MainConcept Supercharges H.264 Encoding Performance

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CES 2011 -- Sonic Solutions®, (Nasdaq: SNIC) today announced the availability of the MainConcept® OpenCL H.264/AVC encoder SDK optimized for the immensely popular ATI FirePro™ professional graphics and AMD Radeon™ graphics from AMD (NYSE: AMD).  Widely recognized as the world leader in codec development, MainConcept's new SDK dramatically improves H.264/AVC HD video encoding times by efficiently harnessing the OpenCL standard. As the most widely-used format for delivering rich multimedia content, H.264/AVC is broadly deployed in the consumer and broadcast space for over-the-air digital transmission and streaming, as well as online premium content movie download services such as RoxioNow™. Licensees of the new MainConcept SDK can be significantly more efficient than competitors in bringing the best video content to market.

"The explosion of HD video content across both professional and consumer mediums has presented new challenges for the development community. Sonic, with the support of AMD, has taken a significant step forward in addressing these challenges with the introduction of the MainConcept OpenCL H.264/AVC Encoder SDK," said Janet Matsuda, general manager of Professional Graphics for AMD. "OpenCL continues to gain momentum. With the introduction of tools that enable developers to leverage this programming environment for popular video and audio codecs, professionals and consumers benefit from accelerated performance as well as the investment protection from working with an open standard."

The MainConcept OpenCL H.264/AVC encoder SDK contains a high-level Windows® library as well as a DirectShow filter for easy integration into a variety of creative, broadcast, and professional applications. Along with offering access to a beta version from the MainConcept licensee portal, MainConcept technical teams are working with a number of early adopters to enable even faster optimized integration.  

"Of course, access to optimized technology is vital, but also key is the technical expertise and support that enables our business partners to realize product and deployment goals as quickly as possible," said Muzaffer Beygirci, Managing Director of MainConcept. "AMD understands this is imperative, and we are delighted to be working with them to offer our customers the most efficient H.264 implementation possible, based on the OpenCL standard. With our new OpenCL H.264/AVC encoding SDK, our customers can expect to gain a significant increase in stream creation efficiency, along with the mastering quality video image for which MainConcept H.264 is well known."  

MainConcept products and technologies are part of Sonic's Professional Technology Division, the world's leading developer of core video codec SDKs, APIs, and software applications that enable the creation, distribution, and enjoyment of digital media across the entire digital media value chain.

About Sonic Solutions

Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC) enables digital media from Hollywood to home. For more than two decades, Sonic products, service, and technology brands, including Roxio®, RoxioNow™, DivX®, and MainConcept®, have fueled home entertainment, powered rich digital media functionality on a range of platforms for a variety of partners, and inspired unique personal media experiences for hundreds of millions of consumers. Sonic technologies are now combining to deliver a universal platform for Hollywood Studios, retailers, consumer electronics manufacturers, and PC OEMs that provides consumers instant access to premium entertainment from virtually anywhere. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California. Learn more at www.sonic.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain forward looking statements that are based upon current expectations, including the launch, distribution, and market acceptance of OpenCL H.264/AVC encoder SDK. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Sonic Solutions' annual and quarterly reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release should be read in conjunction with Sonic Solutions' most recent annual report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which contain a more detailed discussion of the Company's business including risks and uncertainties that may affect future results. Sonic Solutions does not undertake to update any forward looking statements.

Sonic Solutions, the Sonic logo, Roxio, RoxioNow, DivX, MainConcept, and Hollywood to Home are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by Sonic Solutions in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners and, in some cases, are used by Sonic Solutions under license. Specifications, pricing and delivery schedules are subject to change without notice.

SOURCE Sonic Solutions