AVID AND PANASONIC TO OFFER P2 WORKFLOW

New collaborative development allows native editing of high resolution P2 files in AVID nonlinear editing solutions

Avid Technology, Inc. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (Panasonic) announced a new collaborative development relationship designed to provide more comprehensive native interoperability between Panasonic DVCPRO P2 (P2) products including P2 cameras, decks, drives and cards and Avid’s award-winning nonlinear editing and Avid Unity™ shared-storage solutions. This development initiative extends the collaborative relationship between Avid and Panasonic, both of which are known for developing revolutionary technologies that give professionals a creative and competitive advantage in the digital video marketplace. The collaboration provides support for Panasonic P2 content in upcoming versions of the Avid® NewsCutter® Adrenaline™ FX, NewsCutter XP, and Media Composer® Adrenaline editing systems – as well as the Avid Unity family of shared-storage solutions. This capability, which is expected to be available in Q1 of 2005, will allow new and current users of these Avid nonlinear editing systems to read and edit directly from the P2 card as native storage, assembling, trimming, editing and adding effects to the material without having to first transfer the files into the editing systems or a storage device. In addition, P2 media can be combined on the same timeline along with other media formats supported by Avid systems. Once edits are complete, the finished sequence can be transferred to the Avid Unity shared-storage system at four to six times faster than real time*1 via the workstation’s Gigabit Ethernet or Fibre Channel network connection. Original source material not used in the edited sequence can remain on the P2 card or be transferred to short or long term storage. “Our broadcast customers understand the productivity benefits of nonlinear workflow, and that instant access to digital footage can give them an edge in getting stories to air faster than their competitors,” said David Schleifer, director of Avid Broadcast and Workgroups. “Panasonic P2 extends the nonlinear workflow right to the camera, so Avid editors can access and use P2 content immediately after it is captured. Plus, because both Avid and Panasonic systems use the MXF OP-Atom format, the time-consuming file conversion process is eliminated entirely. This interoperability provides significant workflow efficiencies for broadcasters, and we’re looking forward to working more closely with Panasonic in the future to deliver tighter integration between our respective technologies.” Tadao Shimozuru, director of Professional AV System B.U., Panasonic AVC Networks Company, added, “We are excited to announce the P2 workflow solution with Avid systems. Many of our customers are seeking a total workflow that spans the production continuum from acquisition to archive, and have specifically asked for interoperability between Panasonic and Avid systems to make such a solution possible. We look forward to the huge benefit that this close collaboration will bring to our customers in the news gathering and news production industries.” Avid and Panasonic will demonstrate the integration of P2 with Avid NewsCutter products in their respective stands at IBC 2004. For more information about Avid’s products and services, please visit: www.avid.com. For more Panasonic P2 series products and services, please visit: https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/ *1) In the case of DVCPRO. Speed is dependent on the hard disk, network, and overall CPU performance.