Spruce Technologies Delivers New Generation of Highest Quality Video and Audio Encoder For DVD at a Breakthrough Price.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 1999--

Spruce Technologies today announced its introduction of the MPX3000(tm) encoder card for DVD video and audio encoding.

The MPX3000 is an integrated PCI card that delivers pristine picture quality using C-Cube's Dvxpert(tm) single-chip codec, as well as superior 2-channel Dolby Digital audio encoding. The MPX-3000 is available as part of an integrated DVDStation(tm) encoding and authoring system with the customer's choice of DVDMaestro(tm) or DVDConductor(tm) authoring software.

Spruce's Director of Business Development, John Shike noted, "We were attracted to the C-Cube DVxpert product line for several reasons. First and foremost, C-Cube DVxpert offers excellent video quality. It also combines the high-end features and the reliability that we need to support our products today, as well as the scalability to grow and meet our future product plans."

The video encoding features of the MPX3000 include single pass Constant Bit Rate (CBR) and Statistical Variable Bit Rate (SVBR) real-time encoding, as well as multi-pass VBR for MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. Shike explained, "Features such as multi-pass VBR, inverse telecine, and segment re-encoding are essential to producing the highest quality images at the best compression ratio. All of these features are directly supported with the new MPX3000 when using DVDMaestro or DVDConductor with its DVDEncoderPack."

Bob Saffari, Director of Marketing Broadcast/Professional products at C-Cube added, "DVxpert provides Spruce with flexible control of encoding parameters for rich image quality at all bit rates. This enables Spruce to introduce innovative products with broad feature-sets that will help expand content creation in the DVD market."

Video input and output for the MPX3000 is via industry-standard SDI SMPTE 259, with support for embedded audio SMPTE 272M. Resolutions supported include full, 1/2, 1/3 and 2/3 D1. Digital video is CCIR 601 component format, and support for analog composite and component I/O is available as an option. During the encoding process, DVDStation provides real time video monitoring of the encoded video stream for quality assurance.

MPX3000 uses Motorola's Onyx 56301 DSP which provides audio support for 2-channel Dolby Digital real time encoding. Support for 5.1 channel Dolby Digital surround sound is available with an optional Spruce ACXpress(tm) 5100 PCI card. Digital AES/EBU inputs and output are provided as is an option for analog I/O.

About Spruce Technologies, Inc.

Spruce Technologies was established to create and market a new generation of DVD authoring systems for both high-end Hollywood content and the growing and increasingly important corporate market. Based in San Jose, California, Spruce combines the best Silicon Valley software expertise with extensive DVD, MPEG and postproduction knowledge. Spruce Technologies can be reached at 408/861-2200 or on the World Wide Web at: http://www.spruce-tech.com.

Note to Editors: Spruce Technologies, Inc., Spruce, DVDConductor, DVDMaestro, DVDStation, DVDPowerPack, DVDEntertainmentPack, DVDEncoderPack, MPEGXpress and ACXpress are trademarks of Spruce Technologies, Inc. C-Cube and the C-Cube logo are registered trademarks of C-Cube Microsystems. Other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners and may be registered in certain jurisdictions.