ORBAN RELEASES OPTICODEC-PC FILE ENCODER
Tempe, Ariz., June 23 - Orban® has announced the release of OPTICODEC-PC 1020 File Encoder. Opticodec-PC FE is highly capable MPEG-2/MPEG-4 AAC/aacPlus® software for high quality audio file encoding. Opticodec-PC FE offers the most important feature that the basic netcaster is looking for in a file-encoding product — entertainment-quality sound at economical file sizes.
Opticodec-PC FE is available in three editions for Microsoft Windows ® XP/2003 Server. All editions can encode MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 files with aacPlus up 128 kbps or AAC up to 320 kbps. The Personal edition is intended for light users and the Professional edition for mainstream users. The Enterprise edition is an industrial-strength tool for users with heavy production requirements who may need to encode files for 3GPP mobile devices as well as the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 files that all editions can encode. Uncompromised MPEG-4 and 3GPP support ensures that whatever the target device or server, Opticodec-PC file encoder will create a correctly-hinted file that plays accurately, while tagging options allow the encoded files to cause the title and artist to be displayed on PCs and mobile cellular devices.
All editions have graphical user interfaces that conform to Microsoft Windows ergonomic conventions. In addition, the Professional and Enterprise editions offer XML import capability for tagging, plus a console user interface that supports batch file execution, enabling easy launching and automation.
Opticodec-PC File Encoder software lets users supply files encoded with the Coding Technologies ® AAC / HE AAC / aacPlus codec, widely acknowledged as offering the highest available audio quality at the lowest possible bit rate. AAC/aacPlusâ„¢ is changing the way that low bitrate audio is perceived. For a given bitrate, it sonically outperforms any other codec currently available. Compared to MP3 and Windows Media Audio, Opticodec-PC's aacPlus codec provides a better than 60% improvement in audio quality versus bit rate, reducing network streaming bandwidth requirements and costs accordingly. At 32 kbps, Opticodec-PC streams offer close to FM quality, without the phasey, watery character of other popular codecs operating at this bit rate. Many listeners prefer the audio quality of 48 kbps streams to FM and other codecs.
Files encoded with Opticodec-PC FE can be experienced through RealPlayer ® 10, QuickTime 6.5, or Winamp 5.09 as well as Apple iTunes and iPods ® and all AAC/aacPlus-enabled 3GPP cellular devices. Opticodec-PC FE is useful for high quality podcasting and can encode high quality ringtones, which are now an important new source of revenue for production houses.
Orban is a world leader in the design and manufacture of transmission audio processors for broadcasting and the Internet. For more information contact David Rusch at phone +1 480 403-8300, fax +1 480 403-8301 or Email: drusch@orban.com. Information is also available at www.orban.com and www.orban-europe.com.
About Orban
Founded in 1970 by Bob Orban, the world's foremost expert in transmission audio processing for broadcast, Orban leads the industry in the design and manufacture of audio processors for radio, television and Internet broadcasting. Recognized for its standard-setting Optimod ® digital audio processors and the Audicy digital audio workstation, the Orban name has become synonymous with reliable, high performance products. Today, its versatile audio processing equipment, editing tools and codecs are the products of choice in fast-paced production environments worldwide. In 2000, Orban ® was acquired by CRL — a manufacturer of high-quality digital and analog audio processing, transmission encoding, and noise reduction equipment. Orban now accounts for the majority of the global market for radio, TV and Internet audio processing. As technology evolves, Orban continues to innovate with state-of-the-art audio processing products for DAB, DTV and streaming media.
Orban Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Management's anticipation of future events is based upon assumptions regarding levels of competition, research and development results, raw material markets, the markets in which the company operates, and stability of the regulatory environment. Any of these assumptions could prove inaccurate, and therefore there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Orban/Orban develops, manufactures and markets electronic audio processing, transmission encoding and noise reduction equipment for the worldwide radio, television, cable, Internet and professional audio markets. The Orban division manufactures and markets audio processing equipment, primarily using digital technology. Orban Europe is a worldwide leader in ISO/MPEG, audio, ISDN, satellite transmission, networking, and storage. More information is available at www.orban.com and www.orban-europe.com.