Amsterdam – September 7, 2012 – IBC booth 8.B80 – Fraunhofer IIS, the world’s renowned source for audio and multimedia technologies, today at IBC announces new packaging, play back and transcoding components for the new Interoperable Master Format (IMF). Fraunhofer IIS´s new software components will further enable new post production products for processing as well as extend the capabilities of existing tools for universal distribution.

Media production is gradually transitioning from tape-based to file-based workflows for processing and distribution in order to save time and money. To aid in this transition, IMF was developed on the initiative of the film industry and studios. The IMF is a file-based format in which high resolution image and audio data, auxiliary data and subtitles can be stored for processing in postproduction under a so-called Interoperable Master Package (IMP).

The IMP serves as an universal master format between postproduction houses and studios. Based on the IMP, data can be automatically transcoded in different file formats such as DCP, Blu-ray, QuickTime, or H.264 by utilizing an Output Profile List (OPL). The IMP is suited to exchange film content independently from systems or devices from any manufacturer.

“There is high demand for flexible access to multiformat production solutions in today’s industry”, said Heiko Sparenberg, head of the Digital Cinema Group at Fraunhofer IIS. “The new features for IMF showcase Fraunhofer’s ability to develop the future-oriented applications and workflow solutions needed and expected by production professionals.“

The IMF Format is currently in the standardization process by SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers).

IBC attendees can see a demo of the IMF components at the Fraunhofer Digital Cinema booth 8.B80.

Further information is available at www.dcinema.fraunhofer.de