BluStreak Navigator

Tue, 2008-10-28 11:41 — larryapple

This is a progress report and a little more detail on BluStreak Navigator.

BluStreak Navigator is a menu design application for Blu-ray recordable output. It imports Blu-ray discs (must be unencrypted) and constructs a new disc from clips chosen during the menu design process from these inputs. All previous navigation is ignored.

The input BD's may be from any BD authoring system. All menus and any Java code is ignored. There is no programming of any type required by the author. All navigation is created by connecting menu buttons to other menus, clips, or to setup audio or subtitle stream types.

No muxing of existing clips is performed, all clip muxing must be done beforehand with the original authoring application. The new menus are created "out of mux", but are relatively small and are placed to avoid excessive playback seeking. Menus are typically designed to "popup" over any video content.

Navigator is the main menu design application, but will support import and eventually plugins from Final Cut Pro, Motion, AfterEffects, and Photoshop. There will be an extensive library of existing button templates, and the ability to create menu images from clip chapter points.

The BluStreak Navigator user experience will take advantage of the latest Leopard advances and iLife integration.

Our next product, BluStreak Composer, will be a full stand-alone authoring application.

BluStreak PG is a professional work-flow tool that we developed in concert with MX Production, and it outputs files for import into Sonic Scenarist or Sony BluPrint.

BluStreak Navigator Alpha (still not released to our small beta team) uses much of the technology from BluStreak PG. This will greatly speed the development cycle, though we will not release even a beta version until it is ready for prime time.

Regards,

Larry

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Blu-ray Forum

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Sun, 2009-01-04 11:18 — Lyris

Looking forward to it

I'd like to echo the above; I can't wait to get my teeth into some Blu-ray projects without going broke. Thank you!

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Fri, 2009-01-02 15:17 — Tom Daigon

Thanks

Thanks for the update.
Tom Daigon
Video Editor
Avid DS - FCP

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Fri, 2009-01-02 11:04 — larryapple

Progress, but nothing released yet

Hi Tom,

We are working on licensing a proven multiplexor, which is the remaining piece for completing our authoring system. We will know more in a few weeks, and will keep you posted.

Regards,

Larry

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Fri, 2009-01-02 09:15 — Tom Daigon

New Developments?

So, any new developments since you've last written here 2 months ago?
Tom Daigon
Video Editor
Avid DS - FCP

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Tue, 2008-12-16 19:56 — Tom Daigon

Thanks for the info

Larry:
I think I can speak for a large part of the video community when I say "Thank you" for developing this product. It will fill a horrible void in the
video production HD work flow. If it is reasonably priced and performs in a professional manner and makes it to market very soon, it has the
potential of generating great amounts of money for you. And I will be first in line to purchase it. Good luck with your development.

Tom Daigon
Video Editor
Avid DS - FCP

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Mon, 2008-12-15 23:53 — larryapple

BluStreak Composer is the full authoring system

Tom,

As explained in our news article, BluStreak Composer is the name we've given to the full authoring program, and Navigator is a subset of that functionality that requires outside multiplexing. So yes, we are developing what we intend to be a fully functional, east to use program like DVD Studio Pro for Blu-ray. But Navigator is not yet that product.

The biggest piece of that development that we didn't have when we started was multiplexing - the putting together of video, audio, subtitle, and interactive menu streams into what are called Transport Streams in Blu-ray. (And also broadcast TV). So Navigator is intended to bridge the gap until we can finish that piece, as a stop-gap measure, by bringing in transport streams (clips) from other authoring systems.

However we have also been working on our own multiplexing solution, and are looking at licensing some outside components that we can incorporate to speed up that part of our development. If this goes well, we may be able to skip the Navigator phase and go directly to Composer.

We will continue to work on all the pieces until they all come together. But we may not wait until we have everything, if we can spin off Navigator, have something useful, and show the advantages of our new menu creation and navigation system.

Regards,

Larry

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Mon, 2008-12-15 20:07 — Tom Daigon

Not an authoring program like DVDSP?

Larry:
So am I to understand that Navigator is not an authoring program? I was hoping that you folks were creating the Bluray version
of DVD Studio Pro so I could provide my clients after edit session authored dubs (for several spots). I get the feeling this
is not the function of the software you are developing. Please tell me I am wrong.
Tom Daigon
Video Editor
Avid DS - FCP

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Mon, 2008-12-15 18:05 — larryapple

Toast, and Navigator Breakthrough

Hi Tom,

Toast 9 has a rudimentary template menu system, and can burn BD recordable discs. So it can already do what you want, though the menus are somewhat limited. With Navigator, you will be able to import clips made by Toast or other consumer authoring program, create new pop-up menus and navigation, write a spec-compliant BD image, and then burn it with Toast, or any BD burning software on Mac or PC.

We had always intended to remove the Toast requirement for both input and output as soon as possible. But recent breakthroughs may make that happen sooner rather than later. We will keep you informed.

Regards,

Larry

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Sun, 2008-12-14 12:27 — Tom Daigon

BlueStreak Import BD files created in Compressor?

Will BlueStreak Navigator import BD files created in Compressor and create/burn a BD disk that clients can play on home systems?
Tom Daigon
Video Editor
Avid DS - FCP

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Fri, 2008-12-05 07:53 — Steve Cahill (not verified)