The ES7020 VantageTM-II codec is a highly integrated superior performance chip that combines an advanced MPEG-2 decoder with a sophisticated MPEG-2 encoder and an NTSC/PAL encoder. The ES7020 provides time base correction (TBC) for recording from VCR videocassette tapes with weak signals without loss of synchronization, low delay monitoring of decoded video output signal, ATAPI interface, built-in CPRM encode/ decode, state-of-the-art progressive-scan video, and S/ PDIF input and output support. The MPEG encoder portion does flexible NTSC or PAL encoding on a YUV 4:2:2 stream in response to firmware control of the internal CPU. The internal CPU, in conjunction with an additional hardware accelerator, allows for very flexible encoding and allows for additional functionality to be easily added. An audio DSP engine facilitates the encoding of MPEG-1 layer 2 audio while the host CPU interface unit allows for easy reading of close caption data. In addition, the ES7020 has inverse 3:2 pulldown capability, allowing it to dynamically analyze incoming fields and compress from 60 fields to 24 frames in the case of film material.