Streambox Releases HD and SD Encoder

Streambox Inc. announced the launch of the Streambox SBT3-9200 HD/SD Video Transport Encoder, the company's next-generation solution for HD/SD newsgathering, broadcasting, and video post production, the SBT3-9200 can be operated in HD or SD mode, enabling the user to capture, transmit, and play out live and file-based video. The Encoder provides stunning 1080i/720p/1080psf HD video at data rates from 256 Kbps to 30 Mbps and SD video from 64 Kbps to 15 Mbps.

The SBT3-9200 Encoder has been developed to meet the performance and quality requirements of customers in a variety of industry sectors. Movie and post production companies, for example, are using the SBT3-9200 to transmit high quality live HD and SD video over low data rate IP networks as a way to accelerate and enhance editing processes such as color correction. With the Streambox solution, video editors are able to send the edited video file over IP in real-time and gain immediate feedback and approval from clients who may be located in different time zones and perhaps even on different continents. It makes this part of the post production process more efficient and cost effective.

The quality of the SBT3-9200 Encoder's compression was highlighted at the SBE/Ennes workshop held during NAB 2008, where the not-for-profit Research Channel presented findings from its Codec Comparison Project. The Research Channel had independently tested and compared a number of HD codecs, including Streambox ACT-L3, to uncompressed HD video.

"Video compressed at 30 Mbps using the Streambox SBT3-9200 was virtually indistinguishable from uncompressed video as represented in side-by-side waveform samples," said James Alls, acting director of engineering and operations for the Research Channel. "It speaks to the very high performance level of this particular Streambox solution."

"We are committed to delivering the finest technology available for streaming high-quality live and file-based video over a variety of IP networks. The SBT3-9200's leadership position in the Research Channel's Codec Comparison Project is further validation of the value we bring to our customers," said Bob Hildeman, Streambox's chairman and CEO. "By offering exceptional quality and unmatched reliability in one integrated solution, the SBT3-9200 Encoder plays an integral role in delivering mission critical live and file-based HD/SD video over low cost, low data rate networks."

Each SBT3-9200 HD system is outfitted with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports, providing multiplex/de-multiplex configurations for video-stream redundancy. The second Ethernet port may be designated as a management port for instant access from anywhere. The SBT3-9200 is capable of outputting both HD and down-converted SD broadcast video simultaneously from a single HD source and it offers support for both digital and analog HD input/output formats. Built on Streambox's industry-leading ACT-L3 codec, the SBT3-9200 is equipped with advanced networking features such as robust forward error correction for enhanced performance, efficiency, and reliability. It also includes an expanded set of resolutions and frame rates which makes the system ideal for use in movie and post-production environments.

The SBT3-9200 Encoder operates seamlessly with the entire suite of Streambox client/server products, including video management and play-out systems such as the Streambox Store and Forward Server and the Streambox Media Station.
More information about the Streambox SBT3-9200 HD/SD Encoder and other Streambox products and solutions is available online at www.streambox.com.

Setting Default Compression Filters in Squeeze 5

One of the new features in Sorenson Squeeze 5 the ability to set a Default Filter to be applied to all your compression jobs.  This works well for scenarios where you know you're going to be using a particular compression filter over and over.

To set your Default Filter go into the Squeeze Preferences, by selecting the Squeeze Pull-down menu.  Then, select the Preferences option.

Navigate to the Default Settings tab in the Preferences Dialog window. Notice the section at the top that is labeled Default Filter to Be Applied to Every Compression. In this area, you can click the Pop-up menu where Default Filter is displayed, to choose a filter to use as your default.  In my case I have a Filter setting called Normalize set as my Default Filter. 

Once your Default Filter is selected, whenever you drag compression settings to video files in the Batch Tree (similar to above), your Default Filter will be applied. This will save you an extra step.

Special Note: 
When creating compression Filter settings, you can include a host of adjustments such as Cropping, Contrast, Hue, Watermarks, Audio Volume, Deinterlacing and other adjustments all in one Filter setting.

On2 Adds Support for JavaFX Video to Flix

Following the launch of Sun's JavaFX 1.0 platform, which introduces On2 Video as the cross platform video codec for JavaFX applications. On2 Technologies, Inc., a leader in video compression solutions, announced that support for JavaFX video has been integrated into its On2 Flix line of encoder products. On2 Flix currently is the only video encoding solution capable of outputting JavaFX video.

Renowned for performance and compatibility, On2 Flix video encoders range from desktop applications for consumers and professionals to server side encoding platforms for enterprise. Accepting the broadest range of video formats, in addition to JavaFX video, On2 Flix encoders also support VP6-E and VP6-S video for Adobe Flash Player 8 and 9, 3GPP-compliant mobile video, and H.264 video for Apple iPhone iPod and offer the most complete solution for creating and publishing web video.

The JavaFX 1.0 is the expressive platform for building rich internet applications (RIA) with immersive media and content, across all the screens of your life. It includes a runtime and a suite of tools that web scripters, technical designers and developers can use to quickly build and deliver the next generation of rich interactive applications for desktop, mobile devices, TV, and other platforms. For more information on the JavaFX family of products visit http://www.javafx.com

"The launch of JavaFX 1.0 is a significant milestone in our multi-year agreement with Sun" says Matt Frost, Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO of On2 Technologies "On2 now brings video capability to the Java platform, the global standard that powers billions of devices from TVs to mobile phones, and our Flix encoding tools provide the Java community with the tools needed for creating and publishing high quality JavaFX video."

dicas and Wowza Media Systems unveil multiple bit rate live Flash streaming

dicas, the German MPEG-4 experts, and Wowza Media Systems, a US-based developer of Flash streaming media server software, have announced the interoperability of dicas MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 encoders with Wowza Media Server Pro. Broadcasters, operators and enterprises delivering IPTV and streaming services now have at their disposal a versatile and cost-effective conduit for the live distribution of broadcast-quality video content in multiple bit rates to Internet-connected Flash player clients.

Wowza Media Server Pro is an award-winning solution for Flash streaming that counts more than 15,000 global licensees across a broad range of industries. Its popularity is due in large part to its exclusive ability to stream to Flash players using both RTMP and non-RTMP live encoders.

"We knew that a server allowing non-Flash RTP/RTSP encoders for H.264 live Flash streaming would be an extremely attractive product," says David Stubenvoll, CEO & Co-Founder, Wowza Media Systems. "But we never foresaw such a broad and deep affection for what we have done. Now the combination of Wowza Pro with dicas2020 multiple bit rate ability offers customers a great way to stream Flash while simplifying encoding infrastructure and reducing cost."

"The compatibility with Wowza Media Server Pro is a natural advancement of our product portfolio," says Sebastian Moeritz, CEO at dicas. "In addition to the dicas Flash plug-in allowing for H.264 live Flash streaming over RTMP, clients now have the choice of using RTMP or delivering streams to the media server at multiple bit rates over a standard non-Flash transport protocol that best fits with their needs."
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The recently launched dicas2020 multi-format encoder is a perfect complement to Wowza Media Server Pro. The dicas2020 encodes a single input channel into up to six parallel output signals at varying bit rates (adjustable from 40 kbps to 6 Mbps), resolution (from QCIF to SDTV), and transport protocols (RTMP, RTP/RTSP, MPEG-TS). Wowza Media Server Pro can ingest streams over any transport protocol from the dicas2020 encoder, selecting from a bit rate appropriate to the user's bandwidth and reliably deliver it over RTMP to the Flash player.

Episode Encoder Available for Windows

Telestream announced an important milestone for its Episode Series media encoding software products. Previously only offered on the Mac platform, version 5.1 extends Telestream's Episode and Episode Pro desktop encoding products to the Windows operating system. Version 5.1 also brings watch folders to Episode desktop products for both Mac and PC users. Episode provides universal transcoding between virtually any video and audio format, offering ultimate flexibility in a single software package.

"With the addition of Windows support and watch folders, Episode 5.1 is more accessible and useful than ever," observed digital video compression expert Nate Caplin. "Episode Pro's deep format support and comprehensive set of professional-grade filters make it an essential part of my video transcoding toolkit. Whether I need to convert files for post-production or produce files for the web and mobile devices, I've never met an encoding challenge I couldn't solve with Episode Pro."

Episode products provide a fast, flexible and future-proof solution for virtually any SD or HD compression need. Episode desktop products include extensive fine-tuning compression capabilities, batch encoding and many presets which enable users to quickly create extremely high-quality output files. Cross-platform support in Episode and Episode Pro 5.1 means that users and organizations no longer need to learn and support multiple encoding tools for different purposes. The addition of watch folders in version 5.1 saves time and effort by enabling users to simply drop finished projects into folders for automatic encoding.

"Episode Pro is the closest thing I've ever found to a universal anything-in, anything-out transcoder," adds Caplin. "But its power goes beyond simple conversion and compression. What really sets Episode apart is the ability it gives me to easily massage any video source into clean output by applying its extensive set of video and audio pre-processing filters. With Episode Pro, I feel like I'm in control of my video."

Episode Series provides scalability from standalone desktop media encoding applications for individual users to powerful, server-based encoding applications for larger organizations with higher volume needs. Known for speed, quality and ease of use, Episode products simplify content repurposing for distribution to the growing number of digital media channels such as Web, DVD, IPTV, mobile phones and portable devices.

Version 5.1 offers a number of powerful new features and enhancements. With extended MXF decode and encode support, Episode continues to expand support for broadcast workflows and playout servers such as Avid, Omneon and K2. Episode now offers more robust, intelligent monitoring of incoming media to further automate and fine tune file transfer into Episode Engine for encoding and delivery to specified destinations.

Telestream's Pipeline device allows for media ingest directly from SDI tape or live sources into Episode Engine. In version 5.1, users can simultaneously encode media into any format with Episode Engine while it is being ingested with Pipeline saving valuable time in critical workflows.

For Mac desktop users, version 5.1 adds enhanced functionality to the Apple Final Cut Compressor plug-in. In addition to encoding to any format, users can now adjust settings for Windows Media and Flash encoding including resize, deinterlace and frame rate.

Cross-platform Episode desktop encoders for Mac OS X and Windows are available in two versions. Episode imports virtually any file format, including broadcast and professional formats, and encodes media to all major Web, DVD authoring, mobile and portable device formats, including Flash 8/9, Windows Media, QuickTime, H.264, VC-1, 3GPP, MPEG-1/2/4 and more. Episode Pro includes all of the same features and formats plus encoding to high-end broadcast and professional formats such as GXF, MXF, H.264 High Profile, DVCPRO HD, mobile multi-bit rate and more.

Episode desktop products are now available for online purchase at http://www.telestream.net. Both the desktop and server products are also available from Telestream's worldwide network of resellers and distributors, as well as Apple online stores.