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Telestream supports Final Cut Server Apr 13, 2008 - 9:26:45 AM

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By Ken Kerschbaumer

Telestream's Episode 5.0 encoding software, introduced at NAB, expands format support to a greater number of specific digital media workflows for Apple professionals with newly incorporated support for Final Cut Server, RED camera, Cineon and DPX formats.

Also for its core content repurposing to Web and mobile workflows, the entire Episode family adds support for the latest Flash 8, Flash 9 and Blu-ray formats. For Apple's new Final Cut Server media asset management and workflow automation software, Episode expands format choices beyond QuickTime to virtually any format.

"Episode 5.0 removes bottlenecks and speeds digital media workflows for a greater number of Apple users in digital production and editorial environments. The addition of high-end 10-bit 4:4:4 processing makes Episode Engine a perfect fit for the rigorous demands of digital film and telecine environments," says Barbara DeHart, VP of Marketing at Telestream. "With the addition of more formats for Web and mobile workflows, Episode continues to meet the content authoring needs for a growing number of new media platforms. We're also pleased to add support for Apple's exciting new Final Cut Server application."

Version 5.0 adds encode and decode support for Flash 8 VP6s, Flash 9 (H.264) and Blu-ray, keep pacing with the latest new media content authoring formats. Using Telestream's innovative new Pipeline network video capture device, Episode users can now easily log and capture video from tape, schedule recording of live feeds and encode media while it is being ingested. The 5.0 release also includes a new high-quality filter for NTSC/PAL video standards conversion which brings software video conversion to a new level at an affordable price compared to hardware standards converters.

NAB is Telestream's debut for Final Cut Server integration. Episode multiformat encoding software now expands format support beyond QuickTime to virtually any file format for Final Cut Server. This a great example of how the new free Software Developer Kit (SDK) for Episode Engine enables easy integration into any workflow. Intelligent scripting simplifies integration, including monitoring, delivery and notification of transcoding operations, directly through the easy-to-use Episode user interface, without the need for programming. Version 5.0 also extends workflow integration to include media browsing and importing from Grass Valley K2 or Profile and 360 Systems servers, plus Sony XDCAM, Grass Valley Infinity and Ikegami Editcam disk-based cameras.

Episode Engine provides faster-than-real-time encoding through segmented and distributed processing for the most demanding workflows involving large, complex files. Version 5.0 now provides support for RED, Cineon and DPX formats, preserving 10-bit 4:4:4 throughout the process to provide the speed and superior quality required for digital film and telecine workflows. Because of Episode's ability to access QuickTime components, Final Cut Studio users can now gain access to Apple's pristine-quality ProRes 422 post-production format.

Telestream's Episode encoding applications for the Mac provide extensive format support, speed, quality and ease of use. Episode is the only encoding solution that scales from a single desktop to a fully-automated, multi-node server cluster with distributed encoding for high-volume and time-critical workflows.

Telestream has also brought Steve Ellis on board as Vice President of Worldwide Sales. Ellis brings more than 25 years of executive sales and strategic business leadership experience in the video and telecommunications industries to his new role at Telestream.

"We are entering a very aggressive growth period where expansion of our sales efforts will play a pivotal role in the acceleration our business," said Dan Castles, CEO at Telestream. "This role will be crucial in helping us achieve our rapid business growth. Steve brings many years of deep industry knowledge, as well as a successful track record of scaling business growth, through his leadership of worldwide sales organizations and channel teams."

Previous experience includes an extensive background in the professional video industry, where Ellis lead domestic and international sales teams for Chyron Corporation, a leading provider of broadcast graphics and newsroom integration solutions, Vizrt Americas, and Pinnacle Video Systems. Former positions also include ownership and management of a successful regional broadcast dealership in New York and directing corporate media services for AT&T.