Sonic Solutions Forges High Definition Authoring Alliance

Sonic Solutions, a leading digital-media software developer, announced last week that it has founded the High Definition Authoring Alliance (HDAA), the first and only worldwide association of DVD authoring houses dedicated to facilitating the rollout of titles for release in the new high-definition HD DVD and Blu-ray optical disc formats. The HDAA is intended to increase momentum for successful introduction of the formats, ensuring the timely availability of quality titles by providing members with exclusive access to key information, HD-enabled tools, and comprehensive training.

"Sonic's HDAA opens the door to the entire range of information and tools that will be vital to our professional title creation business as we prepare for the HD evolution of disc-based packaged media," says Mark Johnson, director of research and development at Thomson Technicolor Creative Services in Burbank, California. "HDAA membership also makes us part of a community that is pulling together toward the same goal, which is to be sure that we're prepared to make the launch of these new formats a great success."

For authoring houses, adapting to the new HD DVD and Blu-ray formats will involve more than simply working with video material in HD. It will also mean learning how to take full advantage of the formats' new interactive capabilities. To speed the learning process and facilitate the communication of important format requirements back to Sonic, HDAA members will participate in group meetings, special events, and technical seminars with Sonic engineers who are involved in defining the new standards to exchange information, contribute ideas, and discuss the practicalities of HD title development.

"Sonic created the first DVD authoring systems that helped us move forward with DVD business," says Dieter Schlautmann, director of new media development at Sonopress, a Bertelsmann company in Gutersloh, Germany. "Now, with the added complexity of the HD formats, we look forward to working with Sonic's HDAA to help the development of our exciting new HD titles. Without the help of the HDAA, everything would be a bigger challenge. Being an HDAA member makes the whole process much easier for us and our customers."

"Even before the launch of DVD-Video, the world's most successful CE format, Sonic helped the authoring community rapidly get up-to-speed on the format by successfully establishing the DVD Authoring Alliance," notes Rolf Hartley, senior vice president and general manager for Sonic's professional products group. "We're excited to once again take a leadership role in getting powerful new formats to market. The HDAA is a great vehicle for sharing our experience and expertise with our authoring customers who will be the first to release HD titles, and it also provides the CE companies and the authoring houses with an open channel for communicating on issues of mutual concern. The HDAA is a 'win/win' opportunity for everyone who's working to make the HD packaged media rollouts a big success."

HDAA members will have early access to Sonic's toolset for the new formats, which are the first available solutions to address all aspects of authoring for complex, interactive HD titles. The first phase of the HDAA program includes delivery of vital components required to build HD titles, including Sonic HD-series encoding, Scenarist HD for creating "Standard Content" HD DVD titles, and the Sonic Advanced Interactivity Toolkit, a combination of hands-on tools and in-depth documentation addressing design issues for advanced interactive titles.

The HDAA's activities will be focused in three geographical areas: Burbank, California, for the Americas; London, England, for Europe; and Tokyo, Japan, for Asia. The group currently has over 25 members.

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