<PAGE>

             As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on ___________
                                                       Registration No. ________

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 MEDIA 100 INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          Delaware                                    04-2532613
(State or other Jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)


                           290 Donald Lynch Boulevard
                     Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752-4748
                         (Address, including zip code,
                  of registrant's principal executive offices)


                           KEY EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                                 Steven D. Shea
                                   Controller
                                 Media 100 Inc.
                           290 Donald Lynch Boulevard
                       Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752-4748
                                 (508) 460-1600
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                     -------------------------------------
                                    Copy to:

                                Peter M. Moldave
                         Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP
                                 40 Broad Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                                  617-350-6800


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Proposed maximum    Proposed maximum
          Title of securities     Amount to be      offering price per  aggregate offering       Amount of
           to be registered        registered            unit (1)            price (2)      registration fee (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>                  <C>                 <C>                 <C>

         Common Stock            200,000 shares           $1.53             $306,000               $76.50
         issuable under the
         Key Employee
         Incentive Plan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


(1)      Represents the fair market value of the Common Stock on July 13, 2001,
         based on the average of the high and low sale price reported by the
         NASDAQ National Market for such date.

(2)      Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h).

(3)      .025% of the maximum aggregate offering price.


<PAGE>


                                  INTRODUCTION

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Media 100 Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company" or the "Registrant"), relating to 200,000 shares of
Common Stock (the "Common Stock") in accordance with the terms of the Company's
Key Employee Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), to be registered hereby, which
obligations are in addition to the 200,000 shares registered on the Company's
Form S-8 filed on May 8, 1998 (Commission File No. 333-52139), 1,000,000 shares
registered on the Company's Form S-8 filed on March 28, 1997 (Commission File
No. 333-24139) and the 520,000 shares registered on the Company's Form S-8 filed
on August 10, 1992 (Commission File No. 33-50692) (collectively, the "Prior
Registration Statements"). Pursuant to Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents
of the Prior Registration Statements, to the extent relating to the registration
of Common Stock and except as otherwise set forth in this Registration
Statement, are incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS


4.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant filed as
         Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
         November 30, 1996 of Media 100 Inc. (File No. 0-14779)).

4.2      By-laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual Report on
         Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1997 of Media 100 Inc.
         (File No. 0-14779)).

4.3      Specimen of the form of certificate representing ownership of shares of
         the Registrant's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (filed as
         Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement No. 333-24139).

10.3     Key Employee Incentive Plan (1992), as amended through June 12, 2001,
         (filed as exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         fiscal quarter end May 31, 2001 of Media 100 Inc. (File No.
         0-14779)).

5        Opinion of Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP.

23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

23.2     Consent of Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP (contained in the opinion
         filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

23.3     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

24       Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of this Registration
         Statement).

                                      II-1


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that is has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the Town of Marlboro, Massachusetts, this 18th day of July
2001.


                                                  MEDIA 100 INC.


                                                  By:    /s/ John A. Molinari
                                                         --------------------
                                                  Name:  John A. Molinari
                                                  Title: President and Chief
                                                         Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes and
constitutes John A. Molinari and Steven D. Shea, each of them singly, his true
and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign
for him and in his name in the capacities indicated below any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file
the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
and he hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said
attorneys, or any of them, to any and all such amendments.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Signature                                  Title                                       Date
<S>                                      <C>                                        <C>


/s/ JOHN A. MOLINARI                      President and Chief Executive                July 18, 2001
-------------------------                 Officer and Director
John A. Molinari                          (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ STEVEN D. SHEA                        Chief Financial Officer and Chief            July 18, 2001
-------------------------                 Accounting Officer
Steven D. Shea                            (Principal Financial Officer and
                                          Principal Accounting Officer)


/s/ MAURICE L. CASTONGUAY                  Director                                    July 18, 2001
-------------------------
Maurice L. Castonguay


/s/ CARL ROSENDAHL                         Director                                    July 18, 2001
-------------------------
Carl Rosendahl


/s/ PAUL J. SEVERINO                       Director                                    July 18, 2001
-------------------------
Paul J. Severino
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.       Description

     4.1          Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant filed
                  as Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                  fiscal year ended November 30, 1996 of Media 100 Inc. (File
                  No. 0-14779)).

     4.2          By-laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual
                  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30,
                  1997 of Media 100 Inc. (File No. 0-14779)).

     4.3          Specimen of the form of certificate representing ownership of
                  shares of the Registrant's Common Stock, par value $.01 per
                  share (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement No.
                  333-24139).

     10.3         Key Employee Incentive Plan (1992), as amended through June
                  12, 2001, (filed as exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on
                  Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter end May 31, 2001 of Media 100
                  Inc. (File No. 0-14779)).

     5            Opinion of Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP.

     23.1         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

     23.2         Consent of Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP (contained in the
                  opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

     23.3         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

     24           Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of this
                  Registration Statement).


                                       E-1
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MEDIA 100 INC", "cik": "0000713138", "assigned-sic": "3577", "irs-number": "042532613", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1130"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-65336", "film-number": "1683726"}, "business-address": {"street1": "290 DONALD LYNCH BLVD", "city": "MARLBOROUGH", "state": "MA", "zip": "01752-4748", "phone": "5084601600"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "290 DONALD LYNCH BLVD", "city": "MARLBOROUGH", "state": "MA", "zip": "01752"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "DATA TRANSLATION INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on ___________
                                                       Registration No. ________

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 MEDIA 100 INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                                    04-2532613
(State or other Jurisdiction of            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)

                           290 Donald Lynch Boulevard
                     Marlborough, Massachusetts 01752-4748
                         (Address, including zip code,
                  of registrant's principal executive offices)

                           KEY EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plan)

                                 Steven D. Shea
                                   Controller
                                 Media 100 Inc.
                           290 Donald Lynch Boulevard
                       Marlboro, Massachusetts 01752-4748
                                 (508) 460-1600
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                     -------------------------------------
                                    Copy to:

                                Peter M. Moldave
                         Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP
                                 40 Broad Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                                  617-350-6800

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Proposed maximum    Proposed maximum
          Title of securities     Amount to be      offering price per  aggregate offering       Amount of
           to be registered        registered            unit (1)            price (2)      registration fee (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock            200,000 shares           $1.53             $306,000               $76.50
         issuable under the
         Key Employee
         Incentive Plan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)      Represents the fair market value of the Common Stock on July 13, 2001,
         based on the average of the high and low sale price reported by the
         NASDAQ National Market for such date.

(2)      Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h).

(3)      .025% of the maximum aggregate offering price.
INTRODUCTION

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed by Media 100 Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company" or the "Registrant"), relating to 200,000 shares of
Common Stock (the "Common Stock") in accordance with the terms of the Company's
Key Employee Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), to be registered hereby, which
obligations are in addition to the 200,000 shares registered on the Company's
Form S-8 filed on May 8, 1998 (Commission File No. 333-52139), 1,000,000 shares
registered on the Company's Form S-8 filed on March 28, 1997 (Commission File
No. 333-24139) and the 520,000 shares registered on the Company's Form S-8 filed
on August 10, 1992 (Commission File No. 33-50692) (collectively, the "Prior
Registration Statements"). Pursuant to Instruction E of Form S-8, the contents
of the Prior Registration Statements, to the extent relating to the registration
of Common Stock and except as otherwise set forth in this Registration
Statement, are incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS

4.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant filed as
         Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
         November 30, 1996 of Media 100 Inc. (File No. 0-14779)).

4.2      By-laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual Report on
         Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1997 of Media 100 Inc.
         (File No. 0-14779)).

4.3      Specimen of the form of certificate representing ownership of shares of
         the Registrant's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (filed as
         Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement No. 333-24139).

10.3     Key Employee Incentive Plan (1992), as amended through June 12, 2001,
         (filed as exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         fiscal quarter end May 31, 2001 of Media 100 Inc. (File No.
         0-14779)).

5        Opinion of Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP.

23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

23.2     Consent of Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP (contained in the opinion
         filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

23.3     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

24       Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of this Registration
         Statement).

                                      II-1
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that is has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the Town of Marlboro, Massachusetts, this 18th day of July
2001.

                                                  MEDIA 100 INC.

                                                  By:    /s/ John A. Molinari
                                                         --------------------
                                                  Name:  John A. Molinari
                                                  Title: President and Chief
                                                         Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes and
constitutes John A. Molinari and Steven D. Shea, each of them singly, his true
and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign
for him and in his name in the capacities indicated below any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file
the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
and he hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by said
attorneys, or any of them, to any and all such amendments.
Signature                                  Title                                       Date
/s/ JOHN A. MOLINARI                      President and Chief Executive                July 18, 2001
-------------------------                 Officer and Director
John A. Molinari                          (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ STEVEN D. SHEA                        Chief Financial Officer and Chief            July 18, 2001
-------------------------                 Accounting Officer
Steven D. Shea                            (Principal Financial Officer and
                                          Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ MAURICE L. CASTONGUAY                  Director                                    July 18, 2001
-------------------------
Maurice L. Castonguay

/s/ CARL ROSENDAHL                         Director                                    July 18, 2001
-------------------------
Carl Rosendahl

/s/ PAUL J. SEVERINO                       Director                                    July 18, 2001
-------------------------
Paul J. Severino
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.       Description

     4.1          Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant filed
                  as Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                  fiscal year ended November 30, 1996 of Media 100 Inc. (File
                  No. 0-14779)).

     4.2          By-laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual
                  Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 30,
                  1997 of Media 100 Inc. (File No. 0-14779)).

     4.3          Specimen of the form of certificate representing ownership of
                  shares of the Registrant's Common Stock, par value $.01 per
                  share (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Registration Statement No.
                  333-24139).

     10.3         Key Employee Incentive Plan (1992), as amended through June
                  12, 2001, (filed as exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on
                  Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter end May 31, 2001 of Media 100
                  Inc. (File No. 0-14779)).

     5            Opinion of Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP.

     23.1         Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.

     23.2         Consent of Lucash, Gesmer & Updegrove, LLP (contained in the
                  opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement).

     23.3         Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

     24           Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of this
                  Registration Statement).

                                       E-1