C-Cube is becoming a communications equipment company...............
techweb.com
September 14, 1998, Issue: 1126
Section: Computers & Multimedia
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C-Cube unveils high-end codec
Mark Hachman
Silicon Valley- Continuing to diversify beyond commodity decoder chips into high-quality codecs for broadcasters, C-Cube Microsystems Inc. has introduced a new codec for professional video editing.
The DVxpress-MX can handle various combinations of mixed-format editing, as well as transcoding between the MPEG-2 Main Level at Main Profile or Main Level at 4:2:2 profile standards.
The chip can edit up to two video streams, in any combination of digital video (DV) and MPEG data; furthermore, it can transcode DV-25 digital video into MPEG-2 data, all in real time. Transcoding from the higher-quality DV-50 format to MPEG-2 is done in a slower "1.5x" real time, according to C-Cube executives.
Two versions of the chip are available: The DVxpress-MX25 can process only DV25 video, while the -MX50 version can handle both DV25 and DV50.
"Motion JPEG recording is going away, replaced by DV and MPEG for frame accuracy," said Patrick Henry, senior director of marketing at C-Cube's PC/Codec Division, Milpitas, Calif. The DVxpress is designed for customers performing nonlinear video editing in a post-production setting.
C-Cube's traditional reliance on commodity MPEG decoders is disappearing as well. The company's vertically integrated communications business is shifting from 50% to about 70% of its sales.
The DVxpress-MX is sampling now, with volume shipments set to begin in December. Both versions ship in a 308-pin BGA. The -MX25 is $175 in 20,000s, and the -MX50 costs $400 in 10,000s.
Copyright r 1998 CMP Media Inc.
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