|
Any software application can be described as being "scalable." This means that its performance will improve when the hardware with which it is running is improved (for example, by upgrading the CPU or by increasing the amount of RAM). Pioneered by our engineers in 1998, Canopus Scalable Technology takes this notion even further, delivering additional benefits as applied to both our software and our software-hardware systems. As you add power to your existing CPU or exchange your CPU for a more powerful one, you can keep on using the Canopus software and hardware in which you have invested. The performance of your Canopus products is enhanced as you add CPU power, ensuring optimal productivity through expanded realtime capabilities. Our "future-proof" Scalable Technology promotes long product life and a high return on investment.
The key to putting Scalable Technology to use is the appropriate allocation of hardware and software processes. Improvements in the processing speed of PCs are made every day, but the speed of fixed hardware stays the same. That is why Canopus engineers carefully consider the design of both software and hardware. As a result, Canopus systems (unlike most others) depend on software for many of the arithmetic processes involved in video editing including transitions, effects and codec applications. By eliminating the possibility of fixed hardware speed impeding performance, improvements made in CPU speed are directly reflected in NLE performance.
Canopus Scalable Technology makes EDIUS software capable of supporting both existing and anticipated future video formats. The EDIUS software engine is both resolution- and frame rate-independent, making it possible to quickly implement support for emerging video formats and equipment. This is particularly important as the video production industry shifts from standard definition to high definition content creation. An example of how Canopus Scalable Technology makes a difference, in this regard, is the award-winning Canopus HQ codec, a core component of our NLE software (since EDIUS Pro 3). The Canopus HQ codec features a flexible design that is capable of supporting higher-quality HD video compression as editing systems get faster and more powerful.
Many hardware-based video editing solutions, both legacy and current, follow one of two engineering philosophies. One method is to restrict the specialized hardware to simply acting as a "dumb" input/output board, letting the editing software, along with the CPU and RAM, edit and construct the output stream. The other method is to incorporate specialized chipsets on the specialized hardware board, designed to assist the system in processing video effects and transitions. Although the first method offers more flexibility, it provides no acceleration for video processing, relying solely on the resources of the CPU to produce results in realtime. This usually results in the need for "proxy" codecs and a lower resolution, lower quality format for the source video. The second method provides realtime acceleration, and can work with the original video format captured, however the solution will then be bound to only support a limited set of existing video formats. Additionally, fixed hardware chipsets will eventually become a processing bottleneck, if the editing system is upgraded with a faster CPU and more RAM.
Canopus realtime editing hardware is designed to provide tight integration with EDIUS NLE software, delivering realtime acceleration without limiting the hardware's ability to support future video formats. EDIUS software and the CPU resources work to process the video, while the specialized hardware assists by generating a full-quality, full resolution output stream.
The chart below depicts the difference between EDIUS NLE Systems with Canopus Scalable Technology and traditional systems, as more CPU power is added.
| |  | EDIUS NLE Systems with Canopus Scalable Technology | | |  | NLE Systems left behind, such as Matrox RT2000, Matrox RT2500, Matrox RT.X100, Matrox RT.X100, Pinnacle Pro-ONE, Pinnacle DV500, other C-Cube DVExpress chipset-based solutions |
|
What is Realtime Output?
When Canopus refers to "realtime output," we mean high-quality, full frame rate output to a true video display, without skipping or dropping frames. Other technologies that claim realtime capabilities may, in fact, mean realtime "preview" on a computer monitor, or video output that is less than full quality, full frame rate.
With Canopus Scalable Technology, there are no limits on the number of video tracks, the number of graphic and title layers or the number of effects that can be output in realtime. With Canopus Scalable Technology, as your CPU power is increased, so is the level of your system’s realtime video editing capability.
To learn more about Scalable Technology and the rationale for other fundamental engineering choices at Canopus, read the Canopus Base Technology White Paper.
|
