Digital Rapids Introduces StreamZ Encoders, previews Copper C2 at IBC

Digital
Rapids a developer of scalable solutions for content ingest, encoding,
transcoding, protection, streaming and delivery unveiled the StreamZ Live
product line, a new family of live streaming encoders optimized for demanding
applications from live IPTV channels to webcasting. Digital Rapids is also
offering at IBC 2007 attendees a sneak peek at Copper C2, the next generation of
the Digital Rapids Copper high-speed global data delivery software.

StreamZ
Live delivers the proven benefits of Digital Rapids’ award-winning StreamZ studio
encoding systems in a dedicated live platform, including the robust reliability
and exceptional output quality that have made StreamZ the platform of choice
for leading studios, networks and facilities.

Four
StreamZ Live models offer a choice of encoding format: SMPTE VC-1 (Microsoft
Windows Media Video), H.264 (AVC, MPEG-4 Part 10), On2 VP6-based video for
Adobe Flash (commonly referred to as Flash 8 Video), and MPEG-2. An optional
module for the H.264 model adds the ability to deliver H.264 in an MPEG-2
Transport Stream to the system’s standard RTP/RTSP elementary stream
support.

Offered in
a 1RU rack-mount form factor, StreamZ Live is available with a variety of video
and audio input options. Advanced, hardware-based video and audio
pre-processing features — including motion adaptive de-interlacing, 3D
motion-adaptive video noise reduction and dynamic range compression/expansion
— enable optimum output quality and the most efficient use of bandwidth in the
compressed result.

“Hundreds
of our versatile StreamZ studio encoding systems are already in operation
powering live IPTV channels and webcasts worldwide,” said Brick Eksten,
President of Digital Rapids Corporation. “StreamZ Live builds on the
attributes that have earned StreamZ its industry-leading reputation, while
setting a new standard for professional live streaming encoders.”

StreamZ
Live encoders can be combined with Digital Rapids Broadcast Manager software
for enterprise-level management, remote control, status monitoring and fault
tolerance. Broadcast Manager centralizes management and control of multiple
live streaming encoders including scheduling, automated failover and alert
notifications.

Copper C2
extends the highly regarded transfer speed, reliability and security of Copper
delivery technology to add network mesh topologies, and features a new
streamlined client interface, expanded management tools, and enhanced core
architecture.

Overcoming
network-inherent performance inhibitors such as latency and packet loss, Copper
C2 transfers media and data files with a tremendous speed advantage over
standard TCP-based technologies like FTP, and with outstanding resilience to
even the most challenging network conditions. Copper C2 takes bulk data
delivery to a new dimension with a new full mesh topology. Connections can be
formed between any number of nodes in the network mesh, with each connection
supporting multiple parallel data transfers and simultaneous send/receive.
Copper C2’s transfer mesh is ideal for content owners delivering media or data to
multiple redistribution points, offering superior remote contribution and
collaboration efficiency.

Users
define distribution groups, initiate transfers and monitor progress through a
new IM-style client interface with intuitive drag-and-drop functionality,
making transferring files as easy as sending an instant message. Management
capabilities are enhanced with the addition of per-transfer or per-client
control over delivery priorities, allowing full control of bandwidth
utilization.

Copper C2
is built on a new architecture that significantly simplifies deployment for
both permanent and project-based installations. Copper C2 also features a new
core engine that builds further upon Copper’s proven speed, robustness and
reliability. Enhanced network diagnostics and extensions to Copper’s dynamic
network monitoring enable easy configuration and flexibility in reacting to
transient and fundamental network issues, while expanded management and
monitoring tools provide greater control over transfer policies and network
utilization.

“Copper
C2 is far more than a new version of Copper, as it’s architecturally and
operationally a significant leap forward,” said Brick Eksten, President of
Digital Rapids Corporation. “The new parallel simultaneous transfer capabilities
take file distribution to a whole new level, but of course we’ve kept or
improved all of the core attributes — exceptional transfer performance, tight
security and resilient reliability — that have made Copper the preferred
choice of major film studios, post facilities, broadcasters content aggregators
and corporations worldwide.”

Copper C2
is slated for release in early 2008. The complete line of Digital Rapids
products is being showcased at IBC 2007 on stand number 7.641. For more
information on Digital Rapids products, please visit www.digital-rapids.com.