CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Product warranty accrual [Roll Forward]
Accrual balance at beginning of year	$ 3,501,000	$ 4,476,000
Accruals for product warranties	1,270,000	1,151,000
Cost of warranty claims	(1,335,000)	(1,554,000)
Accrual balance at end of period	3,436,000	4,073,000
Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Office Space - Burlington, Massachusetts [Member]
Operating Lease Commitments [Abstract]
Maximum exposure	2,600,000
Minimum exposure	1,200,000
Standby Letters of Credit [Member] | Office Space - Daly City, California [Member]
Operating Lease Commitments [Abstract]
Maximum exposure	800,000
Avid Technology Domestic [Member] | Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Operating Lease Commitments [Abstract]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 2,400,000