Sonic Readies Top Authoring Facilities For High Definition Format Launch; Burbank And London Events Complete Second Round Of Advance Trainings And Tools Delivery For Members Of Sonic High Definition Authoring Alliance

3-Oct-05

Sonic Solutions announced the successful completion of Phase 2 of its advance training and tools program for members of the High Definition Authoring Alliance (HDAA), the first and only worldwide association dedicated to preparing authoring facilities for the launch of new high definition Blu-ray Disc (BD) and HD-DVD optical disc formats. Phase 2 milestones include the delivery of a comprehensive set of new and enhanced encoding and authoring components that allow HDAA members to begin preparing content for both formats, as well as a second round of training sessions and collaborative technology discussions presented in both Burbank, California and London, England. Sonic's HDAA training sessions covered the use of Sonic's high definition production tools delivered to HDAA members in August and September, including the timeline-based HD DVD Advanced Content Multiplexer and the HD DVD Advanced Content Player, which comprise the world's first toolset for creation and emulation of HD DVD 1.0 specification-compliant content. Combined with the latest version of Sonic's HD-series Encoder for BD and HD-DVD, as well as updated Scenarist(R) HD software for authoring Standard Content HD-DVDs, the new Advanced Content tools give HDAA members the first production solution capable of taking full advantage of HD-DVD's advanced interactive capabilities. Training sessions also covered the implementation of BD advanced interactivity, including working with sample code in Sonic's newly-released BD-J Compilation, which provides some of the critical interactive building blocks such as event handlers and overlaid contextual menus for BD title creation. ""These latest tools and HDAA training sessions allow us to actively prepare for the rollout of new high definition formats by developing real world content, including Advanced Content volumes that are compliant with the 1.0 version of the HD-DVD specification,"" said Morgan Holly, VP, Interactive Media Products and Services at Ascent Media, a leading digital media services firm in Burbank. ""That's exactly why we joined the HDAA: to accelerate our high definition learning curve and thereby position ourselves to efficiently deliver commercial high definition encoding and authoring services to our customers as they ready titles for launch."" Delivery of Sonic's high definition tools will give HDAA members a head start in mastering the challenges of working with the new formats, allowing them to explore both workflow and creative issues even while the specifications are pending completion. Sonic will continue to update and enhance the tools as format specifications evolve, providing a development platform that allows launch preparations to proceed now while staying up-to-date as remaining standards issues are resolved. The advance release of production tools also allows Sonic to incorporate feedback from HDAA members as the components continue to develop into full commercial products. ""Sonic has a long-standing record of leadership in authoring and encoding solutions for DVD, as well as in the development of advanced interactive features such as those enabled by our InterActual(R) team,"" said Clint Ludeman, vice president of marketing for Sonic's professional products group. ""That experience makes a strong foundation for providing the professional authoring community with the technology and training they need for the next generation high definition format launch. In addition to building expertise into our tools, we're able to share our creative and technical insights and information with HDAA members through collaborative training seminars. The result is a professional content creation industry that is better prepared to make the BD and HD DVD launches a success.""

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