News

New APR/ClipStore MXc Breaks Price/Performance Barrier for HD/SD Disk Recorders (6/5/2005)

Accom(r) today announced at the National Association of Broadcasters convention the launch of APR(r)/ClipStore(tm)MXc, part of a range of new high-performance universal-format disk recorders. Combining Accom's new Sequoia video+key+audio processing hardware, the latest high-performance disk drive technology and a powerfully enhanced NetPanel(tm) graphical user interface, the APR/ClipStoreMXc supports both high-definition video with high-quality compression, and uncompressed standard-definition video and AES/EBU digital audio.

Targeted for applications requiring video+key+audio including live broadcast playout, venue presentation, editing, post-production and VTR replacement, APR/ClipStoreMXc provides versatile and powerful HD and SD functionality at the same price charged by other manufacturers for similarly-specified recorders supporting standard definition only.

Using JPEG 2000 compression, APR/ClipStoreMXc provides exceptionally high image quality for compressed high-definition video, while affording very efficient storage. APR/ClipStoreMXc is available in two versions, offering two hours or four hours of real-time record and playback capacity. Storage capacity can be quickly and easily doubled by "striping" the video and key media drives into a single video-only volume, when a separate key channel is not required. APR/ClipStoreMXc offers eight tracks of uncompressed AES/EBU 24-bit digital audio, with support for embedded and discrete audio input/output.

To provide powerful and extensible facilities for multi-user collaborative workflows, APR/ClipStoreMXc can be operated via the new NetPanel interface from any networked computer running Windows, MacOS, Linux or Irix. NetPanel is a browser-based, platform-independent application compatible with Microsoft(r) Internet Explorer(tm), Netscape(r) and Safari(r) browsers, giving full machine control, built-in clip viewing switchable between video or key channels, media management and system configuration facilities for APR/ClipStoreMXc. NetPanel can also be run directly on APR/ClipStoreMXc itself with the addition of a VGA monitor, for stand-alone operation.

APR/ClipStoreMXc features removable media disk drives with easy access, allowing simple and fast media disk exchange between multiple ClipStore recorders of the same model. With true plug-and-play operation, this feature makes APR/ClipStoreMXc a practical solution for remote operations that require quick and convenient loading of high-quality media clips into disk recorders located any distance from the studio. This feature can also be used to "place a job on the shelf" when working with multiple clients in the studio, ensuring the media materials for any number of jobs remain separate and secure.

Offering outstanding operational convenience, APR/ClipStoreMXc provides plug-and-play functionality, without the need for complicated setup or drive partitioning, and offers a powerful set of features including: Auto Edit; watched folders with automated file transfer to and from networked external devices; support for all major file formats; and Windows Media 9 encoding for creating digital dailies, DVD content and web streams. APR/ClipStoreMXc also features an application programming interface (API) that allows third-party programmers to control all attributes and image transfer operations.

APR/ClipStoreMXc can be controlled from almost any external RS422 controller - including third-party control panels, editors, and automation systems, as well as acting as a master device to control almost any external VTR for fast, frame-accurate media ingest and off-loading; and multiple Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports for convenient and reliable backup of stored media to external Hi-Speed USB disk storage sub-systems.

Also launched at NAB 2005, APR(r)/ClipStore(tm)MX provides high-performance uncompressed HD/SD video and audio functionality for applications in production, animation and effects, telecine and scientific visualization. See separate release for details.

www.accom.com