Sonic Solutions to stop sales of Scenarist HD-DVD authoring tool

[hoodlum]

This is the tool that Universal and Paramount use. This is a sure sign of what is happening.

http://www.sonic.com/about/press/new...1/blu-ray.aspx

"Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today announced that its Professional Products Group will focus its research and development resources on the creation of new applications for cutting-edge authoring of Blu-ray Disc titles that encompass the interactive and connected-content capabilities of BD-Live. The group will also increase resource allocation on developing its encoding and title creation applications that streamline the process of preparing video entertainment for digital distribution. In order to address these emerging market opportunities and optimize investment return, the Professional Products Group will conclude sales of its Scenarist® HD DVD authoring product line."

[calvin940]

Ya. One of the Sonic Solutions dudes sent an email out to a dvd list I belong to this morning identifying that they are stopping.

[hoodlum]

Originally Posted by veniex

Is this what HD-DVD supporting studiois use?

Here is the write-up by EUG on the HD-DVD event in Toronto last November, that says HD-DVD studios use Scenarist. This is big news!


http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...ight=scenarist

"They had a commercial compressionist/DVD/HD/BD disc author there. It was interesting to hear Pat's take on the war...

5) HD DVD and Blu-ray are completely different in terms of authoring. Basically the only major thing that can be shared is the encode, but the interactivity is programmed completely differently (as evidenced above), so it means that if a company is format neutral its authoring costs are nearly twice as much. For HD DVD they use a Sonic Scenarist solution, but for BD they're forced to also use more Sony produced software which is not user friendly. Testing is also harder on BD since there the same type of emulated HD DVD environment."

[U]

Well... This certainly points to Paramount and Universal turning Blu before long.

[PrimeBane]

So basically, its just the tool they aren't selling anymore correct? The don't actually build all the extra content by the sounds of it... at least that's what I'm getting out of this article.

So if Paramount/DW and Uni continue with HD DVD, they just have to stick with the old version of the software until they make the inevitable move to BD in the future.

It is good to hear that there will be another solution for BD authoring if the Sony stuff isn't up to par user wise.

[adit]

A software tool which is not sold/supported anymore is practically dead. Of course you can still use the licences you have, but for a company is a very temporary solution. If this is the main tool used by Paramount and Universal and if they had any real long term plans for HD DVD I don't think Sonic would drop the product (a big chek would for sure persuade to keep the product alive...at least for a few more months). The fact that they made an official anouncement means that in their view at least HD DVD is already dead. In fact in my oppinion it's almost an indirect aknowledge from Paramount and Universal that there will be no new HD DVD releases planned ( other than the one already finished or under work).

[JohnnyG]

Support has not been dropped and no date has been given to an end of support.

There are other tools for authoring HD DVDs. Some don't even consider Scenarist to be the best.

[U]

There might be other tools but if Scenarist was used by Universal and Paramount then it must by far be the biggest player in the market. Them dropping the product and switching their focus to Blu-Ray is extremely telling, regardless of whether they keep supporting it the product or not.

[Boduho]

Johnny, has there been an article or news item that you haven't tried to dismiss as unimportant or not what it seems? You've been spinning ever since the WB announcement and it's getting really tiresome.

[JohnnyG]

Oh please! The BD supporters are the ones spinning every news item or article! Sometimes, a pencil is only a pencil! All I'm trying to do is inject some semblance of reason into the "sky is falling" angle. In this case, it was said above that Sonic ended support for the program, but that is simply not correct. Should I have just kept my mouth shut? Worry not...I'll correct Blu-ray misinformation just the same.

If HD DVD dies, we will all know it. I used to own an Amiga. I don't anymore. Some still do. I am not one to hold on once the end is obvious.

All this nonsense of people jockeying for position in the "I told you so" race is just ridiculous.

Who won the DVD-Audio vs. SACD battle?

[Dog Byte]

I'm with johnny -- if the software is full featured and you're tapped out your potencial customers then the press release is just an investor stroking exercise.

If you read the entire fluffy release it also includes:
Sonic's Professional Products Group will maintain its high-end support services as part of its SonicCare™ program for HD DVD customers who elect not to participate in the special promotion program and will provide software update releases where appropriate in keeping with its standard practice.

[oilblue]

Exactly. If the software is feature complete for HD DVD, then new versions aren't necessarily needed. It's not like they have to build Profile 1.1. and Profile 2.0 feature into it.

In my view, their press release is more about announcing their move into BD. They'd have to be blind not to see the momentum going that direction.

[hoodlum]

As the first HD-DVD authoring tool (2005) this is significant news as it shows an early supporter of HD-DVD loosing faith. The key item is that they are discontinuing sales. This means that any studio using this software cannot buy additional seats if they want to increase the rollout of HD-DVD releases.

[Boduho]

Oilblue, ou're missing the point. It's not about being able to use the existing tools. The fact that a major developer has decided it's HD-DVD is not worth developing for is yet another indication that people involved in the industry don't see a future for HD-DVD. Sonic's announcement doesn't mean Paramount can't author an HD-DVD tomorrow, but that's clearly not the issue.

A pencil is just a pencil, but 1+1+1=3. It appears to me that certain posters on this board aren't able to grasp that.

[oilblue]

Respectfully, I disagree.

I better clarify. Of course I agree that 1+1+1=3. Suggesting otherwise is rude.

In my view--which doesn't match yours (meaning I automatically miss the point )--their press release is about entering the BD authoring world. Yes, they said they're withdrawing the HD DVD tool from the market. That's kind of secondary though. Seriously. What were the headlines on their press release:

Sonic's Professional Products Group to Fuel Growth of Blu-ray Disc and Digital Distribution
New Product Releases to Streamline BD-Live and DVD-on-Demand Content Production

Don't suppose the main point of the release was to emphasize their new BD product, like I suggested.

Or this:

In order to address these emerging market opportunities and optimize investment return, the Professional Products Group will conclude sales of its Scenarist® HD DVD authoring product line.

How does that equate to [hoodlum's] assertion that further licenses are immediately unavailable? Plus, as already pointed out by Dog Byte, they will update the product for existing customers.

I don't know why my posts are always assailed, or that I'm unable to grasp the obvious (i.e. unable to see 1+1+1=3). Nowhere did I suggest this is good news for HD DVD. I'm just trying to point out unfounded spin. That's all.

edit: That doesn't mean everyone has to agree with me though. Differences of opinion are perfectly valid. Both sides of a difference of opinion or interpretation can agree that 1+1+1=3.