Sony and SGI Collaborate on High-Definition Demonstrations at NAB - 04/1999

NAB, LAS VEGAS, (April 18, 1999) -- Sony and SGI (NYSE: SGI) are collaborating on bringing real-time HD connectivity between the Sony digital High Definition Production system and the SGITM family of graphics workstations and servers. These include both the SMPTE 274M 60Hz interlaced system and the recently announced 24-frame progressive HD production system.

Real-Time Graphics in High Definition

At Sony's main booth (#L16730), an Onyx2TM workstation will be showcased porting 24P native HD computer created graphics into the Sony 24P switcher - in a simulated HD production control environment using Discreet frost. This real-time serial interface will be via the 1080P / 24 sF (segmented Frame) format. SGI has made a breakthrough development of a real-time digital HD interface card that takes the 1920x1080 HD video format directly into its Onyx2 workstations and OriginTM servers via the SMPTE 292M 1.5Gbps serial digital interface (HD-SDI). Discreet HDCAM® software for encode/decode makes Onyx2 output an HD signal.

"The flexibility to work in multiple high definition formats - including 24sF - was part of our design goal, and our engineering and marketing teams are working closely with Sony to bring these new solutions to the market," said Greg Estes, general manager, Digital Media Solutions, SGI. "SGI is excited to be working with Sony in helping our customers make the transition to high-definition."

"Vialta" Telecine Demo

Separately, at the Sony Demonstration Center (N101-120), SGI systems will be featured in the Sony HD "Vialta" telecine area with two real-time interfaces linking film transfer to computer storage and data recording applications systems. One HD interface will show the HD "Vialta" Telecine delivering a real-time HD 60i feed directly into a Silicon Graphics® Octane® workstation where a number of operations such as inverse 3:2, color-space conversion and special effects can be performed using Discreet flint.

The second interface will show a real-time HD-SDI interface from the same "Vialta" telecine to a Sierra Designs DDR that, in turn, will output the HD video via fast-SCSI to an Octane workstation. The Octane system will translate the video format into data files that will be recorded on a Sony DTF data recorder. These data files can then be operated on by a number of commonly used professional applications running in SGI computers for special effects, image manipulation, film restoration, among others. Thus, all of the key bridges presently sought by the post-production community will be demonstrated.

"The industry has long awaited the arrival of real-time high-definition video transfer between the HD Telecine and the computer," said Michael Vitelli, executive vice president of Sony Electronics' Broadcast and Professional Company. "Now, with SGI's breakthrough, not only can real-time video formats be interconnected, but true HD film transfer can be translated to data files for processing and storage. A new efficiency in HD post has been born."

The Broadcast and Professional Company of Sony Electronics is a U.S. provider of video and audio equipment for the broadcast, production, business, industrial, government, medical and education markets. Sony offers a wide array of products and systems for image capture, production and display. Sony also provides specialized equipment and systems for data recording, duplication, electronic photography/publishing, videoconferencing, high definition video, interactive and security applications. Sony Electronics' annual sales exceed $10.5 billion. The company has more than 25,000 employees in the U.S. and Mexico. More information about Sony products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sony.com/nab, or readers may call 1-800-686-SONY. Additional press information is available at http://www.sony.com/news.

SGI is a market leader in technical computing, offering the world's most powerful servers, supercomputers and visual workstations. SGI uniquely provides a broad range of high-performance computing and advanced graphics solutions that enable customers to understand and conquer their toughest computing problems. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., with offices worldwide, the company is located on the Web at www.sgi.com.

Silicon Graphics, Octane and Onyx are registered trademarks, and Onyx2, Origin, SGI and the SGI logo are trademarks, of Silicon Graphics, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.