Spruce Technologies Releases Powerful New Version 2.5 DVDVirtuosoô DVD Authoring System

Spruce Technologies (www.sprucetechnologies.com) released Version 2.5 of its popular professional DVD authoring software, DVDVirtuosoô. This new version adds key features that streamline the authoring process and enable users to create highly interactive titles without adding any additional hardware to their PC. DVDVirtuoso Version 2.5 includes Spruce's powerful, productivity-enhancing RealViewô preview technology - the same technology found in all Spruce professional authoring systems, including DVDConductorô and the flagship DVDMaestroô. RealView enables users to proof their entire DVD project at any time during the authoring process without compiling. DVDVirtuoso takes advantage of the industry's fastest performing software engine to provide RealView without any additional hardware or modification to the user's PC. This completely software-based approach makes DVDVirtuoso the ideal solution for integration with systems tasked with other production processes. In fact, the familiar nonlinear editing-style timeline-based interface has already made it a popular choice for users of market-leading NLE systems such as those from Avid, Canopus, Fast Electronics, Matrox and Media 100. Brandon Higa, Product Manager at Canopus, says, ""The difference between Spruce DVDVirtuoso and other entry-level authoring systems is that Spruce was truly designed as a professional solution. With Version 2.5, Spruce has further widened its lead by adding productivity-enhancing features such as the RealView instant preview system and the easy-to-use NLE style timeline interface as found in their high-end products. The most exciting thing may be the inclusion of Spruce Convergence as standard, enabling our customers to immediately explore the massive potential offered by integrating the Internet and DVD. In some fundamental ways, this 'entry-level' package exceeds the top-end offerings of other manufacturers."" Version 2.5 includes Spruce's exclusive DVDonCDô and Convergenceô, proprietary technologies that enable low-cost, mass distribution of web-linked DVD content. Spruce Convergence is the world's only marketplace-proven solution for delivering titles that merge the rich media experience of DVD with the interactivity of the Internet. When combined with Spruce's DVDonCD technology, Spruce customers can distribute DVD-quality material for use with on any of the over 200,000,000 CD-ROM and DVD-ROM-equipped PCs installed today. Other features in the new version 2.5 DVDVirtuoso include: - Enhanced Subtitle Editor/Generator allowing multiple colors for subtitles - Extended RealSyncô - the groundbreaking AC-3Æ audio auto-conform-to-video feature now works with PCM audio as well - Point-and-click still images capture for creating dramatic backgrounds for menus directly from a video stream - Printable project logs for quality assurance purposes - Default language settings for international users, - Menu scroll bars for customers using smaller monitors Brian Lane, Product Manager for DVDVirtuoso said, ""This latest release is an incredible achievement at this price point. Anyone who has ever used a non-linear editing system will appreciate how easy it is to create a DVD title with DVDVirtuoso. The ability to drag and drop clips into the timeline and have them sync up perfectly is a huge time saver, but having the ability to proof your title at any time during the authoring process separates this authoring software from the pack. Having the fastest compiler in the industry doesn't hurt either."" DVDVirtuoso has the same interface and compiling engine as Spruce's award-winning DVDMaestro and DVDConductor software. This means that when users decide it is time to add more features, they can upgrade their software to DVDConductor and not have to learn a new interface. DVDVirtuoso is sold through Canopus, Fast Electronics, DVStudio, and can also be bought through selected dealers worldwide. About Spruce Technologies, Inc. Spruce Technologies develops and markets DVD and WebDVD authoring software and MPEG encoders for the corporate, new media, and entertainment markets. Based in San Jose, California, Spruce combines the best Silicon Valley software expertise with extensive DVD, MPEG and video postproduction knowledge. For more information, contact Spruce at 408 861 2200. Additional information about Spruce is also available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.sprucetechnologies.com.