Sonic Debuts Scenarist HD

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LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 2005--Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:SNIC), the leader in digital media software, debuted today Scenarist(R) HD, the world's first HD DVD authoring system, enabling high-end production facilities and major motion picture studios to begin developing the first wave of titles in the highly anticipated HD DVD format. Based on Scenarist, the industry's leading DVD authoring application, Scenarist HD features the same logical workflow and user interface already familiar to the majority of professional DVD authors, providing a smooth introduction to the new high-definition authoring format.

"We are excited about Sonic Solutions' support of HD DVD. Our close cooperation with Sonic is a key component in delivering the next generation of high-definition movies to consumers," said Hisashi Yamada, chief fellow of Toshiba Corporation's Digital Media Network Company. "The availability of Scenarist HD will ensure a successful launch of the new format."

HD DVD combines high-definition video and audio content with improved menus, subtitles and navigation to provide a superior viewing experience to make the most of new HD TVs and displays that have become extremely popular with consumers. Important new features and capabilities of Scenarist HD include support for the latest high-definition video codecs (H.264 AVC, VC-1, and MPEG-2) and audio codecs (Dolby Digital +, DTS HD, and MLP), menus with up to 48 buttons each as well as 256-color subpictures for smoother looking subtitles, and expanded navigation capabilities.

"Scenarist has been an important part of our authoring business from the beginning, allowing us to create some of the most compelling titles to date for our Hollywood customers," said Larry Spangler, director of multimedia services at LaserPacific Media Corporation, a leading DVD encoding and authoring facility. "We anticipate that Scenarist HD will play an equally important role in our HD authoring strategy as we begin title production in the new format."

"We've designed Scenarist HD to fit into the HD content creation workflow," said Rolf Hartley, general manager of Sonic Solutions' professional products division. "Hollywood studios and professional post production facilities know and trust Scenarist's reputation for reliable and flexible title development and, because the majority of professional authors already use Scenarist, the transition to Scenarist HD will seem effortless."

Sonic will be demonstrating Scenarist HD at its NAB booth (#SL308) and plans to release the product in the summer of 2005.

About HD DVD:

HD DVD is a digital optical media format that supports high-definition video and audio, advanced interactivity, Internet connectivity, and new consumer options. HD DVD discs have a capacity of 15 GB for single-layer discs and 30 GB for dual-layer discs (yielding up to 8 hours of high-definition movie content). Since HD DVD is based on the same media as DVD, availability of the new discs, along with hardware that can play both formats, will likely be cost-effective and timely. Officially adopted by the DVD Forum, the new format boasts support from studios like Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, Universal, and Paramount.

About Sonic Solutions:

Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ:SNIC)(http://www.sonic.com) is the leader in digital media software, providing a broad range of interoperable, platform independent software tools and applications for creative professionals, business and home users, and technology partners. Sonic's products range from advanced DVD authoring systems and interactive content delivery technologies used to produce the majority of Hollywood DVD film releases, to the award-winning Roxio- and Sonic-branded CD and DVD creation, playback and backup solutions that have become the premier choice for consumers, prosumers and business users worldwide.

Sonic products are globally available from major retailers, online at Sonic.com and Roxio.com, and are bundled with PCs, after-market drives and consumer electronic devices. Sonic's digital media creation engine is the de facto standard and has been licensed by major software and hardware manufacturers, including Adobe, Microsoft, Scientific-Atlanta, Sony, and many others. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.

Sonic, the Sonic logo, Sonic Solutions, Scenarist, and Roxio are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sonic Solutions or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other company or product names are trademarks of their respective owners and, in some cases, are used by Sonic Solutions under license.