-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QEDmmv6HiAp7yQg+r9MGW0l1VbAzn0kUC30Tss6ECHb0dLuAwZOeYbfo41oeLNa8
 hij2q5Cg2l2dyD5hvVHO9Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001364135-09-000008.txt : 20090319
<SEC-HEADER>0001364135-09-000008.hdr.sgml : 20090319
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090319172748
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001364135-09-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090319
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090319

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Parisi Paige
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001364135

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21174
		FILM NUMBER:		09694100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		46 B TROWBRIDGE STREET
		CITY:			CAMBRIGDE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02138

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AVID 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>2009-03-17</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001364135</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Parisi Paige</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>46 TROWBRIDGE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02138</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.80</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-03-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-03-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">10,000 shares will vest on a time-based schedule as follows:  25% of the shares will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date; the remaining shares will vest in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter; 13,332 shares will vest on a performance-based schedule tied to the Company's stock price; and 6,668 shares will vest on a performance-based schedule tied to the Company's stock price or the achievement of certain financial metrics.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John S. LaMountain as Power of Attorney for Paige Parisi</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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