LEADTOOLS Multimedia v13 Updated

Charlotte, NC (October 23, 2002) LEAD Technologies, Inc., a LEADer in the field of digital imaging and compression technologies announced today that LEADTOOLS Multimedia 13 has been updated. The update was based upon the feedback of customers. The LEADTOOLS Multimedia engine was modified to make the best even better. As a thank you for your support, LEAD is giving this upgrade to all qualified LEADTOOLS Multimedia v13 customers for free*.

Multimedia Advancements
Below is a list of enhancements made to the LEADTOOLS v13 Multimedia engine.

Capture

• New capture preview options:
  - as data comes from the capture card, but before any video processors or compressors
  are applied
  - after the video processors are applied, but before the compressor is applied
  - after the video processors and compressors are applied
• Built-in support for generic multiplexers and renderers. Multiplexers are filters that combine two
  or more streams of data. For example, LEADTOOLS Multimedia can now create MPEG files, if MPEG video and audio encoders and an MPEG multiplexer are available on the computer.
  
• Improved capture support from DV devices. Capture audio from DV devices and the audio and video data is not split (unless specified), resulting in faster capture and fewer dropped frames.
  
• Create DV AVI files using a DV multiplexer.
• Upload data to a DV device: Download the video from a DV device, cut unwanted pieces and put the good portion back into the DV device.
• Control DV tape functions such as play, record, stop, rewind and fast-forward, programmatically.
  
• Convert a specified portion of video.
  
• Capture a frame from the player.
  
• Change the amount of time sound is buffered during capture providing better control for applications like video conferencing
  
• Display capture device properties during capture.
  
• Eliminated preview flicker by keeping the preview visible when starting and stopping capture.
  

New DirectShow Filters

• All of the LEAD DirectShow filters can be used from VB. (Until now, only C/C++ could be used to programmatically control the LEAD DirectShow filters).
  
• All of the LEAD DirectShow filters except Resize, Rotate, RGB converter and Crop work with DES.
• VU Meter for Audio. Detects the strength of an audio stream.
  
• De-Interlace for Video. Eliminate annoying interlace artifacts.
  
• DICOM Filters.** Create and play DICOM files without programming!
  -Just register the DICOM reader and view any DICOM file in LEAD's MM player or Windows Media Player.
  -Use the DICOM writer filter to capture straight into a DICOM file or convert any video to a DICOM file. The writer uses a template DICOM file containing the non-image DICOM tags needed to create valid DICOM files. The writer also has built-in data compression support. The writer is also designed to integrate seamlessly with LEADTOOLS Medical Imaging toolkits where it can stream directly into a LEADTOOLS DICOM DataSet
• 16 bit grayscale added to RGB Converter.** DirectShow does NOT have native support for 16-bit grayscale images.
  
• Color Replace Video filter can replace a range of colors in a video stream.

General Features

• Capture, Convert and Playback engines have been rewritten to be more robust.
  
• DirectX 8.1 is no longer a requirement. LEADTOOLS Multimedia can now be used on computers running Windows NT 4.0.
  
• New and more descriptive error messages.
  

** Free to try, but will require additional licensing to develop and distribute resulting application. Contact sales for additional information.

Toolkit Pricing

LEADTOOLS Multimedia LE $595

LEADTOOLS Multimedia Imaging $995

LEADTOOLS Multimedia Imaging Pro $1495

Upgrade pricing

Upgrade to Multimedia Imaging for $399

Upgrade to Multimedia Imaging Pro for $599

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About LEAD Technologies, Inc.
Founded in 1990, LEAD grew out of years of research headed by Moe Daher to find a comprehensive compression standard for digital images. LEAD is now the world-leading supplier of imaging development toolkits, providing technology of the future, today. LEAD brings to the market the most innovative and technically superior products that provide the greatest possible value for its customers. LEAD’s award winning imaging technology is chosen by Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Boeing, Xerox and thousands of other companies for use in their high volume applications and internal systems.