CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013 Ministry of Revenue Quebec [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Ministry of Revenue Quebec [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Standby Letters of Credit [Member] Office Space - Burlington, Massachusetts [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Standby Letters of Credit [Member] Office Space - Daly City, California [Member]	Jun. 30, 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								1,800,000
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, allocation to divestitures	0	(507,000)
Product warranty accrual [Roll Forward]
Accrual balance at beginning of year	4,476,000	4,743,000	5,639,000
Accruals for product warranties	1,531,000	4,980,000
Cost of warranty claims	(2,317,000)	(3,577,000)
Accrual balance at end of period	$ 3,690,000		$ 5,639,000