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Inlet Technologies, a provider of professional encoding solutions for next-generation content distribution, today announced the general availability of Fathom 2.0. The professional VC-1 encoder was initially unveiled at the National Association of Broadcasters in April, where it was selected as one of millimeter magazine?s NAB 2005 Pick Hits.
Fathom combines a hardware encoding engine with workflow and analysis software to make next-generation distribution methods like HD-DVD, Blu-ray, video-on-demand and digital dailies a reality today. Fathom 1.0 was the first real-time high-definition encoding solution for Windows Media Video HD content. Fathom 2.0 extends that ability to VC-1 Main and Advanced Profiles and includes new features designed to eliminate the barriers to distributing content using advanced compression technologies.
Fathom 2.0 was pre-released in early June to key customers such as Akimbo Systems and Microsoft Studios.
Akimbo (www.akimbo.com), the first company to deliver video-on-demand to any television via a broadband-Internet connection, has been using Fathom to decrease encoding time and to improve the quality of video its service delivers to consumers. ?Fathom?s 2-pass encoding capabilities allow us to utilize the analysis and statistics we gain from the initial pass (of the entire video or individual segments) to make better encoding decisions the second time around, resulting in higher-quality video in a fraction of the time compared to our old workflow,? said Buzz Dean, senior director of operations at Akimbo ?With the use of Fathom, we have consistently set new records by enabling a 1,700 percent encoding time savings and a 15 percent overall yield increase.?
As one of the earliest users of Fathom 1.0, the Microsoft Studios has watched the product evolve to play a greater role in the development and delivery of high definition content.
?When Inlet originally asked us what we thought was needed in a professional encoder ? we all agreed that real-time encoding was the ideal milestone,? explained John Conrad, senior consulting engineer, Microsoft Studios. ?Inlet has surpassed that milestone by complementing real-time encoding with Seen by Scene capabilities, batch encoding, the ability to encode directly from tape and much more.?
?Inlet has already allowed us to get our encoding time down from 10-15 hours to one hour, enabling us to quickly deliver high quality, high definition content for venues like the recent Seattle International Film Festival,? added Conrad. ?These capabilities also impact the future of high definition delivery with the promise of live streaming high definition content, etc.?
Fathom is the only encoding solution for WMV and VC-1 that provides valuable statistics in a user-friendly graphical interface. Fathom also allows offers Seen by Scene to users allowing adjustments to be made based on statistics and visual review. Seen by Scene segment capabilities provide tremendous workflow advantages in addition to allowing precise control of encoding.
?Customers are truly amazed when they experience Seen by Scene for the fist time,? explained Neal Page, Inlet CEO. ?They are so used to traditional encoding methods which required them to re-encode the entire video each time changes were made to a single segment. With Seen by Scene, they can now pick and choose individual segments that require additional encoding, saving them significant time and effort.?
Other key additions to Fathom 2.0 include:
* Real-time single-pass, 2-pass and accelerated multi-pass encoding for 2K, high-definition and standard definition resolution content, allowing users to improve the quality of video with fewer encodes.
* Improved workflow features such as a customizable user interface, batch encoding and device control to streamline and automate encoding activities.
?Fathom was built on the promise of delivering a solution to improve the performance, precision and productivity of professional VC-1 encoders,? emphasized Page. ?The end result is simple ? these professionals can now deliver significantly higher quality video content, either high definition or standard definition, in dramatically less time.?
Fathom 2.0 is available through qualified professional video resellers and solution integrators. It is also available as part of Sonic Solutions? Sonic DVD Producer HD. For more information about purchasing or reselling Inlet Fathom, contact sales@inlethd.com.
About Inlet Technologies
Inlet Technologies provides award-winning professional encoding solutions for next-generation content distribution. Inlet's Optimized Compression, Encoding and Analysis (OCEAN?) platform combines advanced compression formats with a proprietary encoding engine and analysis tools to enable intelligent, real-time encoding of high-definition content for the post-production and broadcast markets. Inlet?s Fathom? professional VC-1 encoder delivers high-performance advanced compression to the post-production market and was recently selected as one of millimeter magazine?s NAB 2005 Pick Hits. Inlet Technologies is based in Raleigh, NC.
For more information, visit www.inlethd.com.
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