SheerVideo Goes Universal Binary
2/20/2007—BitJazz has released a new version of its SheerVideo codec, now supporting Intel-based Macs natively. SheerVideo is a lossless codec that allows users to store video at uncompressed quality at half the size of uncompressed video.
BitJazz claims that SheerVideo is the "fastest video codec in the world," offering twice the performance of uncompressed video at half the file size. As a lossless codec, it compresses video without the loss of data, so it can be used for archival purposes, as well as editing.
In addition to compression, SheerVideo also provides conversion between RGB and YCbCr (with and without alpha channels) non-destructively using BitJazz's Synchromy color-conversion technology. This allows video to be transferred back and forth between CG and video editing software without loss of color data.
Other features include:
- Support for 10- and 8-bit depth;
- 4:4:4[:4] and 1:2 chroma-subsampled (4:2:2[:4]);
- Support for all resolutions, including HD and SD; and
- Support for international standards: NTSC, PAL, and SÉCAM, both 4:3 and 16:9, progressive and interlaced.
The new version supports both Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs, as well as Windows-based systems and legacy Mac systems. It also supports multiple processors and multiple cores on Intel- and PowerPC-based Macs. BitJazz said that future releases will also add MMX+SSE vector optimization for Intel processors.
The SheerVideo player is available for Mac and Windows systems free of charge. SheerVideo Pro is available for all platforms for $149. Upgrades for the Universal Binary version are free.
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About the author: Dave Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's educational technology online publications and electronic newsletters. He can be reached at dnagel@1105media.com.
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