press release: sony's encoder

[plonk420]

i wonder what the pq is like on it... (because more expensive always means better) </sarcasm>

SONY ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF MULTI-CODEC VIDEO ENCODER FOR PROFESSIONAL BLU-RAY DISC AUTHORING

New Encoding Tool from Sony Creative Software Supports All Blu-ray Formats, Offers Customization and 30 Percent Faster Delivery Over Previous Sony Encoder at a Competitive Price

Sony Creative Software (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/default.asp), a leading worldwide provider of professional video and audio production applications, today announced the availability of Sony’s new multi-codec video encoder for Blu-ray Disc authoring developed in conjunction with Sony Electronics and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Originally announced by Sony Electronics at NAB 2008, the BAE-VX1000 encoder is priced to bring high-speed, high-quality Blu-ray Disc authoring within reach of smaller studios.

“As Blu-ray Discs become consumers’ high-definition format of choice, industry demand for affordable and powerful studio encoding tools is rapidly expanding,” said Dave Chaimson, Sony Creative Software vice president of global marketing. “The BAE-VX1000 encoder was designed to meet the changing needs of the growing professional encoder market. It can decrease total encoding time by up to 30 percent over the previous Sony BAE-VA700 solution through enhancements such as parallel capturing and pre-processing and increased encoding algorithm efficiency.”

Multiple Format Compatibility

A multi-codec design enables BAE-VX1000 encoder compatibility with most common Blu-ray authoring applications, such as Sony Creative Software’s Blu-print (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/bluprint.asp). It offers the option of using H.264 AVC or MPEG-2 technology to give production professionals more flexibility, depending on their project deadlines, client preferences or individual workflow requirements. MPEG-2 encoding for traditional DVD authoring is also available in the BAE-VX1000 encoder.

Auto Customize Function

To shorten recording times, the BAE-VX1000 offers an Auto Customize function. This can automatically detect parts of the picture that are difficult to encode, then perform multiple encoding using up to five possible bit rates set up in advance. When two-pass encoding of the entire title is finished, users can review these multiple versions and select the most suitable one based on its picture quality and disc size.

Frame-by-Frame Customization

Each encoding parameter can be customized frame-by-frame for best picture quality. The graphical user interface shifts to another color to indicate where the parameters have changed. After customization, segment encoding allows users to input the smallest range required for re-encoding. This delivers optimum picture quality in the shortest time by avoiding the need to re-encode the entire title.

Scalable Three-speed Configuration

Engineered to suit individual production needs, the BAE-VX1000 offers multiple settings to give Blu-ray Disc producers the most flexibility, while not compromising picture quality. An “Express” mode supports AVC real-time encoding with one PC, when encoding speed is the top priority. When using additional networked processors, “Fast” and “Quality” modes are also available to meet higher performance and quality requirements. The BAE-VX1000 also offers a built in real-time AVC elementary stream decoder that improves the efficiency of quality checking procedures.

Supports Single and Multiple PC Networks for Optimum Studio Flexibility

The BAE-VX1000 encoder can support a simple and affordable single PC configuration that can accomplish AVC encoding in real-time, which is ideal for smaller production houses. The encoder can also be easily expanded to a networked distributed processing configuration, offering large-scale studio encoding studios a new and affordable tool for greater operational flexibility.

Pricing and Availability

The BAE-VX1000 encoder is offered as a turn-key system priced at $55,000 U.S. The system is compatible with 64-bit operating systems on Microsoft Windows Server 2003, XP and Vista. For more information, please visit: http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/bluprint.asp?page=other encoders (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

About Sony Creative Software

Sony Creative Software inspires artistic expression with its award-winning line of products for digital video, music, DVD, and audio production. As a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the company also develops applications that enhance the experience for users of Sony hardware devices. Sony Creative Software customers span the globe and include seasoned professionals in the film, television, video game, and recording industries, as well as students, educators, hobbyists, and enthusiasts. For more information, visit www.sonycreativesoftware.com.

Blu-print is a trademarks or registered trademark of Sony Creative Software Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

source (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080722005277&newsLang=en)

[Dark Shikari]

Rule 17 of video encoding: if your video encoder requires hand-tuning on a per-scene basis in order to reach acceptable visual quality, you should probably commit seppuku to put yourself out of your misery.

[Ranguvar]

Rule 17 of video encoding: if your video encoder requires hand-tuning on a per-scene basis in order to reach acceptable visual quality, you should probably commit seppuku to put yourself out of your misery.
ROFL... seppuku FTW!

Anyways... I agree... :rolleyes:

[foxyshadis]

Rule 17 of video encoding: if your video encoder requires hand-tuning on a per-scene basis in order to reach acceptable visual quality, you should probably commit seppuku to put yourself out of your misery.

Older pro authoring houses are so used to CCE that they'll demand and use the capability (along with many-passes) even without understanding that it's useless with proper rate control. They're just trained that it's impossible to have good quality without them. Plus many are obsessed with comparing video on a frame-by-frame basis instead of in motion, skewing their idea of a quality encode, and hand-finessing a video whether necessary or not to put a 'personal touch' on it. I've seen the same mentality among scene encoders over the years.

Not to say that there aren't plenty of newer professional encoding suites with wretched rate control.

[plonk420]

well, i WAS going to post a "how do YOU know?!?", but in more whiney terms/phrases. do you know for a fact they have to? :P

[Shinigami-Sama]

well, i WAS going to post a "how do YOU know?!?", but in more whiney terms/phrases. do you know for a fact they have to? :P

whut?

[plonk420]

whut?

are you sure they're so bad that they need per-scene hand tuning? :P

[Revgen]

^Judging by the quality of Sony software like Vegas, I wouldn't be surprised.

[CruNcher]

What sorry Vegas is a very well Engineered Application (and it was the first .Net utilizing application where i said WOW) and most Software that Sony creates is all their Pro stuff is up to top just damn expensive Hardware aswell Software :D tough ofcourse it sure needs improvement still but they on a very good way and improveing constantly :) (tough they also do in other directions like DRM and Hardware Restrictioning)
Editing Film Projects with Vegas (usability and workflow) wise is damn visual intuitive as if you compare with the old stone Premiere way, but Vegas is pretty new so it still isn't fully there where Premiere currently is but im sure in the Future this could change very fast if Sony plans so (especialy when Sony gets all the support from 3rdparties together that Adobe gathered over the years) :)

Rule 17 of video encoding: if your video encoder requires hand-tuning on a per-scene basis in order to reach acceptable visual quality, you should probably commit seppuku to put yourself out of your misery.

Dark they write about "Optimum Quality" not acceptable quality 2 different things, i guess they mean in this case Optimum Metric based Quality and as foxyshadis allready said every good CCE solution has this currently @ hand showing you the PSNR for the given scene (alarming you if it goes bellow a certaint value) in this case Sony lets you define different PSNRs that it then tries to reach automaticly Encoding only the Scene that showed as problematic (saving time) and then the Encoder decides wich one of these Encoded Scenes fits the Size/Quality compared to the Master Quality. Ofcourse acceptable balanced Quality seem a much better way especialy seeing the given time constraints in Hollywood and a very good optimized Codec with it's decission tuned for sure can reach that easily and wont look much more bad compared to the Optimum Hand tuned Encode, but saving Quality seeing under wich time constraints most Encoders seem to be.

[Revgen]

It's not the editing interface of Vegas that's the problem. It's wondering whether or not it's going to support the video you feed it and render it. Just recently I had to help a friend online who isn't exactly a wiz at avisynth, and I had to show him how to use DGMPEGDec to create a d2v file, type an AVISynth script, create a fake AVI using MakeAVI's, and than read that fake AVI to bypass Vegas' poor decoders. For a professional product costing hundreds of dollars, this is completely unacceptable. Especially with a mature codec like MPEG-2.

Hopefully, for Sony's sake, they have a different team developing this product than the team behind Vegas.