LAS VEGAS, Apr 8, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

With backdraft 5 and Discreet's Switchable Storage Artists Can Focus on Creativity, Not Administration

Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), today announced the release of its backdraft 5 system and Switchable Storage -- the company's latest background media management solutions and add-on infrastructure solutions. backdraft 5 will offer a more robust and efficient workflow by offloading the digitizing, archiving and set-up projects that can take up to 30 percent of an artist's or editor's suite time. With the launch of Switchable Storage, Discreet will offer an extended workflow environment for its stone and wire solutions. Working in tandem, backdraft 5 and Switchable Storage will help digital artists achieve greater efficiency by freeing up the suite for more creativity rather than systems administrative tasks.

This highly intuitive release of backdraft will offer a new user interface (UI) that aligns with the artist's UI from Discreet's editing and effects systems. The new workflow offers an array of improved efficiencies, including a clip library that makes it easier to organize and drag and drop clips, reels and other forms of media; automatic network-intensive transfers or archives that can be performed during off hours or at night; and scripts that can trigger email, cell phone or pager notification when a digitization or archiving task is complete. In addition, backdraft 5 will include expanded support for multiple video devices, real-time 2:3 pull-down insertion and removal, standard and HD I/O and HDCAM archiving.

For video applications in post and broadcast, backdraft 5 will support multiple VTR standards that automatically expedite the ingest process. Instead of queuing VTR triggers, an artist or editor can continue working on a project as backdraft automatically drives the digitization process in the background. backdraft 5 can be installed on existing Discreet applications or SGI Octane 2 visual workstations as an assistant administrative station.

Discreet is also focusing on efficient methods to improve a facility's post-production workflow by unveiling the new Switchable Storage solution that supports all of Discreet's advanced editing and finishing systems. Discreet operators will be able to easily switch between different stone disk arrays without ever having to make wire transfers over the network or physically reconnect cables. Artists will also be able to perform compositing work on huge projects in high resolution, store them on the disk array, instantly reconnect the disk array to a Discreet editing station and finish the project without the associated file transfer delays in the rate-based suite. In conjunction with backdraft 5, Switchable Storage will help create savings in time and costs associated with system idle time, reconnections and reconfigurations of stone disk arrays and host applications.

backdraft is sold on a per license basis. backdraft 5 is expected to be available for purchase in Spring 2002. Pricing is per license, for the SRP of US $10,000 for an initial license and SRP US $6,000 for each additional license. backdraft scales to fit a variety of Discreet IRIX system configurations for inferno, flame, flint, smoke and fire. Switchable Storage is offered in an array of configurations with base pricing starting at an SRP of US $31,000, and is expected to be available in summer 2002. For pricing and more information on backdraft and Switchable Storage, contact Discreet Sales at 800/869-3504 or 514/393-1616, or visit www.discreet.com.

    About Discreet

Discreet empowers moving media professionals to realize the visual experience, transforming their most evocative and ambitious visions into reality. Its range of award-winning systems and software is developed for digital media creation, management and delivery -- across all disciplines from visual effects and editing to animation, game development, web and interactive. Discreet is based in Montreal, Quebec and is a division of Autodesk, Inc., the world's leading design and digital media creation, management, and distribution company. Product and corporate information is located on the Internet at www.discreet.com.

Discreet is a division of Autodesk, Inc. Autodesk, backdraft, and Discreet are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc./ Autodesk Canada Inc. in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. (c)Copyright 2002, Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

CONTACT:          Discreet Public Relations
                  Kevin G Clark, 415/547-2457
                  kevin.g.clark@autodesk.com
                  or
                  Access Communications
                  Sarah Bessette, 917/522-3504 or 917/375-5613
                  sarah@accesspr.com

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