Building on Viewgraphics' Open Systems Strategy, Equater Brings Fast,
Efficient, Cost-Effective HD Conforming and Finishing Capabilities
To the Desktop
NEW ORLEANS, SIGGRAPH 2000, July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Viewgraphics, Inc.
today advanced HD production on the desktop with the announcement of
Equater(TM) for VideoPump HD. Developed by Admit One Pictures in collaboration
with Viewgraphics, developers of the VID*IO line of open system products for
digital media transmission and content creation, Equater works with
Viewgraphics' VideoPump(TM) HD I/O adapter to bring fast, efficient and
cost-effective HD conforming capabilities and effects processing to post
production studios at a fraction of the cost of current proprietary HDTV
finishing solutions. Viewgraphics also offers these finishing capabilities for
standard definition production.
"With the costs of HDTV finishing systems approaching $1 million, I think
many professionals in the video post production business will be amazed to
find a system that meets their needs for EDL conforming at a price that's less
then the amount of the sales tax a typical 'high end' finishing system," said
Dan Daines, vice president of marketing at Viewgraphics.
VideoPump HD records and plays real-time fully uncompressed (1.5Gb) serial
digital HDTV video. VideoPump HD embraces open system solutions through
seamless integration with Windows NT and compatibility with the QuickTime file
format. As a result, files captured through VideoPump HD can be immediately
accessed by any application that can import QuickTime files, including Adobe
Premiere, Adobe After Effects, Boris Effects, eyeon Digital Fusion Post,
Nothing Real Shake, Ultimatte, Discreet Logic Effect and Paint, Inscriber CG
and Pinnacle Systems Commotion.
With this announcement, VideoPump HD can act as the basis for an HD
"on-line" finishing system. The finishing process begins with Equater, which
imports an industry standard EDL and automatically prepares capture files,
record files and effects script files for use in conforming HD source tapes.
VideoPump's Clipper application software then uses these files to perform
frame-accurate, timecode based captures of uncompressed video from the VTR to
disk. After capture, Equater automatically renders routine dissolves and
motion effects as specified in the EDL. Other programs, such as After Effects
can be used at this stage for composites and other special effects work.
Finally, Clipper records the finished material to tape using the instructions
provided by Equater. Together, Equater and Clipper provide a fast, accurate
and automated solution for conforming HD material to off-line EDLs. Clipper's
frame-accurate record and playback capability coupled with Equaters' ability
to import EDLs and automatically render the bulk of dissolves and motion
effects found in feature and television productions creates an extremely
powerful yet cost effective solution for conforming HD material.
"Using a Windows NT desktop system with the VideoPump HD with Clipper and
Equater, we were able to perform in a few hours, finishing work that would
normally take all day," commented Noel Sterrett, CEO of Admit One Pictures.
Mr. Sterrett developed Equater for VideoPump HD and has used it during post
production of a number of HD originated features including: "Solid Ones,"
which premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival, "Nothing But the Truth," "The
Redemption," and the recently completed "Bring Him Home" starring Ed Asner and
Sharon Gless. The system has also been used for several shorter projects,
including "Nature Boy," "The Hole," "Looking for Lois," and "Here Lies
Lonely."
Equater will be available this fall from Viewgraphics bundled with
VideoPump HD and Clipper for a suggested retail price of $19,425. This
solution is also available in Viewgraphics' turnkey system, DTV:Xstream, which
includes a VideoPump HD, Clipper, Equater, a standard PC and high performance
storage system delivering a minimum of forty minutes of HDTV storage for a
suggested retail price of $52,950.
Standard Definition Finishing
Equater will also be available with Viewgraphics' standard definition I/O
adapter, VideoPump D1, and bundled with Clipper for $5,230. The standard
definition DTV:Xstream turnkey configuration includes the VideoPump D1,
Equator and Clipper bundled with an off-the-shelf PC with one hour of
uncompressed storage and carries a suggested retail price of $15,525.
About Admit One Pictures
Santa Monica based Admit One Pictures is on the forefront of HD production
and post-production, having worked on a number of HD features, pilots, shorts
and trailers. The company has just completed work on the independent feature
"Bring Him Home" starring Ed Asner and Sharon Gless. Admit One uses innovative
digital systems to provide high quality, low cost production and post
production services for storytellers. For further information contact Admit
One Pictures at: 1434 6th Street, 2A, Santa Monica, CA 90401; Telephone
310-656-5230; Fax 310-656-5250; Web: http://www.admitone.com .
About Viewgraphics
Viewgraphics Incorporated produces a line of open systems hardware and
software products for digital media transmission and content creation.
Viewgraphics' VID*IO technology solutions combine general-purpose PC-based
servers with the company's state-of-the-art digital media input/output adapter
boards and sophisticated software applications. The company provides HDTV and
D1 serial digital video and MPEG-2 interface boards and systems to leaders in
the technology and entertainment industries, including Cisco Systems, DIVA,
Qualcomm, Liberate, NBC Entertainment, OpenTV, SeaChange International, Sony
and TiVo. For further information contact Viewgraphics, Inc. at: 1340 Space
Park Way, Mountain View, CA 94043; Telephone: 650-903-4900; Fax:
650-969-6388; Web: http://www.viewgraphics.com .
NOTE: VideoPump and Viewgraphics are trademarks of Viewgraphics
Incorporated. All other product and company names mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Viewgraphics, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.viewgraphics.com
CONTACT:
Sarah Kavanagh, PR, 650-726-3482, or
sk@coastside.net, for Viewgraphics, Inc.; or Sue Ann Robinson of
Viewgraphics, Inc., 650-903-4900, or sueann@viewgraphics.com
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