Pinnacle Systems today announced Pinnacle Express. Pinnacle Express allows users to convert their video tapes into interactive discs that can be played on most DVD players. In addition to recording DVD discs with DVD-R and DVD+RW drives, Pinnacle Express is unique in its ability to create DVD player-compatible discs using inexpensive CD-R drives and media. Developed in partnership with Philips Consumer Electronics, Pinnacle Express incorporates proprietary DVdisc technology, which allows millions of existing CD-R owners to create, record and share up to 20 minutes of DVD-quality video on inexpensive CD-R or CD-RW discs.
Whether Pinnacle Express discs are used for family videos or corporate video presentations, the quality and convenience of recording a disc and watching it on a DVD player is now within the reach of millions. No more fast-forwarding and rewinding - Pinnacle Express software automatically creates chapter menus so that users can quickly go to the scenes they want to see, repeat and even freeze the action, all with their DVD player's remote control.

A version of Pinnacle Express supporting output to CD-R and CD-RW drives will be available in the summer of 2001. A version of Pinnacle Express supporting output to DVD recorders will be available in the fall of 2001.