UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

[X]      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                For the quarterly period ended September 27, 1996

                                       OR

[ ]      TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

             For the transition period from ________ to ____________

                           Commission File No. 0-24784

                             PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.
                             ----------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

       California                                          94-3003809           
- -------------------------------             ------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)              


                                                             
870 West Maude Avenue                                             
Sunnyvale, California                                        94086
- ---------------------------------------                    ---------
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

                                 (408) 720-9669
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No
                                      ---  ---

The number of shares of common stock  outstanding  as of September  27, 1996 was
7,481,808.

                                     Page 1


                                      INDEX


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

          ITEM 1 - Condensed consolidated financial statements

                   Condensed consolidated balance sheets -
                       September 30, 1996 and June 30, 1996                3

                   Condensed consolidated statements of operations -
                       three months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995      4

                   Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows -
                       three months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995      5

                   Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements    6

          ITEM 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                       Condition and Results of Operations                 8


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

          ITEM 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                        11

                    Signatures                                             12


     See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                       2

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements



                     PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDARIES
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (In thousands)
                                  

                                                                         September 30,                  June 30,
                                                                             1996                         1996
                                                                             ----                         ----
                                                                                                      

                                     Assets

Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                                             $39,702                      $27,846
      Marketable securities                                                  15,265                       29,315
      Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
        accounts and returns of $997 and $840 as of
        September 30, 1996 and June 30, 1996,
        respectively                                                          9,206                        7,526
      Inventories                                                             9,238                        9,611
      Deferred taxes                                                          2,091                        2,091
      Prepaid expenses                                                          306                          311
                                                                           --------                      -------
                   Total current assets                                      75,808                       76,700


Property and equipment, net                                                   3,616                        2,204
Marketable securities                                                         3,978                        3,973
Deferred taxes                                                                1,154                        1,154
Other assets                                                                    705                          530
                                                                           --------                      -------
                                                                            $85,261                      $84,561
                                                                           ========                      =======

                            Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                                                     $  1,431                    $   1,495
      Accrued expenses                                                        2,765                        2,621
      Deferred revenue                                                          189                          247
                                                                           --------                      -------
                   Total current liabilities                                  4,385                        4,363
                                                                           --------                      -------

Contingencies

Shareholders' equity:
      Common stock; authorized 15,000 shares; 7,482 and
        7,468 issued and outstanding as of September 30, and
        June 30, 1996, respectively                                          77,962                       77,902
      Deferred compensation, net                                                (28)                         (34)
      Retained earnings                                                       2,942                        2,330
                                                                           --------                      -------
                   Total shareholders' equity                                80,876                       80,198
                                                                           --------                      -------
                                                                            $85,261                      $84,561
                                                                           ========                      =======
<FN>

     See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</FN>


                                       3


                     PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONDENSED COLSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                     (In thousands, except per share data)
                                  


                                                               Three
                                                           Months Ended
                                                           September 30,
                                                      ------------------------
                                                          1996         1995
                                                          ----         ----

Net sales                                              $ 11,443        $ 9,321
Cost of sales                                             5,996          4,811
                                                      ---------        -------

                 Gross profit                             5,447          4,510
                                                      ---------        -------

Operating expenses:
        Engineering and product development               1,782            932
        Sales and marketing                               2,694          1,876
        General and administrative                          764            441
                                                      ---------        -------

                Total operating expenses                  5,240          3,249
                                                      ---------        -------

                Operating income                            207          1,261

Interest income, net                                        763            681
                                                      ---------        -------

                Income before income taxes                  970          1,942

Income tax expense                                         (358)          (679)
                                                      ---------        -------

        Net income                                    $     612        $ 1,263
                                                      =========        =======

Net income per share                                  $    0.08        $  0.17
                                                      =========        =======

Shares used to compute net income per share               7,823          7,534
                                                      =========        =======


     See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                       4




                     PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDARIES
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
                                 (In thousands)
                                  

                                                                                           Three Months Ended September 30,
                                                                                           --------------------------------
                                                                                                 1996               1995
                                                                                                 ----               ----
                                                                                                          
Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income                                                                            $     612           $  1,263
      Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
          (used in) operating activities:
           Depreciation and amortization                                                          254                116
           Tax benefit from exercise of common stock options                                       --                679
           Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                Accounts receivable                                                            (1,680)              (520)
                Inventories                                                                       373               (743)
                Accrued expenses                                                                  144                346
                Other                                                                            (293)               (31)
                                                                                            ---------           -------- 

                      Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities                        (590)             1,110
                                                                                            ---------           --------
Cash flows investing activities:                                                                                
      Purchases of property and equipment                                                      (1,659)              (323)
      Purchase of marketable securities                                                        (3,955)           (21,047)
      Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities                                          18,000                 --
                                                                                            ---------           --------

                      Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities                      12,386            (21,370)
                                                                                            ---------           --------
Cash flow from financing activities:                                                                            
      Proceeds from issuance of common stock                                                       60             43,987
                                                                                            ---------           --------

                      Net cash provided by financing activities                                    60             43,987
                                                                                            ---------           --------
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                                      11,856             23,727

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                                               27,846             12,626
                                                                                            ---------           --------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                                  $  39,702           $ 36,353
                                                                                            =========           ========
Supplemental disclosures of cash paid during the period:
      Interest                                                                              $       2           $      1
                                                                                            =========           ========

      Income taxes                                                                          $     285           $     33
                                                                                            =========           ========
<FN>
     See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</FN>

                                       5


                     PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 (In thousands)
                                  
1.       General

The  accompanying  financial  statements  have been prepared in conformity  with
generally  accepted  accounting  principles.  However,  certain  information  or
footnote  disclosures  normally  included in  financial  statements  prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting  principles have been condensed or
omitted  pursuant to the rules and  regulations  of the  Securities and Exchange
Commission.  The  information  furnished in this report reflects all adjustments
which,  in the opinion of management,  are necessary for a fair statement of the
consolidated financial position,  results of operations and cash flows as of and
for the interim periods. Such adjustments consist of items of a normal recurring
nature. The condensed  consolidated  financial statements included herein should
be read in conjunction  with the financial  statements and notes thereto,  which
include information as to significant  accounting policies,  for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1996  included  in the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 17, 1996. Results
of operations for interim periods are not necessarily  indicative of results for
the full year.

2.       Significant Accounting Policies

Fiscal Year

Pinnacle Systems, Inc. and  its  subsidiaries  (the Company) reports on a fiscal
year which ends on June 30. The Company's first three fiscal quarters end on the
last  Friday  in  September,   December,  and  March.  For  financial  statement
presentation,  the Company has  indicated  its fiscal  quarters as ending on the
month-end.

Net Income Per Share

Net income per share is computed  using the  weighted  average  number of common
shares and dilutive  common  stock  equivalents  outstanding  using the treasury
stock method.

3.       Financial Instruments

In May 1993,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  issued  Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in
Debt and Equity Securities" (FAS 115). The Company adopted the provisions of FAS
115 for  investments  held as of or  acquired  after  July 1,  1994.  Under  the
provisions  of FAS 115, debt  securities  that the Company has both the positive
intent and ability to hold to maturity are carried at amortized cost. Presently,
the Company classifies all debt securities as held-to-maturity  and carries them
at amortized cost. Interest income is recorded using an effective interest rate,
with the  associated  premium or discount  amortized to  "Interest  income." The
adoption of FAS 115 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated
financial statements.

The fair value of marketable securities is substantially equal to their carrying
value as of  September  30, 1996.  All  investments  at September  30, 1996 were
classified as held-to-maturity. Such investments mature through November 1997.


4.       Inventories

A summary of inventories follows:

                                        September 30,            June 30,
                                            1996                   1996
                                            ----                   ----
     Raw materials                         $6,806                  7,695
     Work in process                          228                    405
     Finished goods                         2,204                  1,511
                                          -------                -------
                                           $9,238                 $9,611
                                          =======                =======

                                       6


                     PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                 (In thousands)


5.       Customers and Credit Concentrations

During the three months ended  September 30, 1996 and 1995, Avid Technology Inc.
accounted for approximately 27.2% and 33.8%, respectively,  of net sales. During
the three months ended September 30, 1996, Data Translation,  Inc. accounted for
approximately 12.8% of net sales. No other customers accounted for more than 10%
of sales.

Avid Technology  Inc.  accounted for  approximately  25.3% and 36.7% of accounts
receivable  at  September  30,  1996  and  June  30,  1996,  respectively.  Data
Translation,  Inc. accounted for approximately  15.7%  of accounts receivable at
September 30, 1996.

6.       Related Parties

The Company and Bell  Microproducts  Inc.  ("Bell")  are parties to an agreement
("the Bell  Agreement")  under  which  value-added  turnkey  services  are to be
performed by Bell on behalf of the Company.  A director of the Company is also a
director  of Bell.  The Bell  Agreement  provides  that Bell will build  certain
products  in  accordance  with the  Company's  specifications.  During the three
months ended  September  30, 1996 and 1995,  the Company paid $2,087 and $3,349,
respectively, to Bell pursuant to the Bell Agreement.

                                       7



Item 2.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of
             Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Certain Forward-Looking Information

         Certain  statements in this  Management's  Discussions and Analysis are
forward-looking  statements  based on current  expectations,  and entail various
risks and  uncertainties  that could cause actual  results to differ  materially
from  those  expressed  in  such  forward-looking  statements.  Such  risks  and
uncertainties  are set  forth  below  under  "Overview."  These  forward-looking
statements  include  paragraphs below relating to "Net Sales," the last sentence
of the paragraph below relating to "Engineering  and Product  Development,"  the
statements  below under  "Overview,"  the  statements  regarding  the  Company's
expected  investment in property,  machinery and equipment under  "Liquidity and
Capital Resources" below, among others.

Overview

         The  Company   designs,   manufactures,   markets  and  supports  video
post-production tools for high quality real time video processing. The Company's
products  are  used to  perform  a  variety  of  video  manipulation  functions,
including  the  addition  of special  effects,  graphics  and titles to multiple
streams  of live or  previously  recorded  video  material.  From the  Company's
inception in 1986 until 1994,  substantially all of the Company's  revenues were
derived from the sale of products into the traditional video market. The Company
currently has two product  families  designed  to serve this market;  Prizm, and
FlashFile.   Prizm  provides  real  time  digital  video  effects  capabilities,
compositing,   3D  modeling  and  animation   tools,   and  FlashFile   provides
sophisticated still store library management capabilities with optional titling,
paint and video clips.

         With the  introduction of Alladin in June 1994, the Company began sales
into the desktop video market.  The Alladin  product  family  provides real time
digital video manipulation  capabilities for the desktop video market. Since the
introduction of Alladin,  the Company's sales growth has been largely  dependent
on  the  success  of  the  Alladin.   Sales  of  Alladin  products   represented
approximately  48.3% and 70.4% of net sales for the three  month  periods  ended
September  30, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  A decline in demand for Alladin or
the  failure  of  Alladin  to  maintain  market  acceptance,   as  a  result  of
competition,  technological  change  or other  factors,  would  have a  material
adverse  effect on the  Company's  business,  operating  results  and  financial
condition.

         In June 1996,  the Company  commenced  shipment of Genie, a new desktop
video product  family.  The Company is critically  dependent upon the successful
market  acceptance,  manufacture,  distribution  and sale of  Genie to  increase
revenue  and  maintain  profitability  in the  future.  Sales of Genie  products
represented  approximately  23.4% of net sales for the three month  period ended
September 30, 1996. In order to successfully promote and sell Genie, the Company
will be required to rapidly bring it into volume production, a process that will
require  the  attainment  of  acceptable  manufacturing  yields and  costs.  New
products  typically have lower initial  manufacturing  yields and higher initial
manufacturing costs then more mature products.  In addition,  despite testing by
the  Company,  as is typical  with any new  product  introduction,  quality  and
reliability  problems  may arise and any such  problems  could result in reduced
bookings,  manufacturing rework costs, delays in collecting accounts receivable,
additional  service warranty costs and a limitation on market  acceptance of the
product.  The  success  of Genie  will also  require  the  Company to manage the
introduction in order to minimize disruption in customer's ordering patterns for
Alladin.  Sales of Genie will also be dependent on the successful integration of
Genie by various original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") into their non-linear
editing  products.  Any delay in the Company's  ability to manufacture  and ship
Genie,  the  failure  of Genie to gain  market  acceptance,  and the  timing and
success in which Genie is integrated into non-linear OEM systems could adversely
affect the  Company's  business,  operating  results  and  financial  condition,
particularly on a quarterly basis.

         In June 1996, the Company acquired the Video Director product line from
Gold Disk, Inc. Video Director is low-cost video software package sold primarily
to home  video  enthusiasts.  Pinnacle  anticipates  developing  a new family of
products that combine a subset of its video  manipulation  technology with Video
Director  technology  to create a new category of products  enabling  home video
enthusiasts to create  professional-looking  video content.  The introduction of
these  products is  directed at a new market and depends on expected  technology
and market acceptance.  There can be no assurance that the market for home video
systems will expand, or that these new products will be accepted by that market.
The sources of  competition  on the home video market are not yet well  defined.
The Company expects that existing computer software manufacturers and new market
entrants  will develop new  products  that may compete  directly  with the Video
Director derivative products to be developed by the Company.  Suppliers or other
computer software products have established distribution channels and experience
in  marketing  low price  products  and may acquire or develop high quality home
video editing and manipulation  products for this market.  Increased competition
could  result in lower  prices,  margins,  and market 

                                       8


share than are currently anticipated in designing and developing these products.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete  successfully
against current and future  competitors in the video markets.  To the extent the
Company is not  successful  with the  development  and sales of products in this
market  segment,  the  Company's  business,   operating  results  and  financial
condition could be adversely affected.

         The Company distributes and sells its products to end users through the
combination of independent  domestic and international  dealers,  OEMs and, to a
lesser extent, a direct sales force.  Sales to dealers and OEMs are generally at
a discount to the published  list prices.  Generally,  products sold to OEMs are
integrated  into  systems  sold by the OEMs to their  customers.  The  amount of
discount,  and consequently the Company's gross profit,  varies depending on the
product and the channel of distribution  through which it is sold, the volume of
product purchased and other factors.  In the United States, the Company supports
the sale of desktop products with independent  sales  representatives  that earn
commissions based on sales into their region.

         The Company is highly  dependent on sales of Alladin and Genie products
through  OEM's,  in  particular  Avid   Technology,   Inc.   ("Avid")  and  Data
Translation,   Inc.   ("Data   Translation").   Sales  to  Avid   accounted  for
approximately  27.2% and  33.8% of net  sales  during  the  three  months  ended
September  30,  1996 and 1995,  respectively,  while  sales to Data  Translation
accounted  for  approximately  12.8% and 0% of net sales during the three months
ended September 30, 1996 and 1995. This concentration of the Company's net sales
subjects  the  Company  to a number of risks,  in  particular  the risk that its
operating  results  will  vary on a  quarter  to  quarter  basis as a result  of
variations  in the ordering  patterns of the OEM  customers.  Variations  in the
timing of revenues can cause  significant  fluctuations in quarterly  results of
operations.  The Company's  results of operations could be materially  adversely
affected by the failure of anticipated orders to materialize and by deferrals or
cancellations  of orders as a result of changes  in Avid and Data  Translation's
requirements.  For  example,  sales to Avid in the first  quarter of fiscal 1997
were lower than sales in the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1996 leading to a decline
in overall  net sales,  partially  offset by the  commencement  of sales to Data
Translation. If the Company were to lose Avid or Data Translation as a customer,
or if orders from these  customers  were to otherwise  decrease,  the  Company's
business,   operating  results  and  financial  condition  would  be  materially
adversely affected. See "Results of Operations-Net Sales."

         The Company currently intends to develop and market follow-on  products
for the traditional  video market.  The introduction of such products would have
the  same  market  acceptance,  manufacture,  distribution  and  sales  risks as
described for the Genie family.  The  introduction of new  traditional  products
could  significantly  slow or replace sales of Prizm and/or  FlashFile.  If this
were to occur  prior to  shipment of any new  products,  sales of the  Company's
traditional  video product and  total  sales  could be  adversely  affected.  In
addition,  if sales of the Prizm and/or FlashFile products were to decrease more
rapidly than expected, the Company could be left with excess Prizm and FlashFile
inventory which could materially affect the Company's financial condition.

         The  Company is  preparing  for a move from its  Sunnyvale,  California
headquarters  to another  facility in  Mountain  View,  California.  The Company
expects to move into the new facility,  located  approximately one mile from the
current  facility,  in October 1996.  During the transition to the new facility,
the Company will be required to maintain an uninterrupted  supply of products in
order to avoid any  disruption  in customer  shipments.  Any failure to maintain
acceptable  production  levels during the  transition to the new facility  could
adversely affect the Company's operating results, particularly in the quarter of
the  transition.  The Company is  obligated  to continue  lease  payments on the
Sunnyvale  facility through November 15, 1996. The Company's  financial  results
may be  affected  as a  result  of this  move,  since  the  Company  will  incur
relocation  and other moving costs of up to $200,000 and rent  expenses  will be
incurred on two facilities through November 15, 1996.

Results of Operations

         Net Sales.  The Company's net sales  increased by 23% to $11,443,000 in
the three months ended September 30, 1996 from $9,321,000  during the comparable
three months in the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to sales
of the new Genie and Video Director product lines, partially offset by a decline
in sales of Alladin  and  traditional  video  products.  Sales  outside of North
America  were  approximately  36.2% and  38.3% of net sales in the three  months
ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

         As previously mentioned, sales to the Company's largest customer, Avid,
declined  from the fourth  quarter of fiscal 1996 to the first quarter of fiscal
1997.  The  Company  believes  this trend will likely  continue  into the second
quarter  of fiscal  1997 and that net  sales to Avid in the  second  quarter  of
fiscal 1997 will likely  decline  sequentially  from the first quarter of fiscal
1997. To the extent that sales do decline sequentially,  the Company's business,
operating  results  and  financial  condition  would  be  materially   adversely
effected, if such decline is not offset by an increase in other sales.

                                       9


         Cost of Sales. Cost of sales consists primarily of costs related to the
acquisition of components and subassemblies,  labor and overhead associated with
procurement,  assembly, and testing of finished products, warehousing,  shipping
and warranty costs.  Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was substantially
unchanged  at 47.6% in the three  months ended  September  30, 1996  compared to
48.4% in the three months ended September 30, 1995.

         Engineering   and   Product   Development.   Engineering   and  product
development  expenses  increased  91.2% to  $1,782,000 in the three months ended
September  30, 1996 from $932,000 for the same period in 1995.  Engineering  and
product  development  expenses as a percentage of net sales were 15.6% and 10.0%
during the three months ended  September  30, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  The
increase was primarily attributable to increased expenditures in connection with
the continued  expansion of the Company's  engineering  design team. The Company
expects to continue to allocate significant resources to engineering and product
development efforts.

         Sales and Marketing.  Sales and marketing expenses include compensation
and benefits for sales and marketing personnel,  commissions paid to independent
sales representatives, trade show and advertising expenses and professional fees
for  marketing  services.  Sales and  marketing  expenses  increased by 43.6% to
$2,694,000 in the three months ended  September 30, 1996 from $1,876,000 for the
same period in 1995. Sales and marketing as a percentage of net sales were 23.5%
and  20.1% for the three  month  periods  ending  September  30,  1996 and 1995,
respectively.  The  increase  in sales  and  marketing  expenses  was  primarily
attributable to increased expenditures related to continued promotion of Alladin
and the  introduction  and subsequent  promotion and sale of the Genie products,
including  expenditures  for trade shows,  advertising  creation and  placement,
professional  fees for  marketing  services and increases in the number of sales
and marketing personnel.

         General  and  Administrative.   General  and  administrative   expenses
increased  73.2% to $764,000 in the three months ended  September  30, 1996 from
$441,000 for the same period in 1995. General and  administrative  expenses as a
percentage  of net sales were 6.7% and 4.7% for the three month  periods  ending
September   30,   1996  and  1995,   respectively.   Included   in  general  and
administrative  expenses  in the  three  months  ended  September  30,  1996  is
approximately  $122,000  relating to pre-move costs,  rent and utilities for the
Company's new facility in Mountain View, California. The Company is preparing to
move into the new  facility  in  October,  1996,  and will be  subject to rental
expense on two  facilities  until November 15, 1996, at which time the Company's
lease  on  the  current  Sunnyvale,  California  facility  will  terminate.  The
remaining  change  resulted  from an  increase  in  expenditures  related to the
overall growth of the Company's operations.

         Interest  Income,  Net. In the three months ended  September  30, 1996,
interest  income,  net was  $763,000 as  compared to $681,000 in the  comparable
period a year  ago.  The  change  is  primarily  due to the  investment  of cash
proceeds  received from the Company's  follow-on public offering of common stock
in July 1995.

         Income Tax Expense.  The Company  recorded a provision for income taxes
of $358,000 and $679,000 for the three months ended September 30, 1996 and 1995,
respectively,  at effective rates of 37% and 35%,  respectively.  As of June 30,
1996, the Company's reported net operating loss carryforwards were approximately
$122,000 for federal income tax purposes.  The Company's general business credit
carryforwards were estimated to be approximately $286,000 for federal income tax
purposes.  If not utilized,  these  carryforwards will expire in various amounts
from 2006 through 2011. The Company's ability to utilize these  carryforwards is
subject  to certain  limitations  due to an  ownership  change as defined by the
provisions of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Significant Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results

         The Company's  quarterly operating results have in the past varied, and
are  expected  to vary  significantly  in the  future as a result of a number of
factors,  including  the timing of  significant  orders  from and  shipments  to
customers,  in  particular  Avid and Data  Translation,  the  timing  and market
acceptance  of new  products  or  technological  advances by the Company and its
competitors,  the mix of  distribution  channels  through  which  the  Company's
products  are  sold,  changes  in  pricing  policies  by  the  Company  and  its
competitors,  the  accuracy of  resellers'  forecasts  of end user  demand,  the
ability of the Company to obtain sufficient  supplies of the major subassemblies
used in its products from its subcontractors, the ability of the Company and its
subcontractors  to  obtain  sufficient   supplies  of  sole  or  limited  source
components for the Company's  products,  and general  economic  conditions  both
domestically  and  internationally.  The Company's  expense levels are based, in
part,  on its  expectations  as to future  revenue and, as a result,  net income
would be  disproportionately  affected by a reduction in net sales.  The Company
experiences significant  fluctuations in orders and sales, due mainly to reduced
customer  purchasing  activity  during the summer months and the timing of major
trade shows.  The Company  expects that its operating  results will fluctuate in
the future as a result of these and other factors, including changes in the rate
of sales to 

                                       10


OEM  customers,  in  particular  Avid and Data  Translation,  and the  Company's
success in  developing,  introducing  and shipping new  products,  in particular
Genie and new products  designed for the consumer  market.  Due to these factors
and the  potential  quarterly  fluctuations  in operating  results,  the Company
believes that  quarter-to-quarter  comparisons  of its results of operations are
not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as indicators of future
performance.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         The Company has financed its operations  through private  placements of
equity  securities  with aggregate net proceeds of  approximately  $6.9 million,
long-term debt,  short-term bank borrowings and cash generated from  operations.
In addition,  the Company completed public offerings of common stock in November
1994  and  July  1995  raising  approximately  $65.5  million,  net of  offering
expenses.

         The Company's  operating  activities used cash of $590,000 in the three
months ended September 30, 1996, and generated $1,110,000 for the same period in
1995.  The cash used in  operating  activities  during  the three  months  ended
September 30, 1996 was the result of net increases in the  components of working
capital,  primarily  accounts  receivable,  partially  offset  by net  income as
adjusted by the effects of depreciation and amortization.

         During the three  months  ended  September  30,  1996,  $1,659,000  was
invested in property  and  equipment,  compared to $323,000 in the three  months
ended September 30, 1995. The current year's additions are primarily  related to
leasehold  improvements for the new Mountain View facility.  See "Overview." The
Company expects to invest between $2.5 million and $3.0 million during the first
two quarters of fiscal 1997 in capital and  leasehold  improvements  for the new
Mountain  View  facility.  In addition to  leasehold  improvements,  the Company
expects to continue to purchase  property and  equipment  at an  increased  rate
during fiscal 1997. Such investing will be financed from working capital.

         As  of  September  30,  1996,  the  Company  had  working   capital  of
approximately   $71.4  million,   including  $39.7  million  in  cash  and  cash
equivalents and $15.3 million in marketable  securities,  and an additional $4.0
million in marketable  securities with maturity dates between one and two years.
The Company believes that the existing cash and cash equivalent balances as well
as marketable  securities  and  anticipated  cash flow from  operations  will be
sufficient  to  support  the  Company's  working  capital  requirements  for the
foreseeable future.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.      Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

            (a) Exhibits:

                10.19.1*  OEM Agreement between Registrant and Data Translation,
                          Incorporated
                10.19.2*  Amendment to OEM Agreement between Registrant and Data
                          Translation, Incorporated
                11.1      Statement of Computation of Net Income Per Share

            (b) Reports on Form 8-K.  No  reports  on Form 8-K were filed by the
                Company during the quarter ended September 30, 1996.

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

*        Confidential  treatment  has been  requested  with  respect  to certain
         portions of this exhibit.  Omitted  portions have been filed separately
         with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                       11


                                   SIGNATURES



Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  Report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                                      PINNACLE SYSTEMS, INC.
                                   
                                   
                                   
Date:  October 21, 1996               By:     /s/Mark L. Sanders
                                           -------------------------------------
                                              Mark L. Sanders
                                              President, Chief Executive Officer
                                              and Director
                                   
Date:  October 21, 1996               By:     /s/Arthur D. Chadwick
                                           -------------------------------------
                                              Arthur D. Chadwick
                                              Vice President, Finance and 
                                              Administration and
                                              Chief Financial Officer
                                   
                                       12
                         

INDEX TO EXHIBITS


                                                                    SEQUENTIALLY
                                                                        NUMBERED
         EXHIBIT                                                            PAGE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.19.1     OEM Agreement between Registrant and Data Translation, Incorporated
10.19.2     Amendment to OEM Agreement between  Registrant and Data Translation,
            Incorporated
11.1        Statement of computation of net income per share



                                       13