I thankfully don’t have a need to use Media Composer that much anymore, but I keep it installed for that occasional time someone sends an .avb instead of the more cross platform .aaf .[2] If you’re anything like me it’s frustrating that an application that is forced on you by installing another program 1) launches at log in by default and 2) has no user facing way to disable this behavior. I could maybe forgive such an application if it kept to itself and had a small system footprint. Avid Application Manager fails on both fronts.
By default the Avid Application Manager will sign you up for a bunch of “feeds” that are sending you system level notifications whenever they feel like it. Those are easy enough to turn off. The nail in the coffin for me is the amount of memory Avid Application Manager and friends are using up in the background; this is after a cold boot and not touching Application Manager or Media Composer:
So, naturally I researched ways to prevent this software from launching at log in. The wonderful folks over at Pro Tools Expert have a perfect write up of just how to do so:
If you’re at all leery about editing .plist files don’t be! Get to know how your computer works and follow the steps and you’ll be fine.
I hear you Avid fans out there hollering that Adobe has the Creative Cloud Desktop app and it auto launches at log in and has a huge system footprint with all its crazy background processes even after a cold boot. That is so true, and I appreciate you bringing that up. While there is no doubt that freakin’ app needs some work it has two things on Avid Application Manager. First, it’s prettier. And second:
Step it up, Avid.
