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• Acronym: AMAS
• ESPRIT Project #20922

Participants

• Fast Multimedia AG [D], Co-ordinating Partner
• Nomaï SA [F], Partner
• Myrica (UK) Ltd. [UK], Associate Partner

Objective

The objective of this ESPRIT project was to develop an advanced system for video and multimedia authoring. The target was to offer a low cost modular platform that used existing and emerging industry standards to create video objects in either analog video format (Betacam SP, Hi 8, S-VHS, VHS) or digital computer format (Quicktime, AVI, MPEG) at a price affordable by all multimedia authors.

The key design objectives were to offer an architecture with the following capabilities:

• use standardised, affordable PC technology
• offer a modular structure, permitting the user to start small with the option of upgrading later on the same system (for example, from S-Video to component)
• ensure that the system requires low purchasing, training and operating costs
• support a choice of all four different editing modes (linear-off-line, non-linear-offline, linear-on-line and non-linear-online) for every project, thus permitting mixed operation of tape and hard disk editing ("hybrid editing")
• benefit from non-linear editing (with its typical advantages, such as random access, copying without losses, etc.) with variable levels of quality (from off-line to on-line component video quality)
• has frame-accurate control of a wide range of consumer and professional tape machines, permitting use of tape as an affordable storage and distribution medium when required
• support the performance required for real-time editing and DVEs for maximum productivity and fast trial and error cycle times
• include high speed, AV-optimised removable storage

Results

As the project drew to a close, all partners had started shipping the resulting products – and the exploitation potential appeared as strong as originally envisaged. Fast had already started winning awards for their "blue." system - as they named their authoring system - and Myrica's "750.c" cartridge drive received good reviews in the press.

Approach

AMAS was a collaboration between Fast – Europe's computer-based Video Editing System leader – and Nomaï/Myrica, who were the only removable cartridge storage group in Europe. The 18-month project started in November 1995.

This project built on ESPRIT III's MagDrive project (EP 9257), which had developed a high capacity removable magnetic cartridge drive for all forms of computer. MagDrive wais being marketed as the MCD (Multimedia Cartridge Drive), and was specifically designed to service the multimedia field, where the file sizes are typically very large.

Fast and Nomaï/Myrica decided to collaborate to offer truly inexpensive digital video, for both conventional post-production and multimedia authoring applications. This was feasible because the storage medium of the MCD was a removable cartridge.

Nomaï and Myrica took advantage of Fast's experience in the manipulation and storage of audio and video information to develop an AV-optimised version of their product. By co-operating with Fast in this way, they were able to develop a product which they could also exploit as a standalone product in the multimedia field.

Fast was able to develop a video and multimedia authoring system which took best advantage of the capabilities of a removable magnetic cartridge storage system, thus enhancing the exploitation potential of Fast's products.

The main exploitation for this project was to be done by Fast, who intended to market several different configurations of the AMAS components and system, as an extension of their existing computer-based video product line.

Nomaï's exploitation of the results of the project was to offer the world's first high-capacity removable storage platform optimised for use in the digital video and audio market. The product was to be offered through Fast's dealer network as part of their multimedia authoring product range, as well as through other manufacturers of video and multimedia editing stations. Nomaï was also looking at the opportunity to offer it for use in the booming new 'Video Server' market.