Medio Systems To Ship First Real-Time Full D1 Resolution MPEG-2 Software Encoder

Medio MVision Provides Professional Quality Audio/Video At A Fraction Of The Cost Of Current Hardware Solutions

22-May-00

Medio Systems, Inc., of San Jose, California announced that it will begin shipping a real-time software MPEG-2 encoder called Medio MVision that can support up to full D1 resolution. It is the first real-time full D1 resolution MPEG-2 encoder in software. Until now, almost all MPEG-2 encoders have been implemented on chip-sets. Hardware solutions have hindered the deployment of DVD quality video encoder technology due to their high cost, thus leaving such solutions out of reach to most. Because of its advanced algorithms, Medio Systems is able to create real-time D1 resolution encoding in MPEG-2 on MMX-enabled computers. This will enable many applications, including Internet video streaming, live casting, digital VCRs, Internet video phones, time shifting, DVD authoring, distant learning, video e-mail, and many other consumer and corporate applications. It will also make them affordable to the mass markets. ""What makes Medio MVision such a breakthrough is that we are performing real-time D1 resolution MPEG-2 encoding totally in software at a time when one-chip solutions are just now being announced,"" noted Chris Stocker, Medio Systems' Vice President of Sales and Marketing. ""While others are announcing much more expensive hardware solutions, we have a software solution at a very attractive price that rivals hardware quality. And even better it is upgradeable, scaleable and doesn't take up space."" In light of its advanced algorithm, Medio MVision compresses D1 resolution video on the fly without causing any motion artifacts. Medio MVision runs on any Pentium III or Athlon PC over 600MHz. Slower PCs will also be able to run Medio MVision with scaled down frame rate or resolution. Medio MVision is also memory efficient (it runs on under 5MB of DRAM). In addition, Medio MVision can produce program stream or audio/video elementary stream. It will soon support transport stream. Other features include supporting constant bitrate and variable bitrate; the ability to run under I frame only, I P, or IBP; having a fully configurable GOP structure; MPEG layer 1 and layer 2 audio support, and accepting input video formats of NTSC or PAL. The Medio Systems' video codecs were designed to have a modular, well-defined interface. Integration using these codecs is simple and will dramatically reduce time to market for OEM customers. Medio Systems' codecs are fully scaleable and programmable to fit different application requirements. The video codecs all come with defined audio technology. Last month, the company began shipping Medio DVision, a Digital Video (DV) codec that is fully compliant with DVC bluebook, and provides a solution for low-cost video capture, editing, and digital VCR on the PC. It supports NTSC and PAL video input including two or four channel audio. Like Medio MVision, Medio DVision is based on an advanced algorithm that allows Medio DVision to provide simultaneous encode/decode on high-end PCs. About Medio Systems Medio Systems, Inc., founded in 1998, is based in San Jose, California. Medio Systems, Inc. is dedicated to developing digital video software technology for real-time editing, enhanced TV time-shifting, DVD authoring and Web streaming applications. Current products are Medio MVision, a real-time software MPEG-2 codec, and Medio DVision, a real-time software DV codec.