Learn from an award-winning editor, Avid and Adobe Certified Professional, with over 14+ feature films!

Get a downloadable software comparison handout to apply to your own projects

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 class is now available to watch on-demand; it is no longer live and the instructor is not available for personal questions, but we highly encourage you to do any assignments to get the most out of the educational experience.

Editing is storytelling, and the tools you master become part of your voice as a storyteller. Whether you dream of working on studio features, independent films, or creating content for digital and branded platforms, understanding how different editing systems shape your workflow, collaboration, and career opportunities is essential. This exclusive Stage 32 interactive class will teach you the real-world differences between Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro, show you how each is used across different production environments, and give you practical insights to decide which platform best aligns with your creative goals and projects!

Many creatives assume all editing platforms are the same. In reality, the system you use directly impacts the kinds of projects and collaborators available to you. Avid Media Composer remains the standard in studio films and union television, while Premiere Pro dominates independent film, commercial work, and digital platforms. Without understanding those distinctions, it’s easy to waste time on a tool that doesn’t align with your goals or your team’s needs.

Your instructor, Won Novalis  is an award-winning editor and producer with more than 14 years of experience in film and commercial post-production, having edited over 14 feature-length films, supervised post-production on multiple projects, and co-produced both films and commercials. As an Avid Certified Instructor and Adobe Certified Professional, Won teaches editing at the university level and has guided countless students on Avid, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve. His feature and commercial credits include Lesions, GE, Microsoft Bing, Delta, and United Way.

In this two-part Stage 32 class, you will explore the practical, real-world differences between Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro, learn how each platform functions in professional workflows, and understand which system is best suited for your career path, whether that’s studio features, independent films, or digital content creation. By the end, you will walk away with actionable knowledge, a clear perspective on each tool’s strengths, and the confidence to choose the editing system that fits your goals and projects!

PLUS! You will receive the following handout to help you:

• Software comparison guide

TESTIMONIALS FOR WON:

"I've cried so many times over long editing days. Won is so smart and passionate, and gives the best feedback on edits that I know I'll never have those same issues again!" - Jack K.

"Won was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and experienced. I learned a lot. And I'm glad I attended." - Dele F

Session #1: Understanding the Tools: Where Avid and Premiere Came From and How They Differ

This session offers historical and practical context for Avid Media Composer and Adobe Premiere Pro, explaining how each platform was developed, the core needs it was designed to address, and how those origins continue to shape their modern features.

What Will Be Covered:

• What Non-Linear Editing (NLE) is and goal of the webinar.

• Avid history and early adoption (late ‘80s, film-to-digital transition). 

• Fun facts: The origins of the In/Out icons, bins vs. folders, etc. 

• Premiere’s history (evolved from SuperMac’s “ReelTime”; Premiere → Premiere Pro).

• Apple's major misstep with Final Cut 7 → Premiere Pro's mass adoption.

• Market share overview / The “Big Four” (Avid, Premiere, Resolve, Final Cut).

• Industry dominance comparison (Hollywood union vs indie/commercial/digital).

• Core workflow differences (media ingest, trimming vs keyframing, exporting and delivery).

• Update cadence and development philosophy (Avid stability vs Adobe rapid feature rollouts).

• AI, Avid ScriptSync vs Adobe Firefly / text-based editing.

Assignment: What NLE (Non-Linear Editing) Software Do Editors Use in the Work You Admire?

• Make a list of five films, TV shows, commercials, or other media projects that inspire you or reflect the type of work you want to do as an editor

• Research which editing software was used in each project’s post-production

Session #2: Choosing the Right Path: Real-World Workflows, Industry Use, and Career Application

This session examines how each NLE performs in real-world production environments, covering workflow approaches, collaboration versus solo editing, industry standards, and how your career goals should guide your choice of platform.

What Will Be Covered:

• Brief recap of core differences.

• Workflow considerations - Solo vs collaborative environments, Media management (bin/project structure vs open timeline), Proxy creation and conform / Resolve handoff.

• Short demos (af time allows): Avid vs Premiere trimming, Dynamic Link (Premiere/After Effects), ScriptSync vs text-based editing.

• Career path implications • Hollywood/union → Avid, Indie / commercial / digital → Premiere (Resolve downstream). Studio marketing teams often use Premiere regardless of feature pipeline

• Real-world perspective from instructor (Premiere in production, Avid in academia; student example navigating union track)

• Looking ahead: Avid private equity transition, Adobe ecosystem + AI momentum, and Resolve’s growing influence.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This is a previously recorded live class, although the educator is no longer available via email or reviewing assignments, we encourage you to participate in the assignments and learn at your own pace.  

• This class is designed for all level creatives who would like to learn about Avid Media Composer vs. Adobe Premiere Pro.

• This class consists of 2 sessions roughly two hours in duration and offers significantly more in-depth content than a standard Stage 32 webinar.

• To stay motivated and inspired you will have access to a dedicated Stage 32 Lounge post where you can meet, connect and communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the class and beyond. Let Stage 32 help you find your tribe!

• Each session was recorded and you can watch it on demand at your convenience. 

• You can hold yourself accountable to take the lessons from each week and move your work forward.

• Payment plans are available at checkout through Shop Pay

• Anyone working in or aspiring to work in film, television, or digital media, including filmmakers, editors, assistants, and content creators

• Creatives at any level who want clarity on which editing platform best supports their projects and career goals

TESTIMONIALS FOR WON:

"I've cried so many times over long editing days. Won is so smart and passionate, and gives the best feedback on edits that I know I'll never have those same issues again!" - Jack K.

"Won was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and experienced. I learned a lot. And I'm glad I attended." - Dele F