Thomson announced today that it has joined with CineForm, makers of advanced software-based codecs and CPU accelerators for desktop editing systems, to develop the I-J2K Suite that enables Adobe CS3 and Apple Final Cut Pro (FCP) users to have a complete, real-time, 10-bit, 4:2:2 workflow for JPEG 2000 files captured with the Thomson Grass Valley™ Infinity™ Digital Media Camcorder (DMC).

The new I-J2K Suite, which is part of CineForm’s HD Link technology, can be found in the company’s Prospect HD and NEO HD products. These products will include a plug-in decoder module that seamlessly converts JPEG 2000 files generated with the Infinity DMC to a file format that is easily recognized by PC and Mac users of the Adobe CS3 Production Suite and Apple Final Cut Pro Studio. In addition to making the JPEG 2000 files available for high-quality, file-based, non-linear editing, it creates AVI or QuickTime files for preview and playback on both Windows and Mac systems, allowing JPEG 2000 files to be as easily edited and viewed as other popular media file types.

“Adding this new Infinity JPEG 2000 decoding capability to our product line fits in perfectly with our strategy to offer clients the tools they need to succeed,” says David Taylor, CEO of CineForm. “JPEG 2000 is now emerging as a new way to efficiently capture and distribute video with a minimum of bandwidth requirements, so it makes sense to support the Thomson Grass Valley Infinity product family. We’re happy with the support Thomson has provided us during the development of this new product and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.”

“The industry is recognizing the image quality and bandwidth-saving benefits of capturing images with the JPEG 2000 compression format offered on the Thomson Grass Valley Infinity Digital Media Camcorder and complete Infinity product family,” says Jeff Rosica, senior vice president of Thomson’s Broadcast & Professional Solutions within the Systems division. “In supporting our customers’ needs, we are happy to be working with a respected industry leader in compression-based digital intermediate post workflows. This collaboration between our companies helps Infinity users maintain the highest possible image quality across the entire content creation chain.”

In addition, CineForm has developed separate DirectShow (Windows OS) and QuickTime (Mac OS X) components that allow the company to OEM its new (Infinity) JPEG 2000 decode plug-in to other third-party companies, thus enabling them to build the capability to convert Infinity JPEG 2000 files into their respective transcoding products for use with Avid Technology and other systems.   

The Windows version is now available for purchase from CineForm’s website, and the Mac version will be available soon. Licenses for Windows and Mac versions of CineForm’s I-J2k Suite will cost $99 per seat.

At the NAB Show in April, Thomson introduced the Thomson Grass Valley DMC 1000/20, a high performance camcorder for ENG and EFP applications. The new DMC 1000/20 offers expanded recording capacity and improved performance over the previous generation via Thomson’s new REV PRO XP and ER disks.

This new CineForm initiative is part of a technology agreement between Thomson and a wide range of third-party vendors who are part of the Infinity Open Alliance Program.