5.2.
  • Two routes to this latest version were possible: update-patch or stanalone-install.
  • Advice from a “guru” on an Avid forum confirmed my instince: go for the standalone install.
  • I chose to follow that advice.
  • I downloaded a combined installer forMC 5.5.2 and PhraseFind.
  • Installation procedure:
    • First I uninstalled all Avid-associated software and started from scratch.
      • No need to deactivate before uninstall since I am using a dongle, not activation.
    • Installed the new MC version (with PhraseFind) with no problems.
    • Went about installing the Avid Production Suite applications, such as Boris, Sorenson Squeeze, Sonic DVD.
      • See separate posts on each of these items.

The Blow-By-Blow Account:

  • Not as spoon-fed a process as I’d hoped, though of course its possible I failed to read some document first.  I went on the Avid store to purchase an update from MC 5.0 to 5.5.  Once there I discovered a special offer where the update was free on purchase of either PhraseFind or ScriptSync.  For my line of work, PhraseFind is potentially very useful, so I went with that.  The purchase worked OK and I duly obtained and executed a dongle-updater.
  • The email-autoreply from the purchase process listed only two items: Media Composer (the new version) and PhraseFind.  What about all those other Production Suite items like Sorenson Squeeze?  No, they were not listed.  So I logged into my Download account at Avid.com to see what I was entitled to download.  The list was unexpectedly huge!  It included things like “Avid Deko 2200”.  I wasted time finding out what this was (seems to be an obsolete version of a good-looking live/on-air 3d/text/graphics editor/generator).  I bet if I did download it, either it would fail to activate (would need a key) or else waste more of my time…
  • I installed Avid MC 5.5.2 on a fresh system: backup-recovery following a hard-disk crash (on my MacBook Pro).
    • I really am losing faith in Apple….
  • The installed MC 5.5.2 did not include AvidFX/BorisFX.  So I guess I need to download it separately.
  • The download list also included AvidFX 5.8.3 and Boris Continuum Complete 6.0.7.
    • Need to check if their version numbers are more recent than those on the MC5.0 installation disks…
      • Located my Avid MC 5.0 Installation Disk-Pack and went through the version numbers.
      • It turned out that only BorisFX needed updating, from 5.8.2 to 5.8.3.
  • The list also had relevant-sounding items such as “Avid Editor Patches”. The page for this had a warning to the effect of “if it ain’t broke then don’t fix (patch) it”.  Then it listed a set of patches for specific applications, including a patch for 5.5.1 to 5.5.2 update for Media Composer.  Checking (by running that app, then Help>About), I confirmed my MC was 5.5.1.  Then, on inspecting “Avid Media Composer Patch Downloads”, I saw a link to a complete (not patch) installer for v5.5.2.  Huh?  Why didn’t my purchase-email link to the latest version? So maybe I’d better download that as well as the patch, as my new point-of-reference…
  • The patch for PC was 317 MB.  That for the Mac was a massive 2GB!
  • HALT: A gut-feeling told me that a standalone-installer would be better, so I asked on the Avid Forum for Media Composer on PC: http://community.avid.com/forums/p/88816/573611.aspx#573611. I was advised (by Larry Rubin, Moderator/”guru”) to indeed go for the standalone.
    • His exact advice was:
      • 1) Deactivate license on current 5.5.1 version (Special Menu in Composer)
      • 2) Uninstall 5.5.1
      • 3) Install 5.5.2 full version
      • 4) Reactivate license
    • In retrospect, strike-(omit) steps 1 and 4 because my system has a dongle, not activation.
      • Initially I tried deactivating, not realising this was not appropriate, because Iwasn’t familiar enough with what the term meant in Avid’s context.Thus:
        • The Deactivate option was indeed in my MC’s Special menu, but it was greyed-out.
        • Rebooting didn’t help, neither did an attempt to register (it complained it was already registered).
        • Doh! I think I found the answer, at http://community.avid.com/forums/p/97503/559080.aspx:
          • You don’t need to “Deactivate” if you’re using a Dongle.  Only if you’re using “Software Activation”. >>
            Yes, I’ve got a dongle…
            So I guess all I need to do is uninstall and reinstall…
  • Started downloading the standalone.  It is 2GB in size.  So I guess the Mac “patch” might have been standalone in practice, but that’s only a guess.
  • From Control Panel, I see several Avid programs. Presumably I should uninstall them all.
    • They are:
      • Avid EDL Manager
      • Avid FilmScribe
      • Avid Log Exchange
      • Avid PhraseFind
    • Indeed I uninstalled them all.
  • Ran the MC 5.5.2 Installer:
    • Installer Menu:
      • Install Avid Editor Suite
      • Install Startup Sample Media
      • Install Individual Products
        • These are:
          • Avid Media Composer
          • Avid EDL Manager
          • Avid Film Scribe
          • Avid Log Exchange
          • Avid After Effects EMP
          • Avid DNA Diags
          • Avid QuickTime Codecs
          • Avid Media Log
          • Avid MetaSync Manager and Publisher
          • Avid MetaFuze
        • I will post separately on these (once I find out what they are!).
      • Browse Media
      • View Readme
      • Visit Our Website
      • Visit the Avid Learning Centre
    • Ran the first item [Install Avid Editor Suite]
      • That, as I had hoped, installed the whole set of programs I had just uninstalled.
    • Chose not to Install Startup Sample Media
    • Forgot to check out [Install Individual Products]
      • Did so later (reported here now).  Sub-menu offered was (as before):
      • Of these, only Avid MetaSync Manager and Publisher had a tick next to it.  Wonder why it’s that special.  In case it meant “available to be installed, I tried installing it, but it was already installed.  Maybe the other programs in the menu simply don’t bother to check/tick?
    • Installed AvidFX-BorisFX from my download of that app.
      • Avid FX Engine’s Splash stated: Avid FX 5.8.3.1517.  Indeed 5.8.3 is as expected.
    • Installed BCC 6.X from original disk that came with MC 5.0, as I think it’s unchanged.
      • It installed to [Boris Continuum Complete AVX 6.0], where its [Release Notes.pdf] stated its version was 6.0.7, which indeed is the latest version in my Avid Downloads account.
    • Installed Sorenson Squeeze.

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