Canopus Unveils Edius 2.0 Upgrade

Canopus Corporation announced an upgraded version of EDIUS 2.0, that supports MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 editing for FireWire enabled hardware. Users can now edit, mix and output digital video, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and uncompressed video in a realtime, render-free processes. The upgrade comes on the heels of this year’s release of Canopus’ nonlinear editing application of the same name.

Designed for Windows XP desktops and laptops with FireWire connectivity, EDIUS 2.0 streamlines DVD production by allowing editors to work in realtime with editing, effects compositing, keying, transitions and titles in MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 formats. Canopus's MPEG codec delivers good picture quality during every stage of the editing process. EDIUS 2.0 also features DVD authoring directly from the timeline. The software works with any OHCI (FireWire) enabled system, but is optimized for Canopus own DVStorm, DVRex RT and DVRaptor RT2 nonlinear editing suites.

EDIUS clip storage is based on a bin folder structure, with search capabilities for enhanced organization and management. The software has the ability to remap missing or moved clips, and enhanced timeline management features--like batch delete. EDIUS offers unlimited video and audio tracks, unlimited title and graphics layers, the ability to transition between multiple video tracks, voiceover recording, multi-format conversion capabilities and realtime output.

With the integration of Canopus effects palate, EDIUS offers 27 realtime video filters, Chroma Key and Luma Key, more than 40 adjustable video transitions, and a fully customizable 2D/3D Picture-in-Picture effect. EDIUS is capable of unlimited simultaneous realtime titles and graphics layers, including: blurs, dissolve, slide, and wipes. Text can be fine-tuned through kerning, leading, slanting, rotating and dynamic sizing, to create a variety of crawls, rolls, directional blurs, and dissolves.

The EDIUS output process is fast, and capable of exporting projects multiple formats including: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, QuickTime RealVideo and Windows Media formats, in addition to Canopus's own DV AVI format.

The updated version of EDIUS 2.0 will be available January 2004 through Canopus, and has a manufactures suggested retail price of $599. Registered users of previous editions can upgrade at a lower price point.