AJA Bridges Workflow Gap Between 4K Capture and Consumption
The doors of the Las Vegas Convention Center had yet to open, and 4K was already the talk of NAB 2013. Across the parking lot in the Renaissance Hotel, AJA Video Systems held its annual press breakfast on Monday morning, unveiling the Hi5-4K and ROI Mini-Converters and announcing immediate availability of its Ki Pro Quad.
With the Hi5-4K Mini-Converter, AJA looks to bridge the workflow gap between 4K cameras and consumer displays, not only in the home but in the sports venue as well. From 4K sets in high-end luxury suites to the potential for 4K video boards, AJA’s Mini-Converter facilitates delivery of 4K content, including audio, without a loss in quality.
The Hi5-4K provides a simple monitoring connection from professional 4K devices using four 3G-SDI outputs to new and upcoming 4K sets equipped with 4K-capable 1.4a HDMI inputs. Compatible with HD workflows, the Hi5-4K is also a flexible Mini-Converter for HD workflows requiring 3G/HD-SDI–to–HDMI conversion. The ROI Mini-Converter allows high-quality conversion and real-time scaling of computer DVI-D and HDMI outputs to baseband video over SDI.
“Hi5-4K provides a very simple solution for facilitating full 4K monitoring on-set, while ROI fulfills a growing need among broadcasters and corporate-video professionals to integrate high-quality computer signals into their programming,” said President Nick Rashby. “AJA’s line of Mini-Converters has been extremely popular for their cost-effectiveness and reliability, and Hi5-4K and ROI each bring that same exceptional performance that professionals have come to expect from our products on or off set.”
AJA Video Systems also announced the immediate availability of its Ki Pro Quad, a solid-state portable video recorder enabling true 4K-camera–to–editorial workflows that was introduced at NAB 2012. Ki Pro Quad combines the efficiencies of Apple ProRes and the flexibility of RAW data in the 4K/Quad HD/2K/HD workflow.
Ki Pro Quad serves as a hub for the main needs of 4K production, bringing camera signals in, creating edit-friendly 4K ProRes files, sending out to 4K and HD monitors, and recording RAW data directly to a Thunderbolt-enabled computer/storage system. As networks experiment with the capabilities of 4K, the Ki Pro Quad can help to ease the transition from HD.
“The fact that we’ve released the Ki Pro Quad is a big deal for 4K sports reporting,” says Product Marketing Manager Bryce Button. “Sports and television, unlike feature films, need very fast turnarounds, and, when you’re dealing with 4K — if you have to deal with a RAW workflow — then it’s cumbersome. Being able to record directly to 4K or HD — if you’re a sports entity starting out now, you can stay HD, but, if you’re going to start playing with 4K, especially for larger field types, then you’ve got the easiest workflow you could possibly have.”
AJA Video Systems also announced a number of partnerships and support for various software suites. The company’s Corvid Ultra OEM cards are now supported on the Quantel’s Pablo Rio and will deliver 4K workflows with Pablo Rio. AJA will also support Avid Pro ToolsHDX and Pro Tools Native platforms and Adobe video-editing software — including Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Speedgrade — for Mac and Windows customers, with the AJA’s line of KONA and Io family of products.