Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	May 05, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Avid Technology, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000896841
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		40,873,485
Entity Public Float			$ 222,066,526