AJA Video Systems attends IBC 2015

AJA Launches FS3 4K Upconverter at IBC 2015

New FS3 Enables High-Quality Up-Conversion of SD and HD Signals into 4K Workflows
AJA Video Systems today debuted FS3, the newest product in the company’s line of FS professional frame synchronizers.
The new FS3 combines AJA’s industry-proven frame synchronization with high-quality 4K up-conversion technology to seamlessly integrate SD and HD signals into 4K workflows. AJA’s adaptive scaling algorithms, paired with our well-known conversion technology ensures your up-converted images will have the maximum quality possible. Input SD or HD resolution SDI via BNC or Fiber and send up-converted 4K/UHD to multiple BNC and Fiber outputs simultaneously. The FS3 can also operate as an SD or HD frame synchronizer.
FS3 also includes the industry-proven features included in AJA frame synchronizers such as RGB color correction, region of interest scaling, extensive audio controls and routing, web UI control, GPI triggers and more.

“We’ve seen our existing FS products—the FS1, FS1-X and FS2 at the heart of hundreds of broadcast facilities, post houses and mobile trucks,” said Nick Rashby, President, AJA Video Systems. “These products are true workhorses, incredibly reliable and can handle pretty much anything you throw at them—with FS3 we’re excited to introduce an easy way to integrate SD and HD signals into 4K workflows. It’s the bridge to 4K and UHD users have been looking for.”
Products in the AJA FS family are often referred to as the ‘swiss army knife’ of professional video workflow tools for their unprecedented levels of support, and the FS3 is no exception. The FS3 can up-convert almost any input HD or SD format to 4K/UHD up to and including 60p. 4K/UHD outputs can be 4x 3Gb SDI (level A or B), 2x 3Gb SDI (level B) or 4x 1.5Gb SDI. Inputs or outputs can be Fiber with optional SFPs.

Pricing and Availability
FS3 will be available in October at a price of $2,995.00 US MSRP. For more information visit www.aja.com.

AJA Debuts New Mini-Converters at IBC 2015

HB-T-SDI, HB-R-SDI, ROI-HDMI, HD10MD4 Mini-Converters and Updated HA5-4K Firmware Introduced
AJA Video Systems today debuted several new Mini-Converters at IBC 2015, including the HB-T-SDI, HB-R-SDI, ROI-HDMI and HD10MD4. AJA is also introducing powerful new firmware for the HA5-4K Mini-Converter.

HB-T-SDI and HB-R-SDI extend 3G-SDI signals for monitoring, digital signage and device control over Ethernet cable. ROI-HDMI allows conversion and region-of-interest scaling of computer HDMI outputs to baseband SDI video ; and HD10MD4 downconverts HD-SDI video to standard definition SDI and analog component/composite video. New firmware for the HA5-4K includes HDMI 2.0 support. The HA5-4K, Hi5-4K and 4K2HD Mini-Converters also all gain two-sample interleaved and quadrant modes support, and all Mini-Converters with USB support gain faster up and download speeds with the updated AJA Mini-Config software.

“Our new HDBaseT and ROI products have proven to be extremely popular and the latest releases provide our customers even more options for extending SDI signals and incorporating computer files into video productions, respectively,” said Nick Rashby, President, AJA Video Systems. “It’s always fun to introduce new Mini-Converters to the IBC audience, a community that heavily relies on multiple AJA Minis to drive their daily workflows.”

The HB-T-SDI and HB-R-SDI offer an easy solution for extending 3G-SDI signals over Ethernet cable, utilizing the industry standard HDBaseT protocol. Bi-directional IR and RS-232 for device control is also supported, making these Mini-Converters ideal in a variety of scenarios including : fixed installation AV, digital signage, live events, post production, network, studio environments and on set. These new SDI-based converters can be “mixed and matched” with AJA’s already introduced HDMI-based HDBaseT Mini-Converters, allowing customized video I/O on either end of the Ethernet connection.

The ROI-HDMI Mini-Converter offers realtime region-of-interest scaling and SDI video output from HDMI computer outputs. With extensive audio functionality, incredible image scaling as well as aspect and frame rate conversion, ROI-HDMI fulfills the growing need to properly incorporate computer signals into the video world without sacrificing budget or space. The free Mini-Config Mac or PC application lets you interactively select a region-of-interest on-screen from the incoming HDMI signal and control how that region is scaled to the output resolution using AJA’s high quality scaling algorithms for the cleanest picture quality possible. ROI-HDMI joins the growing family of AJA ROI converters, which also offer DVI and DisplayPort connections.

The HD10MD4 is a miniature digital downconverter for converting HD-SDI video to standard definition SDI and analog component/composite video. The HD10MD4 uses a full 10-bit data path and multi-point interpolation to produce broadcast quality downconverted video. In addition, the HD10MD4 converts either 1080p24 or 1080p24sf to 59.94 Hz output video using the standard 3:2 pulldown technique. The output can be formatted for either 4:3 or 16:9 standard definition monitors. Four-channel input embedded HD-SDI audio is passed to the SDI output. A mini-USB jack allows configuration and control from the free Mini-Config application for Mac or PC.

Pricing and Availability
These new Mini-Converters from AJA will be available in October ; updated firmware for HA5-4K will be available in October 2015 as a free download from www.aja.com/en/support . Pricing for the new Mini-Converters has been set as follows : HB-T-SDI at $595 US MSRP, HB-R-SDI at $595 US MSRP, ROI-HDMI at $995 US MSRP and HD10MD4 at $995 US MSRP.

AJA Releases Desktop Software 12.3 Supporting Closed Captioning Capture

Adds New Functionality to AJA Desktop KONA and Io Products ; New Redesigned System Test 2.0 Measures Disk and PCIe Performance
AJA Video Systems today released new version 12.3 drivers and software for the KONA, T-TAP(TM) and Io line of video and audio input/output devices.
The 12.3 software adds a host of new features including a range of options for closed captioning support for KONA 4 and Io 4K, new output support for Telestream Wirecast and Linux retail drivers for use with applications such as Shotgun Software’s RV and The Foundry’s NUKE.
This release also includes the new AJA System Test 2.0, a cross-platform application for Mac or PC, with a completely redesigned user interface. System Test is used to measure disk performance and PCIe performance and with this version also adds a new system report creation tool.

New features include :
- Closed Captioning Improvements : KONA 4 and Io 4K now support closed captioning in Adobe Premiere Pro and AJA Control Room.
- Closed Captioning Capture : Stored in a closed captioning track in a Quicktime file as well as in an .scc and .mcc file. Closed captioning playback is also supported.
- Output Support for Telestream Wirecast : Monitor output with Wirecast generated graphics overlays, including support for AJA T-TAP™.
- New Linux Retail Driver : Supported by Shotgun Software’s RV and The Foundry’s NUKE.
- SMPTE 425 controls for KONA 4 and Io 4K in AJA Control Panel.
- Audio Delay Slider : An audio delay slider is now part of AJA Control Panel supporting KONA 4 and Io 4K. Delay audio on input or output up to six frames, in 1/10 frame increments.
- Follow Input mode : Automatically changes the framebuffer to match the video input
- Windows 10 and Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan support.

New AJA Desktop Software 12.3 with System Test 2.0 is available today as a free download from www.aja.com/downloads and is compatible with the following AJA products : KONA 4, KONA 3G, KONA LHi, KONA LHe Plus, Io 4K, Io XT, Io Express, and T-TAP.

AJA Debuts Corvid HEVC at IBC 2015

Delivering 4K and Multi-Channel HEVC Encoding to Developer Partners
AJA Video Systems today announced Corvid HEVC, a 4K and multi-channel HEVC encoding card, as the latest addition to AJA’s Developer Program. Upon launch, Cisco, a developer partner of AJA’s, will be demonstrating the integration of Corvid HEVC into the Cisco UCS rack-based server at IBC.
Corvid HEVC is a PCIe 2.0 8-lane video encoder card providing real time, low-latency HEVC encoding at 4K, 1080p HD and lower resolutions. Development partners can use AJA’s powerful SDK to integrate Corvid HEVC directly into their Windows and Linux applications using a flexible API for a variety of use cases. In addition to HEVC encoding, audio and metadata are also captured and included in the encoded file.

Key Features :
- Realtime 4K/UHD/HD HEVC hardware-based encoding
- PCIe 2.0 8-lane full-height card
- Low power consumption
- Supports HEVC Main and Main10 profiles
- Supports 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 at 8- or 10-bits
- Supports bit rates for streaming and contribution quality
- Supported HEVC streams :
- Single 4K/UHD stream up to 60 fps
- As many as 4 streams at 1080p HD up to 60 fps
- 4x 3G-SDI inputs
- 1x LTC input
- 16-channel embedded audio support per stream
- ANC data support
- Supports file-to-file encoding
- Built on AJA’s powerful cross-platform NTV2 SDK for Windows and Linux
- AJA’s extensive Developer Program partner support.

“Corvid HEVC integrates the latest 4K/UHD workflow technologies developed at AJA into an incredibly robust PCIe card that our developer partners have been asking for”, said Nick Rashby, President, AJA Video Systems. “For everything from 4K/UHD, to independent, multi-channel or file-to-file encoding, Corvid HEVC delivers real-time, low-latency, reliable performance under the hood.”

Pricing and Availability
Corvid HEVC is now available to Developer Partners. For more information about AJA’s Developer Program, please visit www.aja.com/en/category/developer. For more information about Corvid HEVC, please send an e-mail to HEVCdev chez aja.com

AJA Releases New openGear® Compatible Rack Cards and Frame

AJA Video Systems today unveiled a new range of video and audio rackframe cards for use in standard openGear frames or AJA’s new OG-3 frame. openGear is an open-architecture, modular frame system designed by Ross Video and supported by a diverse range of terminal equipment manufacturers, which now includes AJA.
New openGear compatible cards from AJA include the OG-1x9-SDI-DA, a 1x9 SDI re-clocking distribution amplifier ; the OG-FIBER-2R, a 2-channel fiber to SDI converter ; and the OG-FIBER-2T, a 2-channel SDI to fiber converter. The new OG-3-FR is a 2RU, 20-slot openGear frame that can support any openGear-compatible card.

“Our broadcast customers have been asking us for openGear compatible cards, and we’re very excited to provide them with three new solutions for using our I/O hardware in our own openGear racks, or racks that they may already have in-house,” said Nick Rashby, President, AJA Video Systems. “Even more openGear compatible products will be coming from AJA in the near future.”
The OG-1x9-SDI-DA is a latest technology SDI distribution amplifier. The input is equalized and re-clocked with best-in-class cable length capability and input jitter tolerance. SDI rates of 270Mb, 1.5Gb and 3Gb are supported. One SDI input and 9 SDI outputs are provided. A 10 BNC rear openGear connector module is included.

The OG-FIBER-2R is a latest technology two channel fiber to SDI converter. The fiber inputs are re-clocked with best-in-class input jitter tolerance. SDI rates of 270Mb, 1.5Gb and 3Gb are supported. The two fiber inputs are independent and can be different SDI rates. Supports single mode fiber cable.
The OG-FIBER-2T is a latest technology two channel SDI to fiber converter. The SDI inputs are re-clocked with best-in-class input jitter tolerance. SDI rates of 270Mb, 1.5Gb and 3Gb are supported. The two SDI inputs are independent and can be different rates. Supports single mode fiber cable. CWDM options are available.

The OG-3-FR is a 2RU, 20-slot openGear frame that can support openGear-compatible cards. The frame features an easy-access front panel and integrated cooling fans for improved reliability and longer life. The modular rear panel allows custom I/O connections per card (included with individual cards), optional Ethernet connectivity, and remote control capability via the dashboard control system.

Pricing and Availability
The new cards and rack will be available in October. Pricing has been set at : OG-1x9-SDI-DA $495 US MSRP, OG-FIBER-2R $645 US MSRP, OG-FIBER-2T $645 US MSRP, and OG-3-FR $1249 US MSRP. For more information, please visit www.aja.com.

About openGear
openGear is an open-architecture, modular frame system designed by Ross Video and supported by a diverse range of terminal equipment manufacturers. The platform offers clients the freedom to choose technology from a wide range of products to meet the needs of a broadcast, production, or distribution facility while maintaining a compatible openGear frame infrastructure. The Ross Dashboard Remote Control and Monitoring System and companion SNMP plug-in enables unified control over all openGear cards in a system as well as for openGear to tie in with 3rd party SNMP based systems. The openGear modules offered by Ross include a broad selection of audio and video products for distribution, analog conversion, Up/Down/X format conversion, fiber, switching, keying and synchronization, as well as backward compatibility with a suite of solutions from the RossGear 8000 series.

• Come Visit AJA at IBC 2015 / Stand #7.F11