Avid Introduces Avid ePublisher

 

 

 

 

Innovative Application Enables New Media Producers to Create and Publish Interactive Video and Multimedia Content for the Web, Intranets, CDs, DVDs

TEWKSBURY, MA --(April 3, 2000)-- Avid Technology, Inc., a leading provider of computer-based video, film and audio solutions for entertainment and information applications, will introduce Avid(R) ePublisher, the industry's first complete streaming media publishing tool for Web-enabled video production. Developed for new media producers in the broadcast/"webcast", corporate, education and training markets, the Avid ePublisher solution will simplify how streaming media content is produced, encoded and distributed. This single application will enable content creators to capture, edit or re-purpose video content and combine it with information and graphical elements to create HTML-based interactive multimedia content that can be published to the Web as well as to CD and DVD for easy distribution. Avid will demonstrate Avid ePublisher in booth 5710 at Spring Internet World in Los Angeles, April 5-7, 2000.

"With the coming of advanced streaming technology and high performance, broadband networks, we're going to see an explosion in the use of video on the Web as a way to communicate more effectively," said Paul Henderson, vice president of New Media Business Development at Avid. "New media producers want to use video to enhance existing Web content and, even more significantly, to use interactive information, graphics, and commerce to enhance the traditionally passive video experience. Avid ePublisher, with its breakthrough Link &Sync(TM)feature, for the first time will let new media creators rather than programmers create Web content that combines both video and information into a single interactive experience. We call this creating `Video the Web Way'."

Bring it all together Avid ePublisher software was designed as a video creation tool that will enable content creators to harness the full power of the Web for their video communications. It will eliminate the multi-step, multi-tool process new media producers must typically now employ to assemble video-enhanced, HTML-based interactive content for applications like webcasting, "webmercials," distance learning, and on-line training.

Steve Jensen, an Avid ePublisher beta tester and vice president of Production at jStream (www.jstream.com), a web video production and content service provider in Salt Lake City, Utah said, "We are presently building several Avid editing suites that will provide a variety of Internet and media delivery options for our customers. Avid ePublisher provides the features needed to create impactful streaming video content and then takes it a couple steps further by allowing us to create the html-based content, see it before we encode it and then publish the final content to the web, CD and other mediums. With this, we can provide a higher level of service to our customers -- all from the same tool."

Avid ePublisher's intuitive user interface with storyboards, video capture and editing, template-based HTML content creation, and push-button easy digital encoding and publishing wizard will allow users to create HTML-based interactive content for the Web, CDs and DVDs and other digital mediums. Avid ePublisher can be used on an individual basis with popular HTML authoring and presentation graphics products. It can also function as a final assembly and publishing application within a digital media production workgroup where professional video editors, HTML-editors, and graphic artists feed completed content components to the new interactive editors to create the final multimedia Web experience.

Key features include:

  • -- Link & Sync Editing. This unique, time-line based feature will enable users to create synchronized output combining video, with graphics, slides and other HTML content imported from popular editing and presentation tools.
  • -- Create Once Publish Everywhere (C.O.P.E.). HTML-based output will allow users to create a single project and publish it to a variety of formats, such as the Internet, Intranet, CD and DVD, at the push of a button. A profile driven wizard will allow users to easily publish to multiple formats including Windows Media Technologies (WMV/ASF), RealNetworks (RM), QuickTime (MOV) and MPEG-1 & 2 and enable easy posting to AvidProNet.com or other video hosting sites.
  • -- Intuitive Interface. Will includes powerful real-time video editing features in an easy to understand tabular user interface. Timeline editing will enable users to use simple drag-and-drop techniques to cut, paste and trim video clips, add titles, audio (narration and music), and over 50 different transition effects. An integrated video viewer will enable users to view their work and easily experiment with different layouts and designs interactively.
  • -- Easy Video Capture. Capture video directly from a digital or analog cameras or decks or simply import it from off the network or the Web. Use an optional USB analog video capture device to capture video directly into any USB enabled PC or laptop.

Pricing and Availability
Avid ePublisher is scheduled for release in North America in Q2 2000 directly from Avid and through Avid resellers. Worldwide availability is planned for the second half of 2000. This new product will be available in two versions, depending on users' individual needs. Both versions are expected to be available for under $600 USMSRP (final pricing to be announced at time of shipment).

  • -- Avid ePublisher Software Edition - Software only version. Supports DV capture via Microsoft OHCI Compliant IEEE-1394 port and Analog capture via third party PCI analog capture card (Osprey-100).
  • -- Avid ePublisher USB Edition - Software version with USB video capture device included. Supports DV capture via Microsoft OHCI Compliant IEEE-1394 port and Analog capture via Avid supplied USB Capture device or third party PCI analog capture card (Osprey-100).

System Requirements
The Avid ePublisher system will be available for Windows 98SE or Windows Millennium Edition operating systems with an Intel Celeron, Pentium II or Pentium III or equivalent processor with MMX. Digital video capture is supported through native or third-party IEEE-1394 cards (Microsoft OHCI compliant). Analog video capture is supported through either the Avid-supplied USB video capture device from Eskape Labs or through an Osprey 100, a third-party PCI capture card available from ViewCast.com's Osprey Technologies Division.

About Avid Technology, Inc.
Avid Technology, Inc. is an international, industry-leading provider of digital audio and video tools for information and entertainment applications. Avid's products are used by a variety of customers worldwide including film, television and interactive content producers producing interactive video and audio content for the Internet, TV news broadcasters, corporate communicators and consumers. For more information, visit Avid's Web site at www.avid.com.