Telestream has updated its professional video-encoding program for Mac and Windows Episode to version 6.2, which now includes a new API to allow for greater integration with third-party tools. The free version of 6.2 adds the high-end ProRes 4:4:4:4 and AVC-Intra 50 and 100 format support, along with Microsoft Smooth Streaming and Apple HLS streaming format. Episode is also now Lion-compatible.
Episode Engine has gained an XML-RPC interface and an improved command-line interface can make Episode controllable by other programs. The API now features easy Mail and YouTube tasks that can help automate encoding and distribution of videos. Users can submit EDL sources directly to do things like automatically remove slates and counters from master sources.
In addition to adding support for Microsoft and Apple’s streaming formats, Episode Pro and Episode Engine also gain support for AVC-Intra MXF output and EDL conforming capability, allowing for easier ad insertion and removal. There is also new support for MPEG-2 VOD encoding, and all versions now support 24-channel audio. A new Timecode Conversion filter makes it possible for timecodes to be carried through encodes, even if the conversion has changed the frame rate, using several options to help calculate timecode.
Episode (the standard edition) v6.2 is now available for $495. Episode Pro costs $995, and Episode Engine sells for $3,995. A free trial of each version is available.
