Sony Creative Software, a leading worldwide provider of professional video and audio production applications, today announced the availability of Sony’s new multi-codec video encoder for Blu-ray Disc authoring developed in conjunction with Sony Electronics and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Originally announced by Sony Electronics at NAB 2008, the BAE-VX1000 encoder is priced to bring high-speed, high-quality Blu-ray Disc authoring within reach of smaller studios.

“As Blu-ray Discs become consumers’ high-definition format of choice, industry demand for affordable and powerful studio encoding tools is rapidly expanding,” said Dave Chaimson, Sony Creative Software vice president of global marketing. “The BAE-VX1000 encoder was designed to meet the changing needs of the growing professional encoder market. It can decrease total encoding time by up to 30 percent over the previous Sony BAE-VA700 solution through enhancements such as parallel capturing and pre-processing and increased encoding algorithm efficiency.”

Multiple Format Compatibility
A multi-codec design enables BAE-VX1000 encoder compatibility with most common Blu-ray authoring applications, such as Sony Creative Software’s Blu-print. It offers the option of using H.264 AVC or MPEG-2 technology to give production professionals more flexibility, depending on their project deadlines, client preferences or individual workflow requirements. MPEG-2 encoding for traditional DVD authoring is also available in the BAE-VX1000 encoder.

Auto Customize Function
To shorten recording times, the BAE-VX1000 offers an Auto Customize function. This can automatically detect parts of the picture that are difficult to encode, then perform multiple encoding using up to five possible bit rates set up in advance. When two-pass encoding of the entire title is finished, users can review these multiple versions and select the most suitable one based on its picture quality and disc size.

Frame-by-Frame Customization
Each encoding parameter can be customized frame-by-frame for best picture quality. The graphical user interface shifts to another color to indicate where the parameters have changed. After customization, segment encoding allows users to input the smallest range required for re-encoding. This delivers optimum picture quality in the shortest time by avoiding the need to re-encode the entire title.

Scalable Three-speed Configuration
Engineered to suit individual production needs, the BAE-VX1000 offers multiple settings to give Blu-ray Disc producers the most flexibility, while not compromising picture quality. An “Express” mode supports AVC real-time encoding with one PC, when encoding speed is the top priority. When using additional networked processors, “Fast” and “Quality” modes are also available to meet higher performance and quality requirements. The BAE-VX1000 also offers a built in real-time AVC elementary stream decoder that improves the efficiency of quality checking procedures.

Supports Single and Multiple PC Networks for Optimum Studio Flexibility
The BAE-VX1000 encoder can support a simple and affordable single PC configuration that can accomplish AVC encoding in real-time, which is ideal for smaller production houses. The encoder can also be easily expanded to a networked distributed processing configuration, offering large-scale studio encoding studios a new and affordable tool for greater operational flexibility.

Pricing and Availability
The BAE-VX1000 encoder is offered as a turn-key system priced at $55,000 U.S. The system is compatible with 64-bit operating systems on Microsoft Windows Server 2003, XP and Vista. For more information, click here.

PowerFile® Inc., the leader in hybrid storage appliances for long-term storage of digital content and assets, today announced major enhancements to its flagship Active Archive Appliance™ (A3) that significantly improve density, scalability, performance, energy efficiency, and manageability. In addition to doubling performance and increasing rack density 400%, PowerFile has boosted the A3’s industry-leading energy efficiency to over 700TB per kilowatt. With these enhancements, the A3 now supports up to 280TB of online capacity in a standard 42U rack enclosure while using less than 5% of the power and cooling required for an equivalent disk-based storage solution.

Manageability is vastly improved with the addition of capacity optimization software, data retention/disposition policies, and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) support. PowerFile’s capacity optimization software uses adaptive inline data reduction with intelligent algorithm selection for up to 7X reduction of data with minimal impact on performance. Data retention and disposition policies greatly increase the flexibility of the A3 by allowing administrators to automatically preserve and then dispose of data based on file age, file activity, or a specific date. Actions such as policy creation, policy modification and file deletion are electronically logged to provide an audit trail for legal and compliance purposes. The addition of SNMP support allows for seamless integration with existing enterprise storage resource management tools to proactively monitor system status and health.

The A3 is built upon a unique hybrid storage architecture that combines up to 34TB of fast, disk-based cache with up to 240TB of Blu-ray based archive storage. The ArcOS software that is embedded in the A3 virtualizes all of the storage subsystems into pools of storage that can be managed as a single large volume or multiple, smaller volumes depending on customer requirements. Cache can be dynamically allocated to deliver the optimal blend of performance and economy. Combined with PowerFile’s Archive Facilitator™ and Touchless DR™ WAN replication, the Active Archive Appliance offers the industry’s most compelling end-to-end archiving solution encompassing data discovery, contextual classification, automated archiving, cost-effective storage, and best-in-class data protection.

“With over 100 enterprise customers storing critical information on Active Archive Appliances, PowerFile is amassing a tremendous amount of feedback on features that customers would like to see in future products,” said Kirk Dunn, CEO of PowerFile. “That feedback, combined with the benefit of designing our systems from the ground up specifically for cost-effective archiving, allows PowerFile to continually enhance our products and deliver significant improvements to the rapidly growing archive storage market.”

Enhancements to the Active Archive Appliance platform include:

• Next Generation Archive Engine – doubles system performance with new dual-core AMD Opteron architecture and increases maximum cache from 6TB to 34TB.
• Next Generation Archive Library – Patented architecture features the Industry’s first application of field replaceable, slot loading Blu-ray drives for improved serviceability, availability, and reliability. New design also allows for up to 280TB of storage per 42U rack.
• Optional Capacity Optimization Software – Adaptive inline data reduction software uses intelligent, file-specific algorithms for up to 7X reduction of data with minimal impact on performance.
• Data Retention and Disposition Software – Flexible software allows administrators to set share-level data retention and disposition policies based on file age, file activity, or a specific date. Actions such as policy creation, policy modification and file deletion are electronically logged to provide an audit trail for legal and compliance purposes.
• SNMP Support – The Active Archive Appliance is now compatible with popular SNMP tools for monitoring system health.

A new line of Xerox DVD/CD Duplicators with LightScribe labeling capabilities features eight models that are among the most productive, reliable and cost-effective models on the market.

Suitable for the duplicating needs of any organization or business, the new models include from one to 15 writer drives and can operate independently of a PC to provide a quick and inexpensive way to make multiple copies of CDs and DVDs.

LightScribe laser labeling can be used with or without a PC and allows users to burn text or full graphic labels directly onto compatible optical discs without the need for a separate printer. The new duplicators come with the industry’s first “Drag and Drop” file function that transfers image files directly from a PC to the duplicator’s internal hard drive. These easy-to-use features save customers money, reducing the time and effort usually required to produce a master disc for each project.

Several models in the line also provide users with an industry-leading 256MB buffer memory for more stable and reliable high-speed duplication with a greatly reduced occurrence of buffer under-run errors.

www.xeroxduplicators.com

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) is establishing a task force to define the parameters of a stereoscopic 3-D mastering standard for content viewed in the home. Called 3-D Home Display Formats Task Force, the project promises to propel the 3-D home entertainment industry forward by setting the stage for a standard that will enable 3-D feature films and other programming to be played on all fixed devices in the home, no matter the delivery channel. The inaugural meeting of the Task Force is open to entertainment technology professionals interested in participating in the effort, subject to available space (SMPTE membership not required). It takes place on August 19, 2008 and will be hosted by the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at the University of Southern California, near downtown Los Angeles.

"Digital technologies have not only paved the way for high quality 3-D in the theaters, they have also opened the door to 3-D in the home," explained SMPTE Engineering Vice President Wendy Aylsworth. "In order to take advantage of this new opportunity, we need to guarantee consumers that they will be able to view the 3-D content they purchase and provide them with 3-D home solutions for all pocketbooks."

The 3-D Home Display Formats Task Force will explore the standards that need to be set for 3-D content distributed via broadcast, cable, satellite, packaged media and the Internet and played-out on televisions, computer screens and other tethered displays. After six months, the committee will produce a report that defines the issues and challenges, minimum standards, evaluation criteria and more, which will serve as a working document for SMPTE 3-D standards efforts to follow.

The first 3-D Home Display Formats Task Force gathering will feature demonstrations of 3-D technologies. All technology professionals in content creation and distribution, consumer electronics and entertainment tools and services who are considering joining the group are welcome to attend. Non-members will be asked to pay a small fee for the initial meeting, and ongoing participation in the work requires membership in the SMPTE Standards Community.

About the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) (www/smpte.org) is the leading international technical society for the motion imaging industry. As an internationally recognized and accredited standards-setting body, SMPTE develops standards, recommended practices and guidelines and spearheads educational activities to advance engineering and moving imagery. Since its founding in 1916, the Society has established more than 600 standards including the physical dimensions of 35mm film and the SMPTE time code. More recently, it codified the MXF file format to support the exchange of professional AV content and crafted the Digital Cinema Standards, which paved the way for digital movie theaters. Headquartered in New York, SMPTE is comprised of engineers and other technical specialists, IT and new media professionals, filmmakers, manufacturers, educators and consultants in more than 65 countries. They are joined at SMPTE by more than 200 sponsoring corporations, principal players in content creation, production and delivery for all platforms and in entertainment hardware and software. About the Entertainment Technology Center @ USC
The Entertainment Technology Center @ USC (www.etcenter.org) is a non-profit organization within USC's School of Cinematic Arts which brings together the top entertainment, technology and consumer electronic companies to discuss how to understand what next-generation consumers want and then to work towards new entertainment products and services for the future. ETC's Executive Sponsors are Disney, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox, Viacom/Paramount, Warner Bros., along with Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, Inc., Lucasfilm Ltd, Sharp, TATA Consultancy Services, Thomson and Volkswagen of America. Additionally, ETC's Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab (AACL) is sponsored by Dolby, LG Electronics and Sandisk.

One of ETC's current initiatives is to map 3-D and identify gaps and opportunities for improvement in acquisition, production, to distribution in theaters, the home and digital devices. ETC is now conceptualizing the Digital 3-D Lab, as a part of the Anytime/Anywhere Content Lab, which will build on the success of ETC's world-renowned Digital Cinema Laboratory.

Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today announced an agreement to offer a customized version of Roxio Buzz™ on Tudou.com, one of China's largest video sharing websites, which serves over 100 million videos every day. Roxio Buzz is an easy-to-use application that combines lightweight video editing features with straightforward online publishing functionality. The application will be offered as a free download to Tudou.com users to help them quickly prepare and post content to the site. As part of this strategic alliance with Sonic®, Tudou will also begin to promote other Roxio®-branded digital media products and services to its users.

"Tudou.com serves 100 million video clips to more than 10 million users daily and is constantly striving to enhance the user experience. With more than 210 million people now online in China, the opportunity to expand Tudou's current customer base and service offering is enormous," said Anita Huang, Vice President of Community & Marketing, Tudou. "Partnering with Sonic to offer consumers an easy tool to create, edit and post video content on the Tudou site is one more way we may deepen our service for Internet users in China."

"Our collaboration with Tudou provides a great platform for Sonic to access the world's largest population of Internet users," said Matt DiMaria, general manager, Roxio division of Sonic Solutions. "For the millions of consumers now online in China, Roxio Buzz not only helps make content creation and uploading as seamless as possible, it also serves as the perfect introduction to our intuitive line of Roxio-branded applications."

Roxio Buzz is an ideal client application for any video sharing site wishing to streamline the upload process and encourage greater consumer use. The editing functions offer a one-button tool for effortlessly trimming video content, options for adding appropriate search meta-tags and automatic optimization of bit rate and video file sizes based on the requirements of a video-sharing portal.

www.sonic.com
www.tudou.com

In a court case between Philips and SK Kassetten The Higher Regional Court of Hamburg in Germany ruled in favor of Philips, concluding that Veeza, the Philips system for CD-R discs is fully in line with German and European antitrust law. The Philips Veeza-system was introduced in 2006 to help the CD-R industry combat unfair competition from trade in unlicensed CD-R discs. Worldwide 18 companies have signed the Veeza Agreement.

About Veeza
The Veeza way of working makes it easier to sell licensed CD-R discs and more difficult to sell unlicensed discs. Discs distributed under a Veeza-license can easily be traced and recognized by three clear marks: a logo that is embedded in the disc, a serial number on each package carton and an authenticity document, called Licensed Status Confirmation Document (LSCD). These three marks provide simple proof that a shipment with CD-R discs is licensed under Philips’ patents.

http://www.ip.philips.com/redirects/veeza.html

Adtec Digital announces the updated release of the mediaHUB-HD-Pro. The new model enhances the built-in decoder’s capabilities and augments the encoder’s audio and transport capabilities.

The mediaHUB-HD-Pro is a real time, contribution-quality MPEG2 high-definition encoder. It is designed to support the most demanding contribution, ATSC, DVB and IPTV distribution as well as Cable Labs compliant VOD and DPI studio encoding requirements. The auto-detect HD/SD SDI video input eliminates the need for user resolution and frame rate configuration. The unit also boasts dual-stream on-board audio encoding of Dolby Digital and MPEG1 Layer 2 audio with Dolby E and Dolby 5.1 pass-through support.

Standard product features include three ASI outputs, a GIGE output, AES3 Digital Audio, SDI, and Analog audio inputs; and BISS1/E encryption. User interfaces feature an easy-to-use front panel interface and an on-board Web application server for configuration and monitoring. Unique features include an embedded confidence decoder with HDSDI, HDMI and D1 outputs and a “Constant Capture” to hard drive for studio, contribution and distribution applications.

For more information, visit www.adtecinc.com.

Avastor, a leading manufacturer of ultimate storage solutions for audio/video professionals, introduces its new line of SDX portable hard disk drives. Targeting the prosumer market - as well as the pro market - the SDX line is more competitively priced than the highly popular HDX drive which offers the ultimate in external professional portable storage.

The SDX comes with a mandate for quality features that will enhance performance. For example, each SDX drive has an external 3 amp grounded DC power supply that auto senses 90-240V that makes for worldwide compatibility with an IEC power cord. Also every SDX has an ultra-quiet cooling fan for maximum heat dissipation and power and activity lights, a feature not usually found in drives in this price range. To ensure maximum connectivity, performance and durability, the SDX drives are available in an anodized aluminum design. The power adapter uses extra heavy gauge wire as well as a heavy duty connector with oversized pins for 5 VDC and 12 VDC.

"The SDX hard disk drives are designed to exceed the requirements of the most demanding users," explains Avastor President Steve Smith. "Whether you are storing uncompressed high-definition digital video, multi-track high-resolution audio, mega-pixel digital photography or any application that requires maximum throughput, the Avastor SDX with uncompromised performance and legendary reliability meets the challenge."

The SDX line is available in three models: SDX 200 (USB 2.0 model), SDX 400 (dual FireWire 400/USB 2.0) and SDX 1000 (QUAD model: FireWire 400/800/eSATA/USB2.0), each with a choice of 80 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB, 500 GB, 750 GB or 1 TB capacities. eSATA technology offers 3Gb/s performance in a single drive configuration for data-intensive applications including real-time video editing, digital photography and high-speed data back up. All models are equipped with the Oxford Semiconductor bridgeboard which offers compatibility and reliability across different computer platforms and digital workstations - for example, Digidesign Protools.

Just like the HDX series, every SDX has a sustained speed test and is MAC HFS+ formatted before being shipped. All SDX drives are equipped with HFS+ 7200 RPM SATA II internal drive mechanisms with up to 32 MB cache. High-quality, data cables are included for each interface type, allowing the drives to be easily connected straight out of the box. Every SDX hard disk drive is packaged in a compact, reusable box with a convenient carry handle and is backed by a comprehensive two-year warranty.

The SDX portable hard disk drive line is currently shipping and begins retailing at $135.00 USD. For more information, visit (www.avastor.com).