FOR-A will introduce new audio function card at NAB 2008

FOR-A Corporation of America, a manufacturer of video and
audio systems for the broadcast and professional video industries, will
introduce an optional audio function card of its popular FRC-7000 HD Frame Rate
Converter at NAB 2008 in
Las Vegas
from April 14-17, 2008 (Booth #SU5220).

The new audio option card FRC-70DA16 supports an increased
number of channels (16) for digital audio input and output. Delay compensation
can now be performed for all audio channels, including international sporting
event broadcasts where many audio channels are required, or when HDCAM SR
12-channel audio is being used for recording. The FRC-70DA16 can be equipped
with Dolby E encoding and decoding as an option.

A sampling rate converter and individually adjustable delay
circuit have now been added as standard functions on the FRC-7000. An automatic
mapping function for the audio channels is also provided, greatly reducing the
setup time for audio environments with mixed Dolby E and PCM signals.

The FRC-7000 is ideal for many applications, including
converting the frame rate prior to transmitting the international feed of a
major sporting event, and for converting filmed content for HDTV broadcast.

The FRC-7000 uses vector motion compensation processing to
analyze and determine the pixel movement in each image frame. The FRC-7000’s
advanced scene cut detection automatically detects scene changes and turns off
motion compensation processing so as to not affect the scenes before and after
the frames being converted. A complete, new set of frames is then created in
the required output standard. The FRC-7000 automatically recognizes similar scene
cuts involving the same subject or similar visual content, resulting in frame
rate conversion with minimal judder or artifacts.

The FRC-7000 can perform conversions between 1080/59.94i and
1080/50i, and between 720/59.94p and 720/50p HD frame rates in real-time. With
an extended format option, it provides support for 23.98PsF, 23.98P, 24PsF,
24P, 30P, 30PsF, 29.97PsF, 29.97P, 25P and 25PsF. And the FRC-7000 provides
advanced scene cut detection and roll/crawl text detection.

As an example of its global capabilities, Galaxy Light &
Power LLC, which is involved in HD equipment rental, signal conversion and
technology management for the film and broadcast industries in the
UK, makes
extensive use of the FRC-7000. Galaxy Light & Power Chief Executive and
Senior Engineer, Andy Grant, appraised the FRC-7000 as follows: “Recently
enhanced features of the FRC-7000 complete what FOR-A’s competitors refer to as
‘impossible tasks’. The unit converts cleanly between 23.98PsF or 24PsF to
25PsF and from 23.98 to 29.97 without using the 3:2 pulldown process. So, for
the first time in history, we’re transferring feature films at 23.98 frames per
second into the NTSC or 59.94i HD environment without 3:2 pulldown artifacts.

“Another reason for the choice was audio. The FRC-7000
is currently the only converter that can pass Dolby E encoded signals. With
many live music and sports events being made available in Dolby 5.1, together
with it being the audio standard for the mastering of DVD/HD-DVD/BD, this invaluable
function saves having to use a large amount of additional peripheral audio
processing. The new audio option card FRC-70DA16 will begin shipping in
June of this year.