C-Cube Delivers Industry's First Combined MPEG andDV Digital Video Production Solution
September 8, 1998 08:13 AM
MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 1998--
Panasonic, Avid and Adobe Tap C-Cube for New Category of All-Digital Mixed Format Systems
C-Cube Microsystems CUBE today introduced DVxpress-MX(tm), the world's first all-digital,
mixed-format video production solution to allow MPEG and DV to co-exist in broadcast and studio
environments.
DVxpress-MX is a single-chip codec that makes DV and MPEG video content interoperable for the
first time, allowing data to pass from the camera to the editing workstation and then to distribution
entirely within the digital domain. DVxpress-MX will be demonstrated for the first time at the
International Broadcaster's Conference (IBC) Sept. 11-15 at the RAI Center in Amsterdam.
Leading video and broadcast solution providers including Panasonic MC , Avid AVID and Adobe
ADBE are endorsing DVxpress-MX as the industry enabler of a new category of all-digital,
mixed-format video production systems.
These organizations will be able to utilize systems based on DVxpress-MX to address the critical
market need for seamless communication between MPEG content and all standard DV content,
including Panasonic's DVCPRO and DVCPRO50. DVxpress-MX will allow users to manipulate any
combination of DV and MPEG streams for television studio, post production editing and remote
broadcast applications, taking advantage of the unique benefits of each format.
"As a world leader in both digital video and video compression technologies, Panasonic has long
recognized the many benefits of different compression methods. C-Cube has created a true
breakthrough product by offering the industry both DV and MPEG compression within a single chip,"
said Chris Daubney, managing director, Panasonic Broadcast Europe LTD.
"We are pleased to have worked with C-Cube to ensure full compatibility with our DVCPRO and
DVCPRO50 products, making the DVxpress-MX invaluable to manufacturers of next-generation
broadcast quality video equipment," added Katsuhiko Yamamoto, director, Video Systems Division,
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. of Osaka, Japan.
"C-Cube is offering the industry an opportunity to achieve new efficiencies in end-to-end digital video
applications," noted Fermi Wang, vice president and general manager of C-Cube's PC/Codec
Division. "We are driving the development of products that not only deliver purity of video content but
that also simplify post-production processes, schedules and budgets."
C-Cube Keeps Video in Digital Domain
DVxpress-MX introduces two new capabilities to the industry: mixed-format editing with special
effects and DV to MPEG transcoding. For the first time, editors can manipulate any combination of
DV-25 or DV-50 megabit streams along with any 2 to 50 megabit MPEG streams, allowing a true
mixed-format editing environment.
Regardless of bit rate or format, the streams can be processed and viewed side-by-side for realtime
compositing and implementation of a full spectrum of special effects. Frame accurate control of DVs
Intra-coded frames as well as MPEG's Intra-coded (I), Bi-directional (B) and Predictive (P) frames is
maintained throughout the process.
"The popularity of professional DV acquisition devices and the continued growth of MPEG digital
broadcast content provides unique challenges to solution providers, noted Rose O' Donnell, vice
president of engineering for the Broadcast News Division of Avid Technology.
"Avid is very excited about the capabilities that C-Cube's revolutionary architecture will offer in
addressing these challenges. By allowing the opportunity to use both DV and MPEG formats
transparently in editing and shared storage solutions, DVxpress-MX can help us simplify the
production process for the end user."
Mixed-format transcoding harnesses the growing predominance of MPEG-based and DV-based
resources including network news, digital satellite broadcasts, DV cameras and DV video tape
recorders (VTRs). With DVxpress-MX, these streams can enter editing systems or servers and
remain in digital form throughout the post production process.
The final cut may be compressed using the MPEG standard for DTV broadcast or for DVD masters.
Alternatively, the output can be compressed in DV to write back to Video Tape Recorders (VTRs).
From acquisition, to post, to distribution, to storage, DVxpress-MX keeps the video in the digital
domain regardless of whether the output will be DV or MPEG.
"Mixed-format editing and DV to MPEG transcoding offers the most significant advance we've seen
for enabling all-digital video production on the desktop," noted Bruce Chizen, senior vice president
and general manager of Adobe's Graphics Products Division. "Adobe desktop editors now have a new
opportunity for higher levels of creativity as well as richer output."
About the DVxpress Product Family
DVxpress is a family of single-chip codecs for realtime broadcast, studio and video production editing
environments. Based on C-Cube's DVx architecture, DVxpress-MX is the only silicon solution to
deliver mixed-format editing with special effects and DV to MPEG transcoding.
The DVxpress family is the first MPEG architecture to offer FAME(tm) (Frame-Accurate MPEG
Editing) for frame accurate control of MPEG video. DVxpress is also the first single-chip solution to
deliver multiple-stream decoding and realtime special effects, allowing system providers to offer
professional-level capabilities in prosumer-level products.
Availability
DVxpress-MX is sampling now to vendors in the video production, broadcast servers and distribution
industry. Volume production shipments are scheduled to begin in December. Systems based on this
solution are anticipated to be available beginning first half of 1999.
About C-Cube Microsystems
C-Cube Microsystems Inc. is the industry leader in the development and delivery of highly integrated
digital video silicon solutions that address the communications and consumer markets. C-Cube is
headquartered in Milpitas, with offices in North America, Europe and Asia.
Its stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol CUBE. C-Cube can
be reached at 408/490-8000 or on the World Wide Web at c-cube.com.
IBC Suite: Room H 2nd Floor, RAI Center
|
