Foil 8 Encoding and Content Preparation

• Video for Windows: easy access to inexpensive capture, encoding, and editing tools. HW assisted real-time encoders available in <$500 price range (Intel Smart Recorder). Non-linear editors (Adobe's Premiere, ATI's Media Merge, Digital Media's Splice...) and video production tools (Assymetrix, HSC Software, Macromedia...).
• QuickTime: less abundant but readily available products. Many products available for VfW have a QT version.
• Motion JPEG: HW encoders mostly available for UNIX workstations (Parallax, SGI). At the high end, AVID products provide superb, professional capture, encoding, and editing tools. System of choice for postproduction houses. Unmatched quality and functionality.
• MPEG: HW real time encoders pricey (MPEG1) or very pricey (MPEG2). Non-linear editing systems rare and limited by non-frame preserving nature of the codec. HW encoders adequate for educational applications, SW encoders used for broadcast quality digital copies.

Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, Syracuse University, npac@npac.syr.edu