C-CUBE INTRODUCES FOUR-CHIP MPEG-2 VIDEO ENCODER; Compact Encoder Perfect for Distance Learning, Electronic News Gathering.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 1995--C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ:CUBE) announced today the CLM4400 Compact MPEG-2 Video Encoder. The low-cost CLM4400 is designed for electronic news gathering, distance learning, ad insertion, digital video storage and retrieval and other cost-sensitive or space-constrained applications. The encoder runs on four C-Cube VideoRISC Processors, easily allowing encoders to be implemented on ISA, PCI or NuBus add-in boards.

By reducing to four the number of chips required to implement an MPEG-2 encoder, the CLM4400 allows encoder system makers to dramatically lower the cost and size of encoder systems, expanding the use of digital video to applications for which previous generation encoders were too bulky, expensive or power hungry. These smaller, less expensive MPEG encoders will be the heart of numerous digital video applications.

The CLM4400 was defined and developed in concert with Optivision, Inc., a leading supplier of video compression add-in boards for workstations and personal computers. The participation of customers in C-Cube product definition and implementation ensures that the resulting products contain all of the features that system makers need to design cost-effective, functional solutions for end users.

"Less than five months ago, we introduced the world's first MPEG-2 main level/main profile video encoder for broadcast television applications," noted David Taylor, C-Cube's director of broadcast marketing. "But we understood that for cost-sensitive applications like ad insertion or for power and space constrained applications like electronic news gathering, we had to reduce the number of chips required for a real-time encoder. The CLM4400 is a good match for those applications, delivering a four-chip MPEG-2 video encoder chipset for less than $2000."

"The CLM4400 will allow Optivision to create video compression solutions for applications that are too cost sensitive for broadcast encoders," said Ralph Mele, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Optivision. "With a four-chip MPEG-2 encoder, Optivision can build encoder systems using PCs and workstations as host platforms, dramatically lowering the cost of and expanding the market for applications like distance learning and electronic news gathering."

MPEG-2 is an international standard for the representation of compressed digital video. Embraced worldwide by television equipment makers, consumer electronics companies, telephone companies, cable system operators and direct broadcast satellite system operators, MPEG-2 is replacing the NTSC and PAL analog formats for storing and transmitting video.

Product Description

The CLM4400 Compact MPEG-2 Video Encoder supports frame-based encoding at 352x480 pixels (NTSC) and 352x576 (PAL). Frame rates of 24 (film), 25 (PAL) and 30 frames per second are supported at compressed data rates of from 2 to 15 megabits per second. Reducing the horizontal resolution from CCIR 601 standard of 720 to 352 allows lower data rates with excellent perceived quality and permits the encoder to run in real time on only four VideoRISC Processors.

Price and Availability

Demonstrable today, the CLM4400 will first appear in systems from Optivision during the third quarter. The CLM4400 chipset will be broadly available in September. The CLM4400 is priced at $1950 (in 100 unit per month quantities), including microapplication software and four VideoRISC Processors. A SPARC-based encoder development system is also available, complete with an MPEG-2 Main Level, Main Profile encoder design example.

About C-Cube

C-Cube Microsystems Inc. designs and markets integrated circuits that implement international standards for the compression of digital images and video. C-Cube Microsystems has its headquarters in Milpitas, Calif. and has offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company employs 140 people worldwide. Its stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol CUBE.

About Optivision

Optivision, Inc. has 11 years of experience developing high-performance image and video compression solutions for commercial and government customers, as well as custom environments. Optivision also manufactures OPTIPAC, a multi-chip parallel processing board for JPEG image compressing. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.

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Note to Editors: C-Cube and C-Cube logo are registered trademarks and VideoRISC is a trademark of C-Cube Microsystems. OPTIPAC is a trademark of Optivision, Inc.

CONTACT: C-Cube Microsystems

Scott St. Clair, 408/944-6300

or

The Benjamin Group

John Radewagen/Mary Sharpless, 408/559-6090