Sonic Introduces Real-time Video Encoding for Apple DVD Studio Pro

Marin County, California (September 24, 2001) Sonic Solutions(NASDAQ: SNIC) announced that its SD-1000 video encoder is now fullycompatible with Apple’s entry-level DVD Studio Pro authoringsystem. This provides an option to DVD Studio Pro users who want to addhigh-quality, real-time video encoding to their system, and alsoprovides an easy upgrade path for DVD Studio Pro users to Sonic’sprofessional DVD authoring applications on the Macintosh: DVD Fusionand DVD Creator.

"Having the Sonic SD-1000 onboard for us means we can quickly creategreat MPEG files for projects that require fast turnaround, andmaintain compatibility with our existing Sonic Fusion and Creatorsystems as well," said Bruce Nazarian, President, Gnome Digital Media."It's also a great encoding solution for workgroups."

The SD-1000 encoder provides video professionals with the followingkey capabilities:

~ Real-time encoding with preview during encode to external videomonitor (A/B switching)

~ Exceptional video quality at low bit-rates

~ Real-time stereo PCM, MPEG-1 layer II and Dolby Digital audioencoding

~ Frame-accurate control over chapter point locations

~ 9-pin RS-422 machine control for frame-accurate encoding

The SD-1000 encoder is based on the same technology used inSonic’s Hollywood-quality SD-2000 model that is used inpost-production facilities worldwide, and can be upgraded to theSD-2000 at any time.

"Although DVD Studio Pro includes an out-of-real-time transcoder,many DVD Studio Pro users have indicated their need for a real-timeencoding solution that can capture from tape," said Matt Palmer,Product Manager for Professional Products at Sonic. "Sonic’sSD-1000 encoder is a tried and true standard among professional DVDproduction facilities for creating high-quality MPEG-1 and MPEG-2video, and provides DVD Studio Pro users with the capabilities theyhave been clamoring for."

SD-1000 Version 2.1.6, which includes compatibility with Apple DVDStudio Pro, is available now through Sonic’s worldwide network ofprofessional resellers, at a suggested U.S. list price of $10,000.