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C-Cube DVxplore MPEG-2/DV codec boards?
I just read ATI's month-old press release concerning their consumer-level $200 ATI-Video Wonder PCI board using C-Cube's DVxplore single-chip MPEG-2/DV codec. It comes integrated with a TV tuner, 8MB memory, and a full set of analog A/V inputs *and* outputs, but doesn't seem to have 1394 (or any digital) input or output.
When C-Cube first announced the DVxplore, they had specifically mentioned support from Matrox and Creative, but instead it looks like ATI will be the first to market. Will Matrox release their own DVxplore board (as a consumer-oriented "digital VCR" or "Personal Video Recorder" product) in addition to their $1300 DVxpress-based RT2000 prosumer-level, realtime nonlinear editing product? How about Creative, miro, and Pinnacle?
Also, when will we see a Matrox Marvel G400 MAX or an ATI All-in-Wonder 128 Pro with integrated DVxplore? If you've seen the Video Wonder board, it's sparsely populated with basically just the TV tuner module, the memory chips, and the single DVxplore chip. Given the low cost and single-chip design, I don't see why it can't be integrated into a graphics card (for example, just replace the Zoran MJPEG codec in the Marvel with the DVxplore).
I've finally taken an in-depth look at the amazing editing features and capabilities of Matrox's RT2000 DVxpress board (definitely worth its price!). But, although certainly not on the same level, I'm still not sure of the full extend of the DVxplore's capabilities (bit rates, MPEG-2 capture compression type, digital I/O support, realtime and nonlinear editing features, etc). For use specifically as a PC-based PVR (i.e. realtime MPEG-2 video capture/encoding from an *analog* TV signal), will both codecs produce the same recording quality (assuming the same bit rate)?
The bottom line is if a PC with a $200 DVxplore board (along with a large HDD, a user-friendly software app, and a full-featured online EPG) can finally offer the same functionality AND recording quality as a ReplayTV or TiVo set-top PVR. In addition, you'd also get (low-end?) editing capabilities, digital archival via removeable media (ORB, JAZ, CD-RW, recordable DVD in the future), and broadband online applications. There's certainly a larger mainstream market for this than there is for DVxpress high-end editing products.
FYI, C-Cube is promoting the DVxplore to consumer electronics manufacturers to be used in various MPEG-2 video recorders. It's part of their PVR/DVR reference platform to allow more companies to quickly compete with TiVo and ReplayTV HDD-based recorders. Samsung is using it in a set-top DVD video recorder (per DVD-VR guidelines, using one of those DVD-RAM, +RW, or DVD-RW I think). I think JVC will also use it in their D-VHS digital VCR products.
--Paul
[This message has been edited by st63z (edited 18 October 1999).]
When C-Cube first announced the DVxplore, they had specifically mentioned support from Matrox and Creative, but instead it looks like ATI will be the first to market. Will Matrox release their own DVxplore board (as a consumer-oriented "digital VCR" or "Personal Video Recorder" product) in addition to their $1300 DVxpress-based RT2000 prosumer-level, realtime nonlinear editing product? How about Creative, miro, and Pinnacle?
Also, when will we see a Matrox Marvel G400 MAX or an ATI All-in-Wonder 128 Pro with integrated DVxplore? If you've seen the Video Wonder board, it's sparsely populated with basically just the TV tuner module, the memory chips, and the single DVxplore chip. Given the low cost and single-chip design, I don't see why it can't be integrated into a graphics card (for example, just replace the Zoran MJPEG codec in the Marvel with the DVxplore).
I've finally taken an in-depth look at the amazing editing features and capabilities of Matrox's RT2000 DVxpress board (definitely worth its price!). But, although certainly not on the same level, I'm still not sure of the full extend of the DVxplore's capabilities (bit rates, MPEG-2 capture compression type, digital I/O support, realtime and nonlinear editing features, etc). For use specifically as a PC-based PVR (i.e. realtime MPEG-2 video capture/encoding from an *analog* TV signal), will both codecs produce the same recording quality (assuming the same bit rate)?
The bottom line is if a PC with a $200 DVxplore board (along with a large HDD, a user-friendly software app, and a full-featured online EPG) can finally offer the same functionality AND recording quality as a ReplayTV or TiVo set-top PVR. In addition, you'd also get (low-end?) editing capabilities, digital archival via removeable media (ORB, JAZ, CD-RW, recordable DVD in the future), and broadband online applications. There's certainly a larger mainstream market for this than there is for DVxpress high-end editing products.
FYI, C-Cube is promoting the DVxplore to consumer electronics manufacturers to be used in various MPEG-2 video recorders. It's part of their PVR/DVR reference platform to allow more companies to quickly compete with TiVo and ReplayTV HDD-based recorders. Samsung is using it in a set-top DVD video recorder (per DVD-VR guidelines, using one of those DVD-RAM, +RW, or DVD-RW I think). I think JVC will also use it in their D-VHS digital VCR products.
--Paul
[This message has been edited by st63z (edited 18 October 1999).]
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