Dual-Link Connectivity and 64-bit Computing Architecture Facilitate

LAS VEGAS—April 23, 2006—Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVID)
today announced version 8.0 of the Avid(R) DS Nitris(R) system,
featuring new hardware and software enhancements for advanced
postproduction professionals working on high-resolution and digital
intermediate (DI) film and television projects. Designed to support
HD-RGB formats that offer the highest tape-based image quality
currently available, Avid DS Nitris v8.0 provides dual-link 4:4:4
hardware connectivity for higher data throughput as well as a native
64-bit software architecture that accelerates system performance for
deep layer compositing and hi-res projects. Version 8.0 also delivers
dual-boot capability with Avid Symphony(TM) Nitris, giving editors
access to both Symphony and Avid DS software functionality on a single
workstation with the same Avid Nitris hardware. In addition, Avid also
announced the Avid DS Assist Station(TM), a software-only version of
the Avid DS v8.0 toolset, which customers can deploy on lower-cost
workstations to handle less-intensive tasks such as conform checks,
while using the Avid DS Nitris system for higher-bandwidth work.
"The ability to work with higher-resolution formats is critical
for anyone in a television or film finishing environment," said Matt
Allard, senior product manager at Avid. "Today, HD-RGB is emerging as
the new de facto mastering standard in the advanced television market
because of its superior color fidelity. In feature film, producers
want a similar level of uncompressed color quality for their 2K and 4K
DI work. By enhancing Avid DS Nitris with these hi-res capabilities
and expanding the online workflow with the DS Assist Station, we're
enabling professionals to work more efficiently in whatever resolution
they need as their delivery requirements evolve over time."
Bill Admans, director of Creative Editorial at FotoKem, said,
"Many of our high-end clients have tested and begun to use the new
HD-RGB digital film cameras as a primary acquisition format. FotoKem
has been mastering film dailies and final product to HDCamSR in 4:4:4
for some time now, because of its superior quality. The studios are
already telling us that this will be their primary acquisition and
mastering format for the '06-'07 Fall television season. The addition
of HD-RGB 4:4:4 workflows to Avid DS Nitris are very important to our
business, and we are extremely pleased about the arrival of these new
features. But at the end of the day, it's not just about bells and
whistles. FotoKem chooses Avid because the company consistently
delivers quality, end-to-end workflows backed with the confidence of
the highest level of technical support."
The Ultimate System for High-Resolution Workflows
Version 8.0 of Avid DS Nitris combines real-time multi-stream
10-bit HD performance, and a deep creative toolset to provide
time-sensitive post environments with unmatched performance for
editing and finishing SD, HD and 2K/4K DI work. Highlights of the new
system include:
Dual-link HD-SDI connectivity – offering new integrated I/O
hardware that provides the necessary bandwidth for capturing
and editing 4:4:4 HD-RGB formats such as HDCAM SR;
Dual-boot capability – expanding the flexibility of HD
finishing options by allowing editors to run either Symphony
or Avid DS software on the same system;
Native 64-bit system and software support – leveraging the
advantages of workstations that feature 64-bit processors for
faster performance through access to greater physical memory,
a critical component when working with high-bandwidth, high
resolution files;
Support for 720p50 sequences – providing European customers
transitioning to HD with capture, conform, finishing and
mastering in the 720p50 standard; and
Support for Avid Unity ISIS(TM) – allowing the system to work
with Avid's newest shared-storage system to exchange and share
media assets with other connected systems
Accelerated Finishing with the Avid DS Assist Station
The new Avid DS Assist Station, a software-only version of the
Avid DS 8.0 toolset, enables facilities to accelerate the finishing
process by building a collaborative workflow around a central Avid DS
Nitris system. Capable of running on a lower-cost workstation, the
Avid DS Assist Station software can be networked with Avid DS Nitris
to serve as a satellite system, ideal for offloading tasks – such as
conform checks, rotoscopy, graphics and composites – to an assistant
editor or effects specialist. The expanded workflow improves the
efficiency of online work, making the Avid DS Assist Station software
the perfect complement to the hardware-accelerated power of the Avid
DS Nitris system.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing for the Avid DS Nitris v8.0 system is $147,995 USMSRP as a
turnkey system, which includes a CPU workstation, monitors, 2.5 TBs of
RAID storage, and one license for Avid DS RP (remote processing
software for offloading computationally intensive tasks). Existing
Avid DS Nitris v7.6 customers with assurance contracts can upgrade to
version 8.0 with dual-boot capability for $9,995 USMSRP, and can
purchase the Avid dual-link HD-SDI card for $9,995 USMSRP. The Avid DS
Assist Station is available for $9,995 USMSRP.
Both the Avid DS Nitris v8.0 system and the Avid DS Assist Station
are expected to ship in Q2 2006. For more information, please visit
www.avid.com/dsnitris/.