Spruce Technologies, Inc., DTS (Digital Theatre Systems, Inc.) and Minnetonka Audio Software has just announced the first integrated solution for encoding, previewing and authoring DTS digital surround audio within DVD productions. The announcement brings Spruce's DVDMaestro DVD-authoring system together with Minnetonka's new Surcode DVD Professional software, which recently met the rigorous requirements of DTS certification. Surcode DVD Professional allows users to encode uncompressed audio into the DTS algorithm for use in a DVD, eliminating cost and time for sending material out of house for encoding. Spruce will offer Surcode DVD Professional as an option to DVDMaestro, its professional DVD authoring solution for Windows NT. In addition, the most recent software release of DVDMaestro, Version 2.8, supports preview of DTS-format audio content during authoring, using the Netstream 2000 board from Sigma Designs. DVDMaestro 2.8 with the Netstream 2000 card and Surcode DVD Professional ...

Former Cello Designers Launch Mods for Vintage Cello Reference Components Viola Audio Labs, a new high-end audio company, composed of the original Cello engineers and management have developed new performance modifications to the vintage Cello Reference components like Cello’s Audio Palette and Audio Suite.

Madrigal Imaging Inks Deal With JVC. Madrigal Imaging, the video line of high end AV's largest company, Madrigal, just inked a deal with JVC to produce a Madrigal Imaging version of JVC's DILA video projector. DILA has received quite a bit of hype lately as it competes with DLP to replace traditional CRT projectors in the marketplace. The major advantage of the Madrigal Imaging DILA will be its 1365 x 1025 pixel resolution versus DLP's maximum resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The projected price of the new Madrigal Imaging MPD1 is $26,000.

SONICblue Announces Plan to Acquire ReplayTV. SONICblue(TM) Incorporated, a leader in the converging Internet, digital media and consumer device markets, just announced it has signed a letter of intent to acquire ReplayTV, Inc., the industry-leading licensor of technology for networked entertainment products, serving businesses that include consumer electronics manufacturers, personal computer manufacturers, set-top box manufacturers and cable, satellite and terrestrial operators.

The many worlds of Cello: Viola Audio Labs, WEGG3 and more… Mark Levinson is the most influential figure in the history of high end audio. Looking for proof? Just look at the jockeying taking place with the human resources, designs and assets of 2000’s big budget, failed Cello retail and manufacturing project.