Interra Unveils SyncCheck to Measure Accuracy of Lip Sync in MPEG Bitstreams; Wavetek Wandel Goltermann To be Exclusive Worldwide Distributor.San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 1999-- Leading MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) An ISO/ITU standard for compressing digital video. Pronounced "em-peg," it is the universal standard for digital terrestrial, cable and satellite TV, DVDs and digital video recorders (DVRs). analysis tools developer Interra Digital Video Technologies, Inc. today announced SyncCheck(TM), a powerful software application designed to view and measure the synchronization of video and audio data in MPEG bitstreams. SyncCheck, which measures the accuracy of lip sync Noun 1. lip sync - combining audio and video recording in such a way that the sound is perfectly synchronized with the action that produced it; especially synchronizing the movements of a speaker's lips with the sound of his speech in the compressed domain, helps developers and users of MPEG coding devices to test, fine tune and trouble-shoot synchronization related problems. Interra also announced that Wavetek Wandel Goltermann, a leading provider of test solutions to the global communications industry communications industry, broadly defined, the business of conveying information. Although communication by means of symbols and gestures dates to the beginning of human history, the term generally refers to mass communications. , will be the exclusive worldwide distributor for SyncCheck. SyncCheck is a Windows(R) software application that performs precise measurements and graphically displays the sync alignment of audio and video in a multiplexed MPEG bitstream. The software analyzes MPEG files captured to a hard disk. Operating SyncCheck is a simple procedure: the user selects one or more files for analysis, starts the process to extract the elementary streams and timing information, and analyzes the resulting data using SyncCheck's visual, data and graphical navigation controls In human-computer interaction, navigation controls are an arrangement of (word/icon) forms within the user interface of a specific system. This system can be a computer-based application, an application on a wireless device (like a cell-phone), a GPS appliance (in your car or your . Achieving precise lip sync is a major TV broadcast quality imperative, and maintaining close and accurate sync throughout the broadcast chain is one of the most challenging DTV (Digital TeleVision) Transmitting TV using digital signals. The major DTV standards are ATSC (North America), DVB (Europe) and ISDB (Japan). All three use MPEG-2 video compression and Dolby Digital audio compression. DVB and ISDB also include MPEG audio compression. distribution problems. Developed with the help of a number of organizations instrumental in the advancement of digital television systems worldwide, SyncCheck has been created to streamline the process of tuning encoding and decoding devices for optimal performance. Simple to use and intuitive, SyncCheck is designed for use by a wide range of users, from product engineers to TV station technicians. "We have been encouraging Interra's development of the SyncCheck software," stated Craig Todd, Senior Member of the Technical Staff at Dolby Laboratories. "SyncCheck is a valuable tool for any company developing or testing DTV encoders or receiver products. We found the software particularly useful as a control element during A/V (1) (Audio/Video) Refers to equipment and applications that deal with sound and sight. The A/V world includes microphones, tape recorders, audio mixers, still and video cameras, film projectors, slide projectors, VCRs, CD and DVD players/recorders, amplifiers and sync tests on ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) An international digital television (DTV) standard adopted by the U.S., Canada, South Korea, Taiwan and Argentina. set top box receivers." A similar sentiment was expressed by Tom Gurley, Vice President of Technology at MSTV MSTV Association for Maximum Service Television, Inc. MSTV Must See TV MSTV Multi System Television and Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Model HDTV (High Definition TV) A set of digital television (DTV) standards that offer the highest resolution and sharpest picture. Although some HDTV sets are available in standard (rather square) screen sizes, the overwhelming majority of sets are wide screen, which eliminates Station Project (WHD-TV) in Washington, DC. "At the Model Station we have been paying special attention to lip sync issues, and the arrival of the SyncCheck software has provided us with the missing element to conduct complete and precise tests of both ATSC encoders and decoders. It is vital for encoder manufacturers and broadcasters to have a tool for verifying that their transport streams are 'in sync.' In turn, this will allow receiver manufacturers to test their decoders with calibrated cal·i·brate tr.v. cal·i·brat·ed, cal·i·brat·ing, cal·i·brates 1. To check, adjust, or determine by comparison with a standard (the graduations of a quantitative measuring instrument): transport streams." Exclusive Distribution with Wavetek Wandel Goltermann In conjunction with the SyncCheck introduction, Interra announced it will appoint Wavetek Wandel Goltermann (WWG WWG World Wide Group (WWDB) WWG Windward Group WWG Weapons Working Group WWG Warranty Working Group WWG Weather Wing ) to be the exclusive worldwide distributor of SyncCheck upon the product's availability. This product will become another valuable option that can be included on the ATSC/DVB WWG digital broadcast test solution range of products that support play and record (WWG DTS-G+), detailed real-time analysis (WWG DTS-A), and real-time stream emulation (WWG DTS-M). "The lip sync issue is a serious concern to DTV implementations throughout the world, and our customers are asking for tools to perfect their encoding and broadcast systems," claims Pearse Ffrench, Marketing Manager at Wavetek Wandel Golterman. "The SyncCheck software will be a valuable addition to our growing suite of digital broadcast test and measurement solutions. We were sufficiently impressed with the uniqueness and elegance of this software to seek the exclusivity arrangement." "As a software developer in an industry dominated by systems and hardware, we have been reluctant to accept exclusive distribution arrangements," said Ajoy Bose, Interra President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "But in this case the decision to assign WWG exclusivity was easy. We have observed their rapid emergence as a leader in test solutions in the digital television market and we will need a strong relationship with an elite hardware partner to take SyncCheck to the next level, broadcast lip sync monitoring." SyncCheck Optimized to Support Sarnoff Test Streams Although SyncCheck can open any MPEG system stream, precise measurement can only be achieved using an uncompressed synchronized digital video/audio test stream. The SyncCheck software kit includes an uncompressed digital video/audio stream videotape precision-made for lip sync measurement. The videotape is available in ATSC and DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) An international digital television (DTV) standard that is the European and Far Eastern counterpart of the North American ATSC standard. (PAL) formats. The Lip Sync Compliance Stream is designed to systematically test an encoder's ability to align each audio channel to the start of a "flash" frame. This specially designed video content consists of a series of black frames separated at regular intervals by single flash frames. The flash frame is characterized by its all white appearance and associated audio tone burst. SyncCheck features an automated process for measuring the audio/video offset at flash frame points in the stream. The Lip Sync Compliance Stream has been custom designed for Interra by the Sarnoff Corporation, based in Princeton, N.J. Sarnoff was founded in 1942 as RCA See RCA connector and video/TV history. Labs and has been operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SRI International since 1987. The Sarnoff Corporation creates and commercializes electronic, biomedical bi·o·med·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to biomedicine. 2. Of, relating to, or involving biological, medical, and physical sciences. and information technology and continues to build on decades of innovation that include the development of color television and numerous technologies associated with high definition broadcasting. About SyncCheck SyncCheck software enables users to measure, display and analyze the accuracy of synchronization between video and audio data in an MPEG system stream. The software allows the user to deconstruct de·con·struct tr.v. de·con·struct·ed, de·con·struct·ing, de·con·structs 1. To break down into components; dismantle. 2. an MPEG-2 Transport or Program, or MPEG-1 System stream down to its elementary video and audio components and examine the timing relationship between them. The application is structured around a main window displaying the sequence of video frames (thumbnails) and colored waveforms representing the various audio channels against a common time line. Ancillary windows display a variety of information and navigation aids. Key Features: -- MPEG system stream demultiplexing engine -- Support for all MPEG system formats (including ATSC and DVB) -- Built-in Dolby Digital(R) decoder -- Batch processing (1) Performing a particular operation automatically on a group of files all at once rather than manually opening, editing and saving one file at a time. For example, graphics software that converts a selection of images from one format to another would be a batch processing utility. of multiple streams and multiple programs in one Transport stream -- Video and audio display on a common time line -- Sync offset measurement accuracy to .1msec -- Sync offset deviation graph -- Auto detection of "flash" frames -- Course, fine, and "jump to" stream navigation -- MPEG conformance checks Availability SyncCheck will ship in October 1999, and will be available from WWG and Interra Digital Video Technologies. Product kits include one Sarnoff Lip Sync Compliance Stream in either the ATSC or DVB format. The recommended system requirement includes a 266mHz Pentium II computer or above, 64 MB or more of RAM, 4GB or more of hard disk capacity and a 16-bit, 1024x768 display. About Interra DVT See deep vein thrombosis. Interra Digital Video Technologies, Inc. is a fast-growing supplier of test and measurement solutions to the professional digital video industry. Interra DVT's mission is twofold: provide solutions to enhance the productivity of organizations involved in the production and delivery of broadband multimedia, and develop innovative enabling technologies for new products and systems based on digital video standards. Established as a separate corporation in July 1999, Interra Digital Video Technologies, Inc. was formed as a business unit of Interra, Inc., a leading technology and services provider to the electronic design automation (EDA (1) (Electronic Design Automation) Using the computer to design, lay out, verify and simulate the performance of electronic circuits on a chip or printed circuit board. ) industry. The new company operates as a closely held A phrase used to describe the ownership, management, and operation of a corporation by a small group of people. In a closely held corporation, the same people often act as shareholders, directors, and officers, and no outside investors exist. affiliate of Interra, Inc., whose founder and CEO, Dr. Ajoy Bose, holds the position of CEO. Interra, Inc. is privately held and employs over 200 professionals in its San Jose headquarters and India development facilities. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.interra-video.com. About Wavetek Wandel Goltermann Wavetek Wandel Goltermann, headquartered in Research Triangle Park Research Triangle Park, research, business, medical, and educational complex situated in central North Carolina. It has an area of 6,900 acres (2,795 hectares) and is 8 × 2 mi (13 × 3 km) in size. Named for the triangle formed by Duke Univ. , N.C, and Eningen, Germany, is a leading designer and manufacturer of a comprehensive range of communications test equipment and systems. Customers use these test solutions to develop, manufacture, install and maintain their communications equipment and networks. WWG is present in over 80 countries through its manufacturing facilities and sales organizations, employing 2600 people worldwide. Its digital broadcast solutions are used across the entire spectrum of digital TV from development, validation and installation to maintenance, monitoring and supervision. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.wwgwolutions.com Note to Editors: (c)1999, Interra Digital Video Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. SyncCheck is a trademark of Interra DVT, Inc. Dolby Digital is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
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