DV Studio Adds DVD Authoring Capability to Apollo Expert; Apollo Expert DVDer Software Included at No Additional Cost.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 1999--

DV Studio Technologies, LLC (www.dv-studio.com) Wednesday announced that its popular Apollo Expert(TM) product now contains a new element for the creation of DVD disc image files.

The company has added this feature to its Apollo Expert MPEG-2 real-time hardware encoding and playback solution without increasing the $1,995 suggested list price. The new software is fully integrated into Apollo Expert's capture/playback application which greatly simplifies the DVD creation process. In order to identify more closely with DVD authoring, the product name is being changed to Apollo Expert DVDer(TM).

"We offer the ability to either create a DVD disc image without menus from MPEG-2 video and audio files, or create a DVD disc image that utilizes a single level menu," said Dr. Ash Pahwa, chief executive officer of DV Studio. "Our approach is to make the DVD creation process as simple as possible. We believe the majority of the market only needs this level of capability and should not have to spend huge amounts of money to make a simple DVD disc."

According to JoAnn Motz, vice president of sales and finance, "Today, most DVD authoring software packages alone carry prices ranging from $5,000 to $30,000. We include both MPEG-2 real-time encoding hardware and authoring software for $1,995. With the recent introduction of the low-priced Pioneer DVR-S201 writer drive priced at $5,400 MSRP, and our $1,995 Apollo Expert DVDer, users can put together a whole DVD disc creation system for less than the majority of DVD software-only authoring systems on the market today."

Apollo Expert DVDer allows for the use of up to eight separate audio files. When selecting the menu option, the user can create up to 32 buttons on the menu. "While we do not have all the features of the high-end authoring software packages, we do offer the features that 80 percent of the market requires," said John Houston, vice president.

Apollo Expert DVDer is compatible with most of the more expensive authoring software products so users can still use these products with DV Studio's hardware. Current Apollo Expert users can download the new software with the DVD feature from DV Studio's Web site at www.dv-studio.com.

"DVD is becoming the fastest adapted new technology ever released. A walk through any consumer electronics or video rental store will attest to this shift from VHS to DVD. Also, most new PCs now come with DVD-ROM drives as the prices for these units continually drop. With the new introduction of lower priced DVD writer drives like the Pioneer DVD-S201, DVD production is now coming to the PC desktop," said Pahwa. He added that Apollo Expert DVDer enables video producers to quickly place their productions on DVD discs for this growing market.

DV Studio Technologies, LLC, produces state-of-the-art real-time MPEG-2 and MPEG-1 encoders at affordable prices. These products enable users to produce digital video content for DVD, Super VCD, DVD-ROM, broadcast, video conferencing and Internet applications. The main sales channels are OEMs and resellers. The company headquarters are located at 15375 Barranca Parkway, J-103, Irvine, CA 92618. Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. Web site: www.dv-studio.com.