Minerva Introduces Complete DVD Publishing Solution Priced Under
$50,000;
Targets Corporate Users and DVD -ROM Publishers with New
DVD -Professional EL
04/28/98
Business Wire
(Copyright (c) 1998, Business Wire)
LAS VEGAS--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 28, 1998--Minerva Systems, Inc., the professional choice of DVD publishers, has introduced the Minerva DVD -Professional EL(TM), a complete solution with breakthrough pricing for the creation of DVD titles. Priced at $49,995, the Minerva DVD -Professional EL includes all of the necessary hardware and software to generate a DVD disc image for transfer to a replication facility or burning a DVD -R.
The DVD -Professional EL is targeted at professional training organizations and publishers, corporate in-house video and graphics departments, laser disc publishers and DVD -ROM publishers. According to Minerva, the DVD Professional EL is ideal for specialized video content publishers, such as publishers of how-to Guides, reference works and special interest titles.
"As the DVD market grows, it is important to provide robust, aggressively priced tools to content developers," states Sue Correll, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Minerva. "With the DVD -Professional EL, we have assembled a superior solution for under $50,000, combining high quality Minerva audio and video encoding technology with a market proven DVD authoring suite."
The DVD -Professional EL includes the Minerva Publisher(R) 200 MPEG2 encoder with linear PCM stereo audio capture and playback, a Dolby Digital(TM) (AC3) stereo encoder and Scenarist(TM) NT Advanced by Daikin Industries, Ltd, the industry's leading DVD Authoring and emulation package. The system is capable of all facets of DVD authoring, from encoding video and audio assets to defining a title's layout and navigation structure and emulating the work in progress. The DVD Professional EL is scalable, offering users the opportunity to upgrade to Minerva's DVD Professional SL or the DVD Professional XL, as their need for additional features increase.
"When we decided to premaster patient education DVD titles in-house for the dental industry, we chose the Minerva DVD Professional EL solution," noted Bob Rondeau, President of Advanced Learning Technologies. "Minerva's reliability and ease of use made us realize that we should have done this sooner."
Minerva's DVD Professional series offers DVD publishing and authoring systems starting at less than $50,000. Minerva's DVD -Professional XL is a complete solution targeted at high-end post-production facilities, DVD replication operations and entertainment content publishers. It provides video professionals with a complete, end-to-end solution to create DVD titles for commercial distribution. The base configuration for DVD -Professional XL includes the Minerva Compressionist(R) 250 for real-time encoding of MPEG-2 VBR video assets, the Audio Compressionist for real-time encoding of 1 to 6 channels of Dolby Digital(TM) (AC-3) audio streams, Scenarist NT Professional by Daikin Industries, Ltd. for DVD title layout, emulation and assembly, and high- performance networking for the transfer of files between stations. The DVD -Professional XL configuration is priced at $169,995.
Minerva's DVD Professional SL priced at $99,995 includes the Minerva Publisher 300 for MPEG2 VBR (variable bitrate) encoding with serial D1 input and Daikin's Scenarist NT Advanced authoring with hardware-based emulation. The DVD Professional SL also features Dolby Digital (AC3) stereo encoding. The DVD Professional SL is an ideal publishing solution for mid-range post-production facilities that service corporations, advertising agencies, multimedia publishers and service bureaus. It has also proven to be an excellent choice for service organizations that need to meet user's DVD requirements for DVD -Video, DVD -ROM and hybrid title development.
Minerva's DVD publishing products and systems have been selected by industry leaders around the world. They are used by many prestigious organizations involved in the production of commercial DVD titles, including Cinram-POP DVD Center, Complete Post, Crest National Digital Media, EDS Digital Studios, IBM Interactive Media, Mei Ah Int'l, NB Digital Solutions and Pioneer Video Manufacturing. Another user, Warner Advanced Media Operations (WAMO), a DVD compression and authoring facility, compressed several music video titles in the MPEG 2 variable bit-rate format using Minerva's Compressionist 250 system. Titles included were Eric Clapton "Unplugged" and Madonna "The Girlie Show Live Down Under."
DVD Professional EL System Configuration
The Minerva Publisher 200 features high quality MPEG2 encoding technology, the industry acclaimed Minerva Studio(R) control software, and a full range of video and audio inputs including linear PCM audio capture and playback. Options include serial D1 video input, MPEG video pre-processing and filtering capabilities, and variable bitrate (VBR) encoding. The Scenarist NT Advanced authoring software is a complete authoring suite for importing video, audio and graphics assets, defining the structure and interactivity of the DVD title, and assembling the title for DVD -Video and ISO/UDF Bridge formats. An option is available for emulating the work in progress and premastering the disc image to DLT tape.
Pricing and Availability
The DVD -Professional EL base configuration is priced at $49,995 and is available now. This product will be sold by Minerva Systems and its network of value-added resellers around the world.
Minerva Systems, Inc.
Minerva Systems, Inc., founded in 1992, is the leading supplier of high-quality MPEG-based digital video publishing and distribution solutions. Minerva's products are used in post-production facilities; DVD replication facilities, telephone and cable television network facilities; advertising agencies; educational institutions and corporations worldwide. Minerva's products are sold through direct sales offices and a network of value-added resellers around the world. Minerva is backed by leading venture capital firms, including Accel Partners, Kodak Corporation's Aperture Fund, Merrill, Pickard, Anderson & Eyre, U.S. Venture Partners and ETF. Minerva Systems is headquartered at 3801 Zanker Road, San Jose, CA, 95134-1402. Tel.: (408) 487-2001. Fax: (408) 487-2013. Address on the World Wide Web: minervasys.com.
(c) 1998 Minerva Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. The Minerva logo,
Minerva Publisher, and Minerva Studio are trademarks, and Minerva is a
registered trademark of Minerva Systems, Inc. Scenarist is a trademark
of Daikin Industries, Ltd. Apple and Power Macintosh are trademarks of
Apple Computer, Inc. Dolby Digital and AC-3 are licensed trademarks of
Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Windows NT is a registered trademark of
Microsoft Corporation. All other brand names are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective holders.
CONTACT: Geltzer & Company, Inc. Michael Feldman, 212/575-1976 212/245-2145 fax mfeldman@geltzerpr.com
11:30 EDT APRIL 28, 1998 |
