Avid Adds High-Definition Authoring to Avid DVD by
Sonic
Brings Ground Breaking High-Definition
Digital Media Creation Tools to Video Professionals
April 25, 2006 '” Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC),
the leader in digital media software, today introduce Avid DVD by Sonic® - BD
Edition, the world's first Blu-ray Disc (BD) authoring system for video
professionals. The software will be included as a tightly-integrated
component of Avid Technology, Inc.'s Studio Toolkit, which can be added to the
Avid Xpress® Pro and Avid® Media Composer® family of products. Offering
the perfect balance of speed, flexibility, and power, Avid DVD by Sonic - BD
Edition will enable creative professionals working with high-definition content
to author BD projects that feature stunning Widescreen (16:9) menus, rich
playlists and sophisticated navigation systems.
'Our pioneering work with Avid highlights another
important milestone in Sonic's strategy to bring HD authoring technologies to
the vast video-production market," said Chris Neely, vice president of
development for Sonic's Professional Products Group. 'Our knowledge and
experience in BD and HD DVD will continue to drive a full range of Sonic-enabled
solutions by our technology partners and industry-defining products that deliver
dynamic high-definition creation and enjoyment experiences from Hollywood to
home."
The unveiling of next-generation authoring
capabilities for the professional video market is the latest in a long series of
high-definition initiatives by Sonic Solutions, which began its pioneering work
on next-generation formats over two years ago. Sonic has taken a leading
role in helping the industry make a smooth transition to the new high-definition
optical formats, spearheading the High Definition Authoring Alliance (HDAA) in
2005 to prepare Hollywood and their authoring facility partners for the rollout
of BD and HD DVD titles. More recently, Sonic announced an extension to
the Alliance with the formation of an Advisory Group (HDAA AG). Comprised
of top-tier computer and consumer electronics companies, the HDAA AG will
collaborate with the HDAA to ensure high-definition formats deliver reliable,
consistent and dynamic viewing experiences across platforms. In addition,
Sonic recently released the world's first professional high-definition authoring
and encoding systems, Scenarist® 4 and CineVision™.
'We are pleased to extend our successful,
long-standing relationship with Sonic Solutions," said Patrick McLean, senior
product manager for Avid. 'Our winning formula of seamlessly combining
Sonic's advanced authoring technologies with Avid's tools for editing,
finishing, and mastering film and video projects, will enable content creators
to expose the full power and potential of high definition from capture all the
way to final distribution."
For more information on Sonic's comprehensive
high-definition initiatives visit: www.sonic.com/HD.
About Sonic Solutions
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC; http://www.sonic.com) is the leader in digital
media software, providing a broad range of interoperable, platform independent
software tools and applications for creative professionals, business and home
users, and technology partners. Sonic's products range from advanced DVD
authoring systems and interactive content delivery technologies used to produce
the majority of Hollywood DVD film releases, to the award-winning Roxio- and
Sonic-branded CD and DVD creation, playback and backup solutions that have
become the premier choice for consumers, prosumers and business users
worldwide.
Sonic products are globally available from major
retailers, online at Sonic.com and Roxio.com, and are bundled with PCs,
after-market drives and consumer electronic devices. Sonic's digital media
creation engine is the de facto standard and has been licensed by major software
and hardware manufacturers, including Adobe, Microsoft, Scientific Atlanta,
Sony, and many others. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County,
California.
Sonic, the Sonic logo, Sonic Solutions, Scenarist,
CineVision, and Roxio are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonic Solutions
or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other
company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners and, in some
cases, are used by Sonic Solutions under license.
Source: Sonic
