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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VKVhMXQtm+tY0R8OxKuZ3BAL41fsH+IomyvmffxmtRSEPdc7n34ys9pjUSdkXdIZ
 IX73farPU7Y0gO5dUXIj2A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001201505-09-000002.txt : 20090304
<SEC-HEADER>0001201505-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090304
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090304160945
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001201505-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090303
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090304
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHENKKAN GERARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201505

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21174
		FILM NUMBER:		09655650

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MAXTOR CORP 500 MCCARTHY BLVD
		CITY:			MILPITAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95835

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AVID TECHNOLOGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000896841
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [3861]
		IRS NUMBER:				042977748
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		METROPOLITAN TECHNOLOGY PARK
		STREET 2:		ONE PARK WEST
		CITY:			TEWKSBURY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01876
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9786406789

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		METROPOLITAN TECHNOLOGY PARK
		STREET 2:		ONE PARK WEST
		CITY:			TEWKSBURY
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01876
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000896841</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVID TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVID</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201505</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHENKKAN GERARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>40 CEDRO AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94127</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; General Manager, Audio</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>239</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.51</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11991</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting on March 3, 2009 of 25% of the restricted stock units awarded to the reporting person on March 3, 2008.  The Restricted Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to which the restricted stock units were awarded provides for the automatic withholding of shares to satisfy the withholding tax liability on each vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John S. LaMountain as Power of Attorney for Gerard Schenkkan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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