Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 17, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
California video-solutions provider ADS Tech/Pyro AV has introduced a PCI Express-based expansion card for Mac computers and PCs. The Pyro Kompressor HD Card significantly accelerates the compression of HD video material.
The manufacturer promises speeds up to eight times higher than a software-based compression system. ADS Tech’s hardware currently supports the following codecs: DV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.264, AVCHD, AVC-Intra, VC1, DVCPRO 25/50/100, DVCPRO-HD, JPEG2000 and YUV. When new codecs reach the market, they can be added by update.
The card works seamlessly with Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 and Adobe After Effects CS3 Professional.
The Pyro Kompressor HD Card is expected to be available in a few weeks at a price of around US$3,500. February 2008 is named as a possible launch for the PC solution; the Mac card will presumably reach the market somewhat later.
It can already be tried at ADS Tech’s Macworld booth.
