News

Omneon Extends Multiformat Capabilities of Spectrum Media Server System (11/9/2006)

Support Added for Avid DNxHD, Sony XDCAM HD, QuickTime 7 and Back-to-Back Play Out of DV and MPEG

Omneon Video Networks today announced that it is extending the multiformat capabilities of the Omneon Spectrum media server system to accommodate Avid's DNxHD compression algorithm and Sony's XDCAM HD acquisition format. These new formats are supported within the Omneon file system and can be ingested or played out in real time using the appropriate existing Omneon MediaPort modules. Omneon is also extending Spectrum server support for standard media wrapper technology to include Apple's QuickTime version 7.

Additionally, Omneon is enhancing the functionality of its current DV and MPEG SD MediaPorts to allow frame-accurate switching between DV and MPEG formats during playout. The extended format support will be demonstrated at IBC2006 in the Omneon stand (#8.260).

"These new offerings demonstrate the openness and flexibility of the Omneon Spectrum platform, as well as our continued commitment to supporting new formats as they become available," said Geoff Stedman, vice president of worldwide marketing at Omneon.

"Our support for Avid's DNxHD codec, Sony's XDCAM HD format, QuickTime 7, and the ability to play DV or MPEG-2 material back-to-back gives our customers an even more powerful platform. And since these are software upgrades, customers can benefit from these enhancements without having to purchase any new hardware." Support for Avid's DNxHD format is provided by Omneon's MediaPort 1002, which connects to Avid's DNxchange codec device over SDTI to capture and play back encoded material. Material encoded via DNxchange is stored within the Omneon file system as an accessible DNxHD file, available to Avid editors. Likewise, DNxHD material edited on Avid workstations can be transferred into the Omneon Spectrum system using the Omneon ConformTool and played out frame-accurately via SDTI through the Avid DNxchange device.

XDCAM HD support is being added to Omneon's HD MultiPort 4000 series. Similar to the way in which this MultiPort was enhanced to support HDV, the MultiPort 4000 series will provide the ability to play back XDCAM HD material intermixed with standard HD MPEG-2 material or even HDV material on a single timeline back-to-back. The MultiPort 4000 series includes automatic rescaling from 1440 to 1920 horizontal pixels to deliver full HD-SDI output for XDCAM HD material.

QuickTime version 7 wrapper support is being added to the Omneon Spectrum system to enable reading and writing of material wrapped in this new QuickTime media wrapper. In particular, support for QuickTime 7 allows media to be recorded in MPEG-2 IMX format and made immediately available to QuickTime 7-based applications like Final Cut Pro without the need for any rewrapping or other conversion process. MPEG-2 IMX material edited by Final Cut Pro is already playable by Spectrum systems. With this update, customers can now use Spectrum to record material using either QuickTime 6 or QuickTime 7 wrappers.

In addition to the two new formats and QuickTime 7, Omneon has also enhanced its current DV and MPEG-2 SD MediaPorts to allow timelines containing intermixed DV and MPEG-2 material to be played back seamlessly. This software upgrade allows the MediaPort 1000 series to accept either DV or MPEG-2 material and frame-accurately switch between DV and MPEG material during playback.

Support for Avid DNxHD is available now in the currently shipping system software, and support for XDCAM HD, QuickTime 7 and DV/MPEG-2 back-to-back playout will be available in Q4.

www.omneon.com

[more NLE news]