New Audio Encoding and Stream Management Software for Next Generation & Current Optical Disc Formats Now Available
DTS, Inc. (Nasdaq:DTSI) announces the availability of DTS-HD Master Audio Suite and the DTS Surround Audio Suite, two new software suites to prepare audio streams for next generation and current optical disc media formats. Consisting of an encoder, a StreamPlayer decoder, and StreamTools bitstream editing and verification tools, the suites are compatible with both Mac OS 10.4.x and Windows XP. Both software suites are now available for the Windows XP platform worldwide through DTS? network of distributors, with the Mac OS X platform following soon thereafter.
The DTS-HD Master Audio Suite (MAS) provides an easy-to-use interface for encoding audio bit streams for HD DVD and Blue-ray Disc as well as DVD and DTS 5.1 Music Disc. Features such as downmix setting and audition, as well as DTS Digital Surround backward-compatible Core playback, provide the audio professional with the ability to monitor DTS-HD encoded streams and emulate various consumer playback systems with confidence. Encoded bit stream formats include: DTS Digital Surround, DTS-ES 6.1, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio lossless, which is bit-for-bit identical to the master soundtrack. The MAS is applicable to DVD-V, DVD-A and DTS Surround Music CDs, as well as the next generation HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats. DTS-HD bit streams support up to 7.1 channels of 96 kHz audio or up to 5.1 channels of 192 kHz audio. Additionally DTS-HD low bit rate (LBR) audio streams can be created for use as Sub or Secondary audio on HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc with bit rates optimized for Internet delivery.
Included in the DTS-HD MAS, the StreamPlayer decoder can play any DTS bit stream, delivering audio to a PC?s sound card for quality control monitoring prior to disc authoring.
The DTS Surround Audio Suite (SAS), a limited version of Master Audio Suite, can encode bit streams compatible with standard DVD-V and DTS Surround Music CDs with a similar easy-to-use interface. The DTS SAS also includes StreamPlayer and can be upgraded to the DTS-HD Master Audio Suite with the purchase of an upgrade license.
The suggested retail prices of the suites are $1, 495 for the DTS-HD Master Audio Suite, and $795 for the DTS Surround Audio Suite.