Thomson Announces Collaboration With CineForm

Thomson, a leading provider of video solutions, has announced that it has joined with CineForm, makers of advanced software-based codecs and CPU accelerators for desktop editing systems, to develop the I-J2K Suite that enables Adobe CS3 and Apple Final Cut Pro (FCP) users to have a complete, real-time, 10-bit, 4:2:2 workflow for JPEG 2000 files captured with the Thomson Grass Valley Infinity Digital Media Camcorder (DMC).
The new I-J2K Suite, which is part of CineForm's HD Link technology, can be found in the company's Prospect HD and NEO HD products. These products will include a plug-in decoder module that seamlessly converts JPEG 2000 files generated with the Infinity DMC to a file format that is easily recognised by PC and Mac users of the Adobe CS3 Production Suite and Apple Final Cut Pro Studio. In addition to making the JPEG 2000 files available for high-quality, file-based, non-linear editing, it creates AVI or QuickTime files for preview and playback on both Windows and Mac systems, allowing JPEG 2000 files to be as easily edited and viewed as other popular media file types.
David Taylor, CEO of CineForm, said: "Adding this new Infinity JPEG 2000 decoding capability to our product line fits in perfectly with our strategy to offer clients the tools they need to succeed. JPEG 2000 is now emerging as a new way to efficiently capture and distribute video with a minimum of bandwidth requirements, so it makes sense to support the Thomson Grass Valley Infinity product family. We're happy with the support Thomson has provided us during the development of this new product and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future."
Jeff Rosica, Senior Vice President of Thomson's Broadcast and Professional Solutions within the Systems division, said: "The industry is recognising the image quality and bandwidth-saving benefits of capturing images with the JPEG 2000 compression format offered on the Thomson Grass Valley Infinity Digital Media Camcorder and complete Infinity product family. In supporting our customers' needs, we are happy to be working with a respected industry leader in compression-based digital intermediate post workflows. This collaboration between our companies helps Infinity users maintain the highest possible image quality across the entire content creation chain."
In addition, CineForm has developed separate DirectShow (Windows OS) and QuickTime (Mac OS X) components that allow the company to OEM its new (Infinity) JPEG 2000 decode plug-in to other third-party companies, thus enabling them to build the capability to convery Infinity JPEG 2000 files into their respective transcoding products for use with Avid Technology and other systems.
The Windows version is now available for purchase from CineForm's website at: www.CineForm.com and the Mac version will be available soon.
Further information is available at: www.thomson.net and www.thomsongrassvalley.com.
(KMcA/JM)