Nero Integrates MPEG-4-AAC Audio Codec for Superior Audio Compression

Business Wire, Nov 18, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

GLENDALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 2002

Ahead Software, creators of the world-renowned CD/DVD recording software Nero, have announced plans to integrate full MPEG-4 audio support (AAC -- Advanced Audio Coding) within Nero Burning ROM.

Available soon as a downloadable plug-in, the Nero AAC encoder is the result of extensive in-house development work by Ahead in MPEG-4 technology.

The Nero AAC encoder will be capable of more than 10X real time encoding, therefore allowing a user to rip and encode a complete CD in around 7 minutes. Optimized for the latest CPU's including the Intel P4, MMX, SSE, and SSE2 -- Nero AAC is fully compliant with both MPEG-2 AAC as well as MPEG-4 AAC, and features 16-448 Kbits/s bit rate, constant and variable, with a special fit-to-size option.

AAC Advanced audio coding is high-quality audio coding technology with broadcast and electronic music distribution applications. Independent tests have proven the coding efficiency of AAC to be superior to MP3 and other perceptual audio coders, providing superior audio reproduction at lower bit rates.

MPEG-4 is the future of both video and audio. MPEG-4 is an ISO/IEC standard, developed by MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) -- the same committee that also developed standards such as MPEG-1 and MPEG-2.

"It is very encouraging to see Nero, a very well-known name in CD/DVD recording, adding support for the future standard in multimedia -- MPEG-4," said Rob Koenen, President of the MPEG-4 Industry Forum (M4IF).

"With high-quality AAC integration, Nero's application suite is ready for CD-quality audio encoding with support for a wide range of forthcoming MPEG-4 players," says Ivan Dimkovic, Ahead's MPEG-4 Product Manager. "Comprising several quality profiles that affect encoding speed and quality, we are committed to making strenuous efforts to satisfy our customer needs -- from personal music, archiving and professional audiophile-quality encodings-all from one flexible plug-in."

The Nero AAC encoder plug-in will be available for purchase at www.nero.com.

About Ahead

Ahead Software AG, headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany and its subsidiary Ahead Software Inc. located in Glendale, California provide high-level customer service to all the markets of the world today. Please find more information at www.nero.com Ahead Software is a member of the MPEG-4 Industry Forum and takes part in M4IF's interoperability tests.

Ahead Software is one of the industry's leading privately held developers of software applications for CD-R/RW, DVD, and Internet Audio. Its flagship product Nero can be found bundled in many regions of the world with leading drive makers and brands. In addition to a strong global retail and distribution presence, Ahead maintains strong OEM relationships with major computer system and hardware manufacturers, as well as other strategic partners throughout the world.

Ahead Software Inc. is located in Glendale, CA. USA Technical Support is available by phone: (818) 956-5930 or Email: retail-support@nero.com

About M4IF

M4IF represents more than 100 companies from diverse industries evenly distributed across North America, Europe and Asia, addressing MPEG-4 adoption issues that go beyond the charter of ISO/IEC MPEG. Activities of the forum include an interoperability program, certification, several working groups, access to ISO/MPEG committee members, and an annual conference (WEMP-4). For more information visit: http://www.m4if.org

Nero(R) is a registered trademark, InCD is a trademark of Ahead Software. Any other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.