VideoDisc Recorder
Stream Machine Enables the Rapid Development of First Consumer-Affordable VideoDisc Recorder
01/06/2000
Business Wire
(Copyright (c) 2000, Business Wire)
SAN JOSE, Calif. and XIAMEN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2000--
Amoisonic's New VideoDisc Recorder Provides DVD -Quality Video
Recording at VCR Pricing
Stream Machine, a provider of innovative audio and video semiconductor solutions, today announced the first product of a highly successful customer partnership with Amoisonic Electronics Company.
Amoisonic, a prominent manufacturer of audio and video products in China, and Stream Machine have joined forces to produce the world's first home VideoDisc Recorder, VDR.
The VideoDisc Recorder/player is enabled by Stream Machine's real-time MPEG-2 digital video encoding and decoding technology and is the first low-price, high-performance recordable digital video solution designed for consumers. The VDR provides high-quality record/playback at low bit rates enabling the use of low cost CD-RW drives and low cost CD-R and CD-RW disks as the recording media.
"With the availability of our videodisc recorder, we have created an entirely new product category and we have been able to bring it to market so quickly because of the completeness of Stream Machine's Symphony Reference Design," said Mr. Lu Huanwen, president of Amoisonic. "We chose Stream Machine's solution as it offered the highest quality at the lowest total system cost and had the additional advantage of having the lowest power consumption, which will be important for portable, battery operated videodisc recorders."
"Amoisonic's VDR, is the first video recorder to meet the consumers' expectations for quality at a price they can afford, and, as such, is likely to have a major impact on the US home video market," is the assessment of Stream Machine's president and CEO, Michael Canning. "The VDR was made possible by Amoisonic's strong expertise in audio/video manufacturing and Stream Machine's breakthrough MPEG-2 codec technology."
Technology Breakthrough
This breakthrough is made possible by the Stream Machine SM2210 MPEG-2 video codec which supports real-time video encoding and decoding using a single-pass variable bit rate MPEG-2 encoding technique, providing higher video quality than traditional constant bit rate MPEG-2 encoding.
Because the SM2210 is a true codec, doing both encode and decode functions, the total system cost and parts count is reduced compared to systems using separate MPEG-2 encoders and decoders. In addition, the SM2210 combines a high-degree of system integration with ease of design. It interfaces directly to popular NTSC/PAL video decoders, NTSC/PAL video encoders, microcontrollers for embedded applications, and PCI interface chips for PC applications, which eliminates costly glue logic. And it requires only 4 MegaBytes of SDRAM for full resolution NTSC 30 frames per second MPEG-2 encoding, further reducing parts count and system cost.
About The Symphony Reference Design
The Symphony reference design is a complete audio/video record and playback platform for developing digital VCRs (such as Amoisonic's VideoDisc Recorder), as well as recordable DVDs. It also allows the development of Personal Video Recorders (such as those pioneered by TiVo and Replay Networks) -- that allow on-demand television viewing with instant replay and slow motion of live broadcasts as well as traditional video recording and playing back.
Symphony features Stream Machine's highly integrated SM2210 MPEG-2 video codec, which provides high quality at low total system cost. The architecture of the Symphony reference design is flexible and can operate with various storage technologies: CD-RW, hard disk, DVD -RAM or removable storage.
The Symphony reference design comes complete, including software/firmware, schematics, bill of materials (BOM), Gerber files, and user documentation to enable products based on these reference designs to be brought quickly to high volume manufacturing.
Availability
The SM 2210 single chip MPEG-2 video CODEC is in full production and available now. Pricing for SM 2210 is $49 in 4000 unit orders. The Symphony reference design is available and priced at $25,000.
Amoisonic Demonstrates DVD -Quality, VCR-Priced Video Recording at CES
Amoisonic will demonstrate the standalone videodisc recorder at 2000CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas, held January 5 through January 9, at Booth 3415.
The VideoDisc Recorder is similar to traditional analog VHS VCRs in features and functions with the additional convenience, quality and interactivity of that digital technology provides. The VDR provides high-quality record/playback at low bit rates enabling the use of low cost CD-RW drives and low cost CD-R and CD-RW as the recording media. Amoisonic's VDR can play pre-recorded Super Video CD titles, Video CD titles and audio CDs, as well as create disks in these formats.
About Amoisonic Electronics Company
Amoisonic Electronics Company is one of the largest manufacturers of digital AV products in China and has been its largest manufacturer and supplier of VCRs for the last five years. In addition to digital audio and video consumer products, the company also manufactures communications products and is well positioned for the convergence of communications and entertainment applications. Amoisonic was founded in 1981 in Xiamen as a joint venture of Xiamen City and Xiamen Solid Electronics Company. It is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange as Amoisonic Electronics.
About Stream Machine Company
Stream Machine Company provides audio and video solutions for the Internet, consumer electronics and personal computer markets. Stream Machine uses proprietary technology and techniques to bring to market cost effective semiconductors that implement industry standard audio and video algorithms, such as MPEG-2. Please visit the Stream Machine website for additional information: www.streammachine.com
Contact: CONTACT: Stream Machine Kirby J. Kish, 408/435-7170 kkish@streammachine.com or Amoisonic Electronics Irene Tam, 86 592 5058123 irene.tam@amoisonic.com or Watson-International Ray Ivatt, 415/567-6753 rivatt@watson-international.com
09:06 EST JANUARY 6, 2000
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