Press Release October, 2002
Founded in 1989 as a digital audio production and distribution business, DW Productions (now part of ProDisc Compact Disc Systems Pty Ltd) was for some time the leading independent developer and supplier of solutions for the then rapidly expanding CD technology market in the Asia Pacific region. Over this time DW Productions and ProDisc CD Systems Pty Ltd have been responsible for supplying over AU$15 million of CD/ DVD technology and related products.
DW Productions was an early pioneer of CD-R applications in Australia, and was the first to supply affordable CD Audio recorders into the pro-audio market in early 1992, (Audio Design/ Micromega). DW Productions was also the first to supply SCSI CD writers into the data/ multi media markets in mid 1992 (Philips CDD 521, Sony CDW 9000).
Following on from these early digital/ optical installations, DW Productions was then appointed exclusive distributor for CEDAR Audio (UK), manufacturers of the world’s leading digital Real Time Audio Restoration Technology.
The integration of Real Time CEDAR process with single speed audio CD Recording by DW Productions then paved the way for further successes, with systems ordered by ABC Radio Archives, National Film & Sound Archive and Government forensic facilities.
ProDisc CD Systems now boasts a large and diverse customer base, spanning Government Archives, Broadcasters, Data Management, Merchant Banks, Government Departments, Law Enforcement Agencies, Multimedia & Professional Audio, Cable Entertainment facilities and Universities, all primarily concerned with quality and reliability of performance and archivability rather than the lowest price point.
ProDisc CD Systems (then DW Productions) began distributing blank CD-R media in early 1992. Initially supplying Japanese CD-R media (Taiyo Yuden & TDK), but then a full OEM manufacturer with Eastman Kodak (USA) in late 1994, and has since been manufacturing its own range of very high quality CD-R and other “Optical New Media” for audio, video and data applications in state of the art Japanese “Original Technology” installations
ProDisc Video (then DW Productions) was the first to co-ordinate content for and demonstrate MPEG-1 Video applications on CD-R in mid 1993 (Nimbus Video CD). ProDisc Video then proceeded to work closely with Nimbus Technology & Engineering in the development of DVD (High Density CD), and was the first to quote for a DVD laser beam recorder and glass mastering system to the Australian CD Industry in early 1995, which then lead to ProDisc and Nimbus producing the worlds first feature length DVD Video demonstration disc (of Australian content) in conjunction with Warner Advanced Media (U.S.A.), Village Roadshow (Australia), Wild Visuals (Australia), DVM (Australia) and Digital City Studios (Australia). This disc was first played on a Toshiba SD2006 DVD Player at Replitech Asia, Singapore in August 1996.
ProDisc CD Systems has worked closely with major Government departments in both the pro-audio and data storage markets for several years, winning its first large contract (ABC Radio) for CD Audio Recorders and quality media in late 1993 (Audio Design Solo R, Kodak Writable CD). ProDisc CD Systems was also the first company in Australia to win major Government scientific (CSIRO) orders for SCSI CD writers, transporter automation and media in mid 1994 (Kodak PCD 225, Kodak Transporter, Kodak Writable CD). Then in early 1995, ProDisc CD Systems was the first to demonstrate a true second-generation professional multimedia CD Recorder with the Apex CDR2000, including support for timecode, external sync., SCSI and other production interfaces.
Continuing in its pursuit for practical solutions to many of the challenges that the unprecedented and dynamic growth of the CD-R industry has presented, ProDisc CD Systems also led the way with direct-to-disc desktop CD-R printing (Colour Scribe 6000). ProDisc now exclusively distributes the “CD Live Pro 12,000” high resolution 3 rd generation CD-R/ DVD-R print system.
ProDisc CD Systems has also developed strong affiliations with many once disparate industries, which now share a common distribution medium in the Compact Disc in various formats. These include film and television production, broadcast, digital audio production, post and broadcast, office imaging, digital mapping, data management, multimedia, archiving, display, presentation, gallery, museum, theme park, tourism and hospitality.
In 1996 ProDisc CD Systems also won the appointment as exclusive distributor for the CD CATS range of CD/ DVD quality control systems for AudioDev in Sweden, which is recognised globally as the “Reference” system for controlling absolute quality in CD media manufacturing. Then, in 1997 ProDisc completed the cycle with the supply of the AU$3.5 million Nimbus DVD laser mastering system, which effectively entered Australia into the DVD age.
Since then (ProDisc) has been primarily concerned with enhancing the manufacturing quality of its growing range of ProDisc Professional CD media and developing the next generation of recordable media (DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW). Meanwhile, ProDisc Video has been setting high standards in MPEG based new media delivery systems, with very successful installations at the National Gallery, Museum of Sydney, State Library of NSW, Hyde Park Barracks, Australian Museum, Australian War Memorial and many more corporate and institutional projects, including the official Westpac CD-ROM invitations to the Sydney Olympics as one of the major corporate sponsors of the games.
Currently, ProDisc Video is also contributing to the continuing development of a 25Gb, high density (HD) DVD-R which should be available for the next phase of HD digital TV broadcasting in 2003. ProDisc Video is also testing and evaluating DVD-RW/ DVD+RW technology (“Re-Writable DVD”) for integration into display, presentation and home Video systems of the future.
Successfully unveiled in August 2000 as a key technology component of a major theme restaurant at Darling Harbour, was the v-Box digital video delivery system – able to provide remotely controlled, programmable, very high quality video and audio from a 1RU super compact delivery module to multiple high resolution gas plasma screens.
Following the popularity of the Denver JVD 200 and vLink PDV-102 Universal DVD players over the last 2 years, ProDisc Video has just launched the new vLink PDV-103 DVD player at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show at Fox Studios, Sydney to wide acclaim. The vLink PDV-103 carries forward many of the sought after features of the original designs with additional bonuses such as supporting CD-R as a low cost storage medium for DVD quality still photographs (up to 3500 high resolution images on a single, 74 min. CD-R disc!!) and playback of Raw MPEG and JPEG files.
Another new product for 2003 will be the vDrive PDV-105 Personal Video Recorder (PVR) allowing SVHS and DVD quality recording from free to air broadcasts, cameras and other external sources, together with USB Streaming for editing and archiving.