Magnum Semiconductor Announces Industry's First Family of Universal Media Processors with Superior Quality for all Broadcast Applications

The DXTPro processors raise the bar with1080p50/60 H.264 and MPEG-2, as well as VC-1 encoding, transcoding and decoding at lowest bit rates and highest channel-density

MILPITAS, CA — Magnum Semiconductor, the leader in professional-grade video processors, announced today its DXTPro family of advanced multi-core media processors for multi-format, multi-resolution encoding, decoding and transcoding. The DXTPro provides a single platform for all segments of the broadcast chain, from contribution to production and distribution. It utilizes a scalable and flexible multi-core architecture, which delivers highest channel-density, highest quality and lowest bit rates for SD, HD and Full HD resolutions. The DXTPro produces superior quality Full HD 1080p60 at 1080i60 bit rates typical in the broadcast industry. Multi-format video support includes MPEG-2 4:2:2, H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 (AVC) and VC-1.

“Flexible Unified Multi-Core Architecture” Advantage

The flexibility and multi-core aspects of the DXTPro architecture allow fine-tuning of channel-density, video quality and bit rates to meet specific encoding, transcoding and decoding application requirements in each segment of the video broadcast chain. At the same time it provides a smooth path to emerging stereoscopic (3D) video broadcast. Moreover, customers using Magnum’s previous generation products are able to leverage their existing application software on the new DXTPro processors.

“Any Content Anywhere” Advantage

Today’s diversity in multimedia content formats requires service providers and operators to deliver content over any broadcast infrastructure, including mobile and Internet, while the trend towards HD content puts heavy demands on optimization of broadcast channel utilization. The DXTPro transcoders meet both requirements, i.e., optimal channel utilization and converting between H.264, MPEG-2 and VC-1 multimedia formats at various resolutions.

“With the introduction of the DXTPro family Magnum continues to provide OEMs, service providers and operators with best-in-class encoder, decoder and transcoder silicon products, which continue to evolve to address the latest trends in the video broadcast, production and contribution markets, including exciting new and emerging applications, such as stereoscopic or 3D HDTV up to 1080p60 formats, Web-based and mobile video entertainment,” said Bob Saffari, VP Marketing at Magnum Semiconductor, responsible for broadcast and set-top products.

The DXTPro – Single Platform Multiple Applications – Product Family

Flagship encoder. The DXTPro DX8313 is a quad-core, Full HD/HD/SD, multi-stream encoder, which delivers industry’s highest video quality for the distribution broadcast segment. The combination of MCTF, de-blocking and dual-pass encode results in superior video quality. Encode formats include H.264 HP@L4.2 and MPEG-2 Main Profile HighP Level with 8-bit 4:2:2 support for MPEG-2. The DX8313 supports 1080p50/60, 1080i50/60, 720p50/60 encodes, as well as up to 8 simultaneous SD encodes. The DX8313 is a complete solution, including inverse telecine, simultaneous PiP encoding up to SD resolution, full VBI and MPTS support.

Flagship transcoder. The DXTPro DX7313 is a quad-core, full frame-rate HD and SD/sub-SD, multi-stream transcoder, which delivers industry’s highest video quality for the distribution broadcast segment. It achieves superior video quality through full decode-encode, which is otherwise not possible by competing solutions relying on re-use of encoding information in the source stream. The DX7313 supports transcoding from 1080p50/60 Full HD MPEG-2 or H.264 to 1080i50/60 HD and SD MPEG-2, H.264 or VC-1, as well as HD to HD, HD to SD and SD to SD for up to 8 SD streams between H.264, MPEG-2 or VC-1 at multiple profiles and levels, including H.264 Constrained Baseline Profile for broadcast to mobile devices. The DX7313 is a complete broadcast solution, including full VBI support.

Flagship decoder. The DXTPro DX9353 is a dual-core, full frame-rate HD and SD, fully standards-compliant multi-stream decoder for the production and broadcast IRD segment. It is capable of decoding up to 1080p50/60 H.264 or MPEG-2 streams, as well as VC-1 streams up to 1080i50/60, and supports 8-bit 4:2:2 full HD, HD and SD MPEG-2 decodes. Multi-stream processing includes up to four 1080i50/60, 720p50/60 or SD streams. The DX9353 also supports a multiplicity of audio formats, including AC-3, AAC-LC Level 4 and HE-AAC Level 4.

Pricing & Availability

The DXTPro is currently sampling to select customers. General availability is scheduled for the second quarter of this year. Development platforms are available to accelerate OEM application development. Contact Magnum Semiconductor for pricing.