New Software Platform Enables High-Quality Frame Rate Standards Conversion Within a Completely Tapeless Workflow

HAMPSHIRE, U.K. - In anticipation of the NAB2007 introduction of the Alchemist Ph.C - IP file-based standards conversion software, Snell & Wilcox offers a radically improved approach to file-based international program exchange.

Utilizing the same algorithmic expertise that has made the company the industry’s undisputed leader in frame rate standards conversion, Alchemist Ph.C - IP has been designed to deliver transparent conversion of file-based video, audio, and metadata between the 625/50 (PAL) and 525/60 (NTSC) standards, and vice versa.

“Until now, no software-based product operating in the tapeless domain could provide conversion quality nearing that of our Alchemist Ph.C motion-compensated standards converter,” said Joe Zaller, vice president of strategic marketing at Snell & Wilcox. “Consequently, those companies seeking the highest-possible conversion quality were forced to decode file-based media to baseband, convert the content through an Alchemist Ph.C, and re-ingest it once again. The Alchemist Ph.C - IP changes all this, providing Ph.C motion compensated conversion performance within the file-based domain and dramatically reducing the time required to deliver top-quality content in the appropriate broadcast standard.”

Alchemist Ph.C - IP is a true plug-and-play system, requiring no user setup and providing simple drag-and-drop operation. In addition to providing superior frame-rate conversion of video material, it also provides seamless conversion and handling of audio and metadata.

Because this new conversion system runs on commodity IT hardware, it offers post-production and duplication facilities a low cost of entry into high-end standards conversion, and a valuable tool for the shift toward IT-based operations.

Recognized as the industry benchmark for quality motion measurement and used by the majority of the world’s major broadcasters and postproduction facilities, Snell & Wilcox’s Alchemist Ph.C - IP delivers clear and crisp outputs from a wide range of video input material. Like the hardware-based Alchemist Ph.C system, the new Alchemist Ph.C - IP accepts and outputs 626/50(PAL) or 525/60(NTSC) files in a range of formats including MXF and MPEG2 program streams.