dicas launches full-IP MPEG-2 – H.264 transcoder at IBC 2009

Berlin, Germany - 02 September 2009 - dicas, the German MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 expert, announces to come out with a series of full-IP video/audio transcoders in September. Supporting both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 as IP in- and output, the dicas IP transcoders enable broadcasters, WebTV and IPTV operators to easily convert DVB-S/S2 signals to MPEG-4 AVC/H.264. The bit-rate requirements of live video streams re-encoded from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 go down by more than 50 per cent. The full-IP transcoders will be launched officially at IBC 2009 in Amsterdam.

There will be three models of IP transcoders designed for different coding and streaming scenarios: the dicas2011 SD transcoder for standard definition resolutions, the dicas2021 multi-format transcoder for streaming live to various end devices in parallel and the dicas2031 HD for high definition resolutions. All full IP-encoders are equipped with dicasVICO, the revolutionary quality enhancing algorithm based on the properties of the human visual system. dicasVICO attains the same picture quality like current MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 encoders at bit rates being lower by 30 per cent.

The broadcast-quality IP transcoders are the first 19’’ servers by dicas supporting IP-input and MPEG-2. The decision to implement the codec into its latest encoding servers was made in response to customers’ requirements, especially by broadcasters, IPTV and WebTV head-end operators already relying on an entire MPEG-2 infrastructure but being ready to migrate to MPEG-4 AVC/H.264.

„Production studios fully equipped with MPEG-2 technology today are often reluctant to change over to MPEG-4AVC/H.264 mainly due to financial concerns“, says Sebastian Moeritz, CEO at dicas. „But, in fact, there is absolutely no necessity for this transition and change to be cost intensive . The brand new dicas IP transcoders allow for a gradual, efficient migration from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 in full accordance with the with operator day-to-day requirements and sound financial considerations.” With the dicas2011, dicas2021 and dicas2031, existing MPEG-2 equipment will be applied as usual during the production process. The transcoding to MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, leading to compression rates twice as high than MPEG-2, takes place just before the distribution to the clients. “dicas IP transcoders help content providers and operators to drastically reduce their transmission expenses”, continues Moeritz.

Internet distribution and local-area network (LAN) providers in hotels, business parks or hospitals do also benefit from the transcoders’ versatility. Although MPEG-2 still is an important standard for DVB-S compliant content contribution to satellite headends, the migration to more efficient and cost effective compression technologies is in full progress. Moeritz therefore recommends investing in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 technology now when building up network levels between headends and clients. “The dicas IP transcoders allow a calculated, carefully thought out investment in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 technology today instead of acquiring MPEG-2 technology which has to replaced in a few years.”

About dicas
dicas, founded in 1999, is an MPEG-focused video coding specialist and a leading developer of ISO MPEG-4 real-time video coding hardware products and software solutions for Broadcast, IPTV, Mobile TV, Internet Streaming, Multimedia and Security applications. Under the brand name mpegable, dicas offers a family of MPEG-4, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (SD and HD) and 3GPP compliant professional software tools and components for a number of operating systems and DSPs/ICs. dicas also supplies services for the development, customization and optimization of MPEG-based video coding solutions.

The dicas2011 SD, the dicas2021 multi-format and the dicas2031 HD transcoders will be shown at the dicas stand at IBC (Hall 1, stand A80) from 11 to 15 September 2009 in Amsterdam. For more information, please visit www.dicas.de/ibc2009.