Gold Disk introduces VideoDirector 2.0 for Macintosh with new infrared SmartCable; All 8mm and VHS camcorder consumers can now easily edit their home video tapes.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 1995--Gold Disk Inc. today announced the availability of a new addition to the existing VideoDirector family of products, VideoDirector 2.0 for Macintosh.

VideoDirector 2.0 for Macintosh allows consumers to take their lengthy video tapes of family vacations, kids' soccer games, graduation ceremonies, and other special events and edit them so that they will be enjoyed by family and friends, instead of putting them to sleep.

By trimming the unnecessary footage and creating a tape of the best highlights, VideoDirector Macintosh makes family video tapes look like a professionally produced family movie. Home videos can now look the way the consumer imagined they would when they first purchased their camcorders.

The VideoDirector family of products are consumer video tape editing packages. VideoDirector Macintosh provides the ability to control a consumer camcorder and VCR from a Macintosh computer, allowing the consumer to select their favorite video moments, arrange them in any order, and automatically and accurately record them onto a new VHS tape.

VideoDirector is the recipient of several industry awards including: ComputerLife Magazine's "Best Buy" 1994; US News & World Report's "Top 10 Software Picks"-1994; Camcorder Magazine's "Camcorder User Gold"-1994; VideoMaker Magazine's "Best Desktop Video Solution"-1993; and Publish Magazine's "Readers' Choice Award in 1993 and 1994.

"Editing is something we do intuitively every time we pick up our photos from Photomat. We go through them, pick the best shots, toss the not-so-good ones and then assemble them in an album for general viewing," said Allan Thygesen, vice president and general manager, Consumer Products at Gold Disk. "We designed VideoDirector Home to satisfy the same type of editing desires for those consumers who choose to record special events on video and want to turn them into truly wonderful memories."

Revolutionary Infrared Technology

VideoDirector for Macintosh includes a unique SmartCable that allows your Macintosh to control almost any consumer camcorder or VCR. Now any LANC 8mm or Hi8 camcorder, or any camcorder with an infrared remote control can be used as the source deck. In addition, VCRs with an infrared remote control can be used as the record deck (not the source deck).

VideoDirector 2.0 for Macintosh Benefits:

-- Complete solution: VideoDirector Macintosh includes everything needed to connect a computer, a camcorder and a VCR together into a video tape editing system.

-- Easy to use: The familiar, graphical interface guides the consumer step-by-step through the editing process. All the steps needed to edit your video tapes are accomplished using simple point and click or drag and drop operations using the already familiar VCR-style controls. Balloon help is also available.

-- Keep the best and cut the rest: With VideoDirector Macintosh, a consumer can create exciting tapes of only the best shots from their camcorder tapes. The consumer can choose the scenes they like from their video tapes and arrange them in any order they want in minutes.

-- Combine footage from multiple tapes: VideoDirector Macintosh allows the consumer to mix and match clips from as many different tapes as they like. The consumer will be prompted to insert a specific tape, and VideoDirector Macintosh will automatically locate the clips they selected from that tape.

-- Automatic tape assembly: VideoDirector Macintosh automatically creates an edited video tape by copying each desired clip from the source tape to the record tape. The Make Tape window tells the consumer exactly what is happening and the progress meter indicates how much of their tape or clip has been completed.

VideoDirector 2.0 for Macintosh Features:

-- Intuitive, graphical user interface: VideoDirector for Macintosh user interface is designed with familiar VCR style controls and drag and drop editing.

-- Video Database: VideoDirector Macintosh's Tape Library keeps a permanent record of every video clip. All your favorite video moments are cataloged in VideoDirector Macintosh's on-line library. The library may be searched and sorted by dates, categories, names and other criteria.

-- Tape Label printing: Users can print attractive labels for all of their video tapes as well as printing liner cards for their video cassette cases, listing the names of the clips recorded on their tape.

-- Easy Clip logging: By simply clicking a button the user can choose the beginning or ending point for a video clip. SmartControls make it easier to locate the desired frame for starting or ending a clip. The user can easily log clips from a tape by simply hitting the space bar. Hit it once to log the Start Time. Hit the space bar again and the End time is logged. Hit Enter and the clip is saved to the library and the user is ready to log their next clip.

-- Support for a variety of consumer and camcorders and VCRs: VideoDirector Macintosh includes a unique SmartCable that allows your Macintosh computer to control almost any consumer camcorder or VCR. Any 8mm or Hi8 camcorder, or any camcorder with an infrared remote control can be used as the source deck. Any VCR with an infrared remote control can be used as the record deck.

-- On-screen display and video and video capture: VideoDirector Macintosh supports AV Macintoshes and Quicktime compatible boards so users can view their video right on their Macintosh screen and capture any frame as a graphical picon.

Computer System Requirements 

VideoDirector runs on any Macintosh, except the Macintosh 128K, 512K, 512Ke, and Mac Plus. It requires Apple System 6.0.7 or higher, with 1 MB of memory. Optional hardware: Hard drive recommended if using VideoDirector with a video capture card. Optional software: Quicktime and Color Quickdraw 1.2 or later required if using a video capture card.

Video Equipment Requirements

VideoDirector Macintosh requires an 8mm camcorder or a camcorder with a wireless remote and a VCR with a wireless remote.

Pricing, Availability and Distribution

The estimated street price for VideoDirector Macintosh is $99.95 and is distributed in the United States by Merisel, Ingram Micro, and TechData. The product is also available through leading resellers such as: CompUSA, Computer City, Best Buy and is also available through mail order companies including Tiger Software and MicroWharehouse.

Company Background

Gold Disk Inc. is U.S. company with Research and Development, Manufacturing and Support operations headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, and Executive, Sales and Marketing management operating from Santa Clara, California. The company develops and publishes award-winning software that enables the creation (authoring) and presentation (playback) of high-impact multimedia presentations on Windows-based PCs and Apple Macintosh computers. The company also publishes VideoDirector, a best selling family of consumer software programs which allow camcorder users to easily and efficiently edit their home camcorder tapes onto VCR tapes with the use of their home Windows or Macintosh computers. Gold Disk Inc. is a privately held company. -0-

Note to Editors: More in-depth technical information, screen shots and product box shots are available upon request.

CONTACT: Gold Disk

Allan Thygesen, 408/982-0200, ext. 117

Karen Garske, 408/982-0200, ext. 123

[e-mail]

http://www.golddisk.com