News Release CONTACT INFORMATION Nick Angelucci Marketing Manager Creative Labs Pty Ltd Tel: (02) 9021 9800 http://www.australia.creative.com [email protected]
First Ever Sound Blaster with Video Editing Capability
Easy-to-use Audio & Video Solution in One - the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor Brings Your Home Movies to Any PC or Notebook
Sydney, April 15, 2005 -- Creative Labs Pty Ltd, a local subsidiary of Creative Technology Ltd (NASDAQ: CREAF), a worldwide leader in high-quality audio for the PC, today announced the USB Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 ZS Video Editor, the first ever Sound Blaster with video editing capabilities. This ultra-sleek, high-end audio system combines premier audio playback with award-winning LSI Logic® DoMiNoFX™ technology for video in one easy-to-use solution that connects to the PC via the USB 2.0 port.
"The USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor is a great hardware solution for bringing all your video to any PC, to store it on a desktop or notebook or to burn it directly to DVD” said Nick Angelucci, Marketing Manager for Creative Labs Australia. “It’s the ideal way to upgrading your PC or notebook into a home-studio editing suite with all the connections you need and more.”
Hardware Accelerated Video Encoding and Filtering Because it utilizes hardware encoding, the USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor allows users to enjoy crisp, glitch-free encoding to MPEG and DV formats. Hardware encoding enables functionality with a wider variety of systems, not just high-performance desktop systems required by software-only encoding solutions. The advanced compression technology available from the hardware encoding greatly minimizes digital artifacts, such as blockiness and loss of detail (even at low bit-rates), and provides video clean-up filters that consistently reduce random noise, increase video quality, and extend recording time.
First Ever Sound Blaster with Video Editing Capability April 12, 2005 Page 2 of 3
"The LSI Logic DoMiNo processor provides 'Visibly Superior' DoMiNo FX processing technologies for crystal-clear video quality from any source. It is ideally suited for the Creative USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor, because it's the best way for consumers to encode and preserve home movies, whether they are stored on the latest DV cameras or older VCRs and analog cameras," said Umesh Padval, executive vice president for the LSI Logic Consumer Products Division.
Comprehensive Software for Professional-Quality Video Editing and One-Step DVD Creation Even beginners can create top-quality DVD movies using the Ulead® MovieFactory™ 3 SE. One-step DVD burning enables users to save time and hard drive space by authoring a DVD straight from a video source directly to a disc, bypassing the computer's hard drive altogether. For the advanced user, more complex editing is done with the award-winning Ulead VideoStudio™ 8 SE. This feature-rich software allows users to transfer video from an external source, extract unwanted scenes, and add transitions, music, narration, titles and special effects.
"DVD MovieFactory 3 makes it easy for everybody to quickly edit their videos and photos and turn them into DVDs that they're proud to share," said Lewis Liaw, president of Ulead Systems, North America. "At the same time, our Disc-Direct capture technology is a significant step toward DVD totally replacing VHS tapes. With this feature, consumers can record TV programs directly to disc, complete with a DVD menu and the ability to append video and customize menus on the DVD."
Superior Audio in Music, Movies and Games The THX-Certified USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor delivers 24-bit ADVANCED HD™ music playback in 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 surround sound, with Dolby® Digital EX and DTS-ES™ decoding for the ultimate DVD movie experience. In addition, EAX® support provides realistic, real-time audio effects processing, a technology that has been incorporated into hundreds of the top PC games.
Connect Camcorders, TVs, VCRs and More The USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor features DV, S-Video, and composite video ins and outs, analog and digital audio in and out, plus a built-in 4-port USB hub, allowing users to record from any audio or video source, including a camcorders, TV or VCRs. Any edited content can be converted back to its original source and/or played back on a TV or VCR for viewing and recording.
Pricing and Availability The USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor will be available in May 2005 for a recommended retail price of AUD$499.95 inc GST. For more information about the USB Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Video Editor, visit www.au.creative.com First Ever Sound Blaster with Video Editing Capability April 12, 2005 Page 3 of 3
About Creative Labs Pty Ltd Creative Labs Pty Ltd, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Creative Technology Ltd, and has a customer showroom and support centre in Petersham, Sydney. Creative Labs Pty Ltd. Shop 3-5, 524 Parramatta Rd, Petersham NSW. Telephone: (02) 9021 9800
About Creative Technology Ltd. Creative Technology Ltd (Nasdaq: CREAF) is a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products for PC users. Famous for its Sound Blaster® sound cards and for launching the multimedia revolution, Creative is now driving digital entertainment on the PC platform with products like its highly acclaimed Zen and MuVo portable audio players. Creative's innovative hardware, proprietary technology, applications and services leverage the Internet, enabling consumers to experience high-quality digital entertainment - anytime, anywhere.
About LSI Logic Corporation LSI Logic Corporation (NYSE: LSI) focuses on the design and production of high-performance semiconductors for Consumer, Communications and Storage applications that access, interconnect and store data, voice and video. LSI Logic engineers incorporate reusable, industry-standard intellectual property building blocks that serve as the heart of leading-edge systems. LSI Logic serves its global OEM, channel and distribution customers with Platform ASICs, standard-cell ASICs, standard products, host bus adapters, RAID controllers and software. In addition, the company supplies storage network solutions for the enterprise. LSI Logic is headquartered at 1621 Barber Lane, Milpitas, CA 95035. http://www.lsilogic.com.
About Ulead Systems Ulead System, Inc. is a leading developer of innovative video, imaging and DVD authoring software for desktop, server, mobile and Internet platforms. As more people use digital technologies at home, school and the workplace, Ulead software empowers users of all levels with the tools to easily and affordably personalize, manage and share digital content. For more information on the company, its products and services, please visit Ulead's Web site at http://www.ulead.com.
# # # This announcement relates to products launched in the Asia Pacific. The product names, prices and availability are subject to change without notice and may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements. Sound Blaster and MuVo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand or product names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective holders and are hereby recognized as such.