CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Ministry of Revenue Quebec [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Ministry of Revenue Quebec [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Standby Letters of Credit [Member] Office Space - Burlington, Massachusetts [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Standby Letters of Credit [Member] Office Space - Daly City, California [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Avid Technology Domestic [Member] Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Operating Lease Commitments [Abstract]
Maximum exposure					$ 2,600,000	$ 800,000
Minimum exposure					1,200,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount							6,200,000
Contingencies [Abstract]
Amount assessed and paid related to social taxes on stock-based compensation				1,700,000
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority			1,900,000
Product warranty accrual [Roll Forward]
Accrual balance at beginning of year	4,476,000	4,743,000
Accruals for product warranties	1,151,000	3,447,000
Cost of warranty claims	(1,554,000)	(2,436,000)
Accrual balance at end of period	$ 4,073,000	$ 5,754,000