Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Nov. 04, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity File Number	1-36254
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Registrant Name	Avid Technology, Inc.
Entity Address, Address Line One	75 Network Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Burlington
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	01803
Entity Central Index Key	0000896841
State of Incorporation	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-2977748
City Area Code	978
Local Phone Number	640-6789
Title of Security	Common Stock, $.01 par value
Trading Symbol	AVID
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		43,049,179