MPEG-FAQ 4.1: NVR Research Kit
MPEG-FAQ 4.1:
NVR Research Kit
[ Its really nice software, but its expensive ! You find the infos and ]
[ software on there ftp-server (see below !), don't forget to order a ]
[ licence key. There are several nice and long MPEG-movies to ftp !!! ]
[ If you require a demo version, please send mail to support@nvr.com ]
From: Chris Jacobson <chrisj@dinghy.nvr.com>
Date: Thu, 13 May 93 10:31:32 -0700
North Valley Research
Digital Media Systems
North Valley Research is pleased to announce immediate availability of
a family of products for working with video and other time-based media
in a UNIX environment. These products are the first, affordable software
products that enable the end user to take video and audio all the way
from video camera or tape to an MPEG sequence that can be played back in
real-time on most Sun SPARCstations. Starting now until May 5th, 1993,
individual products can be purchased for $150 in quantities of 30 or
more; or under $300 for quantity 1.
These software products have well-designed Motif user interfaces and a
robust architectural design. The first set of products is sold as a kit, and
consists of three user interfaces:
- The Player. This tool provides a viewing mechanism for working with
+ MPEG sequences
+ analog video (requires the Parallax XVideo board)
+ JPEG movies (requires the Parallax XVideo board with JPEG option)
- The Recorder. This tool enables the user to peruse analog material
with an interface very similar to the Player, but in addition, allows
you to create JPEG movies using the JPEG hardware on the Parallax XVideo
board.
- The Compressor. This tool allows you to choose input files, specify
the compression characteristics and finally, compress them with
our software MPEG compression engine.
The MPEG playback mechanism is purely software, requires no special
framebuffer, and depending on the size of picture, the size of the window
and bandwidth of the bitstream, can run at 6 - 30 fps with synchronized
audio. The color is dithered from 19 bits down to 7 bits,
gamma-corrected, with real-time adjustments for contrast and brightness.
The displayed window can be one or four times the size of the MPEG sequence
picture size. For example, a sequence compressed at 320x240 can be played
back at 320x240 or 640x480 (depending on the performance of the host
computer).
Both the MPEG compression and playback mechanisms support:
+ variable I:P:B ratios
+ variable picture sizes from 64x48 to 320x240
+ variable and fixed bit rate
+ three motion estimation algorithms (Jain & Jain and two Exhaustive methods)
The MPEG compressor is relatively fast for compression that includes motion
estimation, and depending on the input stream and the selected compression
parameters, can compress a twenty second sequence in as little as an hour.
The JPEG record and playback is accomplished with the aid of the Parallax
XVideo board. Recording and playback of JPEG movies is controlled by
a special software engine that always keeps the audio and video synchronized.
Recorded sequences may be "running records" from a camera or broadcast, or
assembled from a controllable video source with in and out points.
Both the Player and Recorder support Sony's ViSCA/LANC, and Pioneer 4400
disc players (and other compatible models). VideoMedia's VLAN will be
added in the future.
Prices and Availability
-----------------------
All prices below are retail, with a special, 40%-off, introductory price
in parenthesis. These special prices are good until May 5, 1993.
All products require:
Operating System: Solaris 1.0.1
Computer: SPARCstation 1+, 2, IPC, IPX
Availability: All products are available for immediate delivery
Media: 8mm tape or Quarter-inch cartridge (QIC)
Terms: P.O. prior to shipment, net 30 days with credit
NVR Digital Media Player:
Includes: Support for audio and viewing analog video, JPEG movies
and software MPEG.
Requirements: For analog video: Parallax XVideo board
For JPEG movies: Parallax XVideo board with JPEG option
For MPEG playback: most any 8-bit pseudo-color frame-buffer,
including CG3, CG4, CG6 and Parallax XVideo.
Black-and-white monochrome support available on request.
Prices: 1 floating license $495 ($297 intro)
10 floating license $2,000 ($1,200 intro)
30 floating license $4,500 ($2,700 intro)
NVR Digital Media Recorder
Includes: Support for viewing analog video and creating JPEG movies
Requirements: Parallax XVideo board
Price: 1 floating license $1,595 ($960 intro)
NVR Digital Media Compressor
Includes: Support for compressing JPEG movies (both audio
and video) into MPEG. Other input formats available on
request.
Requirements: No special display requirements
Price: 1 floating license $2,495 ($1,495 intro)
Development Kit:
Includes: 5 Player licenses
1 Recorder license
1 Compressor license.
Requirements: As above for each product
Price: $3,995 ($2,395 intro)
Support and Maintenance:
Includes: software upgrades
email support
limited phone support
Price: 15% of purchased product price (Free intro!)
Further Information
-------------------
You can reach us at:
North Valley Research, Inc.
15262 NW Greenbrier Parkway
Beaverton, OR 97006
Tel: (503) 531-5705
Fax: (503) 690-2320
email (sales and marketing): marketing@nvr.com
email (technical questions): support@nvr.com
This and other text-only versions of our product sheets are available via
anonymous ftp to nvr.com (192.82.231.50). Look in /pub/NVR. We are happy
to mail paper versions of our product sheets on request.
If you require a demo version, please call or send mail to support@nvr.com.
---------------
Todd Brunhoff
Vice President, R&D
North Valley Research