SAN JOSE, Calif., April 3 -- Canopus Corporation today lowered the price on its IEEE 1394 capture and editing solution, DVRaptor, and Xplode, an effects filled, affordable 3D DVE solution. DVRaptor, which includes the full version of Adobe Premiere 5.1, Canopus' SoftXplode 3D effects software and Raptor Edit nonlinear editing software, is now priced at $549 (SRP), down from $799. Xplode has been reduced to $449 (SRP), down from $549.

Recognized for reliability and an innovative hardware design employing a high-speed software codec, DVRaptor combines stability with advanced features such as real-time, full-screen preview. Canopus Raptor Edit is a robust nonlinear video editor that provides DVRaptor users with real-time "assemble" and "insert" editing functions and near-real-time transition and title rendering. Raptor Edit offers seamless batch capture of long video segments (greater than 20 minutes), a drag-and-drop interface, real-time video and audio scrubbing, four-channel DV audio support and fast rendering times. Combining ease-of-use features and a straightforward interface, Raptor Edit is the fastest way to start editing with DVRaptor. DVRaptor's advanced features have earned it industry-wide acceptance. For instance, the product was selected recently for use in Avid's new DV editing system, Avid Xpress DV on IBM IntelliStation M Pro.

To make video productions sizzle, Xplode includes wonderfully creative effects designed to enhance the viewing experience. This effects-filled, high performance AGP hardware-based 3D effects engine and transition package provides Adobe Premiere, Ulead MediaStudio, Rex Edit and Raptor Edit users with a high-speed alternative to software-only DVEs and a lower cost alternative to more expensive real-time DVEs. Xplode includes a sophisticated collection of over 200 alpha effects, 60 customizable 3D transitions and 100 pre-set 3D objects, including picture frames, film reels, photo albums and seamless backgrounds, making it a "must-have" for videographers. Because users can easily adjust the parameters of effects and save the settings for use in future projects or build their own, Xplode gives users an ample reserve of custom effects.

Users will receive significant gains in productivity when using Xplode's sophisticated transitions and high-speed rendering. With Xplode, Canopus is bringing its award-winning graphics technology to the digital video world with features such as video overlay in high-resolution (resolution up to 1600 x 1200 at 32 bits per pixel). A state-of-the-art hardware 3D engine and 32 MB of on-board memory provide near real-time rendering times. The 3D effects engine's high-speed rendering times shine when rendering complex transitions and effects. While simple transitions and effects are rendered two to three times faster than with software-based effects programs, more complex transitions requiring advanced geometry calculations are rendered 20 times faster.

About Canopus Corporation

Based in San Jose, Calif., Canopus Corporation manufactures award-winning, non-linear video editing products for videographers. Canopus' DV editing, MPEG-2 encoding and 3D DVE products combine innovative hardware and software designs to set new standards. The company's latest offering, DVRex R3 real- time turnkey editing system, delivers unmatched real-time processing features. Canopus Corporation's parent company, Canopus Co., Ltd., with headquarters in Kobe, is Japan's largest maker of video editing and graphics products. For more information contact Canopus at (408) 954-4500 or visit their Web site at http://www.canopuscorp.com.

Canopus, Raptor Edit, Rex Edit, DVRaptor, DVRex and Xplode are trademarks of Canopus Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Canopus Corporation