Panasonic Showcases DVD Toolbox From VITEC Multimedia at SATIS Show In Paris

Panasonic will again be showcasing VITEC Multimedia's DVD Toolbox along with its strong line of DVD-RAM storage devices at SATIS, at Porte de Versailles in Paris, from October 19 to October 22. This product revolutionizes the video production capabilities of the home PC. Now any home-PC user has the ability to create a simple, interactive high-quality DVD-Video that can be stored on hard disk DVD-RAM, CD-ROM, CD-RW and, of course, on a DVD-R; and be played back with full screen and motion, with full color and complete interactive control. DVD Toolbox includes all the necessary tools to: 1. Encode AVI into DVD-compliant elementary streams2. Edit DVD streams in MPEG-2 format3. Produce DVD-Video by organizing DVD chapters; and 4. Play back DVD with an integrated software DVD player. In developing the DVD Toolbox software, VITEC focused on the product attributes that the consumer and prosumer marketplace wanted most: fast; affordable; simple user interface; and easy-to-use encoding process, plus cut-and-paste editing using Windows NT4.0/WIN-95 or 98 platforms. The development of DVD-RAM and the storage opportunities it provides now gives users a media that can store large quantities of information. ""A low-cost, high-quality, complete MPEG-based video solution is what the consumer DVD-RAM market has been waiting for,"" said Lionel Zajde, director of operations for VITEC. ""Many value-priced 'consumer' MPEG products today produce poor video quality. Our DVD Toolbox produces broadcast-quality video while being easy to use, and features a faster-than-real-time editing application (depending on equipment used),"" he added. The DVD production kits on the market today produce a DVD-Video that cannot be modified, only played back. Through the use of proven VITEC software included in the Toolbox (Video Clip MPEG-2ô and MPEG Remixô) you can reprocess your own DVD-Video by editing, changing the audio, adding new footage, making modifications and reproducing a brand-new DVD-Video. Market Applications Applications of the DVD Toolbox are wide-ranging and include the home-PC user, sports events and small to large corporations. Authoring and editing a DVD-Video for high-quality interactive presentations, educational uses, and promotional and most other multimedia purposes, DVD Toolbox will add an extra touch of finesse to almost any multimedia project. High Capacity, Low Storage Cost With a removable, rewritable storage capacity of 2.6GB per single-sided disc (5.2GB per double-sided disc) and a storage cost of only .008 cents/MB, the Panasonic LF-D101/LF-D103 drives are ideal for video production. Designed for high performance, the drives have a data-transfer rate of up to 10.5Mbps - twice the transfer rates, and a 120ms average seek time. To further enhance performance, the drives include a 2MB-cache buffer. Support for CD technology simplifies the decision to upgrade to the Panasonic DVD-RAM because users will be able to read data and video clips that were previously recorded on CDs. Fully compliant with the DVD Forum DVD-RAM standards, the LF-D101/LF-D103 drives can read from discs currently accepted by CD-ROM, CD Audio, CD-R, CD-RW and video CD drives, as well as PD, DVD-ROM, DVD-Video and DVD-R drives. The Forum-approved DVD-RAM technology also provides a proven growth path -- next-generation media will provide a single-side capacity of 4.7GB; ultimately, 15GB capacities (double-sided discs) will be available. About VITEC VITEC is one of the oldest companies in the MPEG field and offers product research and development, based on 11 years of experience. Manufacturer longevity is vital to developers and integrators that can trust complex integration projects to a company that is here to stay. VITEC was first to provide MPEG-1 editing in 1995, with VIDEO Clip MPEG(R). In 1998, the second-generation VIDEO Clip(R) MPEG-2 was the first software to edit MPEG-2 files at the frame level (I, B & P frame) in a native format without having to decode the file. In business since 1988, VITEC has headquarters in suburban Paris and has a North American facility to service sales and tech support for U.S. and Canadian customers. Products are available from Sunnyvale, California, and Paris, and also from distributors and resellers throughout the world. VITEC Multimedia can be reached in the United States at: 556 Weddell Drive, Suite 3, Sunnyvale, California 94089; telephone 408 752 8483; fax 408 752 8486; Web site www.vitecmm.com; e-mail info@vitecmm.com About Panasonic France The Panasonic DVD-RAM drives are manufactured by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., one of the world's leading producers of CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives and other digital electronic products. The drives are marketed in France by the company's French subsidiary, Panasonic France, incorporated in 1968. 

For more information on the Panasonic DVD-RAM drives and media in France, contact Panasonic France, 270, avenue du President Wilson, 93218 Saint Denis La Plaine CEDEX, attention Anne Fialaire; telephone +(33)(0) 1 49 46 43 00.