Sonic Solutions, a developer of digital media software, has introduced its HD-Series AVC encoder, a mastering-quality encoding system specifically designed to meet the image-quality demands of major motion picture studios and high-end authoring facilities. The HD-Series AVC encoder provides title creators with a solution for developing discs in the new HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats.

Sonic's HD-Series AVC encoder makes use of the high-profile features offered in the AVC specification, and has been optimized to provide mastering-level image quality at low bitrates while maintaining the HD performance. It also features Sonic's segment-based re-encoding, which allows users to efficiently optimize image quality on a frame-by-frame basis. Additionally, the encoding process may be customized via detailed parameter access.

Specifications for Sonic's HD-Series AVC encoder include:
-- High-profile, Level 4.1 AVC HD streams
-- Bitrate-controlled CBR/VBR and quantization-controlled VBR encoding modes
-- DTS HD and Dolby Digital audio codec support
-- Support for uncompressed, 4:2:2, 10-bit AVI, and QuickTime source video files

Sonic plans to release the product in the summer of 2005.

www.sonic.com