Escient Fireball DVDM-300

Escient recently introduced its FireBall DVDM-300 Media Management system. Available in the first quarter of this year with an MSRP of $4,999, the FireBall DVDM-300 merges Escient's music management system with its DVD movie management system, into a single home media server. Escient demoed the DVDM-300 product during CES this year.

Movies at the Touch of a Button
With the DVDM-300, users can manage, control and access more than 1,200 DVDs stored and protected in up to three external Sony or Kenwood DVDCD changers. To manage such a vast collection, the DVDM-300 utilizes Escient's patented automatic transport and identification technologies, as well as CD recognition technology from Gracenote, to instantly find and play the desired disc stored in a connected changer. In addition, the DVDM-300 accesses Escient's MovieDB DVD database, to provide users with an integrated movie guide that automatically displays titles, cast information, ratings, running time, and cover art for every movie in your collection.

Music Management System
With its massive 300GB internal hard drive and ability to manage up to 1200 external CDs, the new Escient FireBall DVDM-300 can store and catalog over 850 hours of true CD quality music using the new FLAC encoder (Free Lossless Audio Codec), or over 5000 hours of MP3 music (depending on compression rate). In addition, with built in file-sharing services, consumers can easily transfer music files between the DVDM-300 and their PC or MAC, allowing music library backups and music file importing. The file-sharing services also allow users to stream and listen to audio files directly from their FireBall to a computer on the same network.

Music I/O 
Like all Escient Fireball music management products, the DVDM-300 features a built-in CD-RW that lets users conveniently rip CDs directly to the internal hard drive. The CD-RW drive also allows users to burn customized mix CDs based on user created Playlists. Thanks to the new optimized FLAC encoder, the DVDM-300 provides true CD quality recording (eliminating the loss of information inherent to conventional MP3 compression) while using much less disk space when compared to the original CD. In addition, the improved DVDM-300 user interface improves the entire recording process, allowing automated recording from the internal drive and connected external CD changers.

Easy Setup and Integration
The FireBall DVDM-300's built-in 10100 Ethernet connection allows easy connection to a variety of in-home, wired or wireless networks. Once connected, users can stream files across the home network as well as backup files from the FireBall. Furthermore, with the integrated web server, a DVDM-300 can be controlled from any PC or MAC on the network using the Escient EWP-2000 wireless touch panel or an HTML compatible browser (Internet Explorer or Safari) from a PC or Mac.

The FireBall DVDM-300 allows users to view, manage, and stream music to a FireBall MP-100 or the new FireBall MP-150 Digital Music Player when connected on the same home network. The DVDM-300 also provides access to a variety of high quality Internet Radio Stations provided by RadioIO, Radio Free Virgin and others. Users can also program new Internet Radio Stations into the iRadio guide.

The FireBall DVDM-300 provides automatic audio and video switching for each of the three external DVD/CD changers, eliminating the need for expensive external video switchers and custom programming. Using patent pending technologies, the DVDM-300 will automatically control external A/V receivers from Marantz and Denon, switching them to the correct surround mode and input depending the type of disc played. As with other FireBall products, Escient's powerful external control protocols are included to provide easy integration with third party controls systems such as AMX, Crestron, Niles, Xantech, and others.

Quick Features & Specs:

• Integrated Movie, Music, and Internet Radio Media Manger
• Supports up to 1209 DVDs and/or CDs in external disc changers
• Internal 300 GB hard drive for digital music storage
• Escient's on-screenuser interface
• Built-in PC-compatible file sharing services let you easily move your music to and from your PC or Mac
• An internal Web Server enables remote control of your FireBall from your networked PC or Mac

Movies

• Control, manage, and catalog DVD movies located in external DVD changers.
• Automatic movie data lookups from Escient's own MovieDB™
• Automatic DVD cover art lookups
• Integrated video switcher for seamless hookup and integration
• Integrated Movie Guide displays movie name, cast, synopsis, rating, release year, cover art, genre and physical location for all DVDs in external changers
• Sort your DVD collection by movie title or genre.
• Supports the Escient's popular "Cover View" for viewing your DVD collection by Cover
• Integrated parental control system

Music

• Control, manage, and catalog CDs located in external disc changers and digital music stored on the internal 300GB hard drive
• Automatic CD data and cover art lookup
• Choose between the industry standard MP3 or FLAC (CD quality) audio encoders
• Sort and select your music by artist, cover art, genre, album title, song, playlist and favorites
• Record over 800 hours of CD quality music using the new FLAC encoder or over 5,000 hours of MP3 music(depending on compression rate)
• Create and access custom playlists and music groups
• Supports SACD discs in Sony changers and DVD-Audio in Kenwood changers
• Optional FBK-300 backup kit lets you maintain manual or automatic backups of your digital music collection
• Add FireBall MP-150 Digital Music Players for a whole house distributed audio system

Easily installed in as little as 15 minutes, the FireBall DVDM-300 ships with "Quick Set-Up" instructions that show several connection options. Free third-party external control modules for advanced custom installations are available on www.escient.com . The Fireball DVDM-300 will be available in the first quarter of 2005 and carries a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $4,999.