GRASS VALLEY, Calif.—AJA Video Systems will unveil new products and updates to help media and entertainment industry and AV professionals keep pace with evolving formats, codecs and protocols during IBC2023, Sept. 15-18, at RAI Amsterdam, the company said. 

The offerings include the KONA X audio and video I/O card, new Desktop Software v17, HDR Image Analyzer 12G v3.0 software and several openGear cards equipped with 12G-SDI audio and HDMI conversion functionality, it said.

“Innovation remains a key focus at AJA, where we’re continuously working with customers, product managers, and our engineering team to ensure that we deliver solutions that address the unique needs of the M&E and proAV communities, which evolve rapidly,” shared AJA president Nick Rashby.

“KONA X, HDR Image Analyzer v3.0, and our new openGear solutions provide powerful functionality that will serve AJA customers today and into the future. We’re thrilled to share what we’ve been up to behind the scenes these last few months and invite attendees to come see the results in-person at the show.”

The company released more details on its new and updated product portfolio, including:

• KONA X and Desktop Software v17: Compatible with new AJA Desktop Software v17 and version 17 of the company’s software development kit (SDK), AJA KONA X is a 4-lane PCIe 3.0 card offering ultra-low latency video capture and playback for applications spanning M&E, live production and OEM development. The card offers bi-directional dual, full-size BNC 12G-SDI and dual HDMI 2.0 connections. An optional KONA Xpand board sits alongside KONA X offering additional connectivity, including AES/EBU audio, LTC and REF. KONA X and the software will be available in Q4 for $3,695 MSRP. The KONA Xpand is expected to be released at the same time with a price of $595 MSRP.
• HDR Image Analyzer 12G v3.0 Software: Offering new features for the company’s HDR Image Analyzer, the new software enables new workflow capabilities for live, on-set, quality control and post-production environments. It increases how many video channels can be analyzed at the same time, integrates Dolby Vision tools, adds NDI connectivity options, expands support for the latest ARRI color science with ARRI LogC4 analysis and enhances 8K/UHD2 compatibility. The updated software will be available this month as a free download.
• AJA 12G-SDI openGear solutions: AJA OG-12G-AM and OG-12G-AMA enable 16-channels (eight two-channel pairs) of AES/EBU and analog audio embedding/disembedding, respectively, and support 12G-SDI input and output up to 4K/UltraHD. AJA OG-Hi5-12G and OG-HA5-12G cards facilitate 12G-SDI conversion to and from HDMI 2.0 and are also available in LC and ST Fiber models. Each is built for high-density openGear 2RU frames. Both will be available this month. The OG-Hi5-12G and OG-HA5-12G start at $999 MSRP. The OG-12G-AM and OG-12G-AMA are available for $1,245 MSRP.

See AJA Video Systems at IBC2023 Stand 7.C19.

More information is available on the company’s website.

AJA Video Systems has announced that Bryce Button, director of product marketing for the company passed away on May 19 at the age of 57. 

AJA issued the following statement:

"Bryce was one of a kind, that rare breed who was both engineering-minded and an absolute people person. He was beloved by all and relied upon by so many for his deep technical knowledge, ever-present smile, bear hugs and joyful disposition. Whether you met him in a press briefing, over a shared meal, or at a cozy bar drinking a Rusty Nail, he was a great listener and storyteller; he made everyone in his orbit feel like a special friend.

"At AJA Bryce managed his team and vendor partners with grace and precision, and was a relied-upon point of contact for global sales, marketing and channel partners. He was also a go-to subject matter expert for industry organizations and called on to identify and opine about top industry trends, the latest broadcast standards and technical considerations in production. He truly was one of the most well-respected professionals walking the halls of IBC and NAB for the past 20+ years. He knew everybody and everybody knew him.

"He spent 14 years with AJA, with many months on the road, and was dedicated to his job and to the people he worked with. Anyone who knew him also heard about his cherished family in his native homeland of South Africa, adopted home of Colorado, and in Brazil. He had a deep love and admiration for all of them, and our hearts go out to his entire family."

TV Tech offers its sincere condolences to Bryce's family, friends and his colleagues at AJA Video. 

PALISADES, N.Y.—The Video Call Center (VCC) is assisting content producers in meeting the challenge of integrating video shot with smartphones, tablets and laptop computers into broadcast-quality productions during the COVID-19 pandemic by combining tools like the AJA Video HELO H.264 streamer/recorder and ROI scan converter with its own video call production platform, VCC announced. 

“HELO is one of my favorite tools,” said Jackie Lennon, manager, Marketing & Administration, at the VCC. “It allows us to run our business the way we want, while also allowing our clients to reap the full benefits of our solutions.”

During live shows, the call center optimizes each remote based on the smart device in use, apps used to make calls and internet connections. It adjusts lights and camera angles to ensure clean video feeds—often making these adjustments in seconds, the VCC said.

“We can monitor, take care of quality and framing control from anywhere with an internet connection, without adding additional latency,” said Lennon, who added that the ability to record with HELO has been helpful.

PLUS: VCC Assists With Live Interviews for CBS Animated Series

The AJA Video HELO plays a crucial role in monitoring the quality of all the video calls, the VCC said. Before HELO was introduced into the VCC setup, endpoints and call producers needed to be in the same location. HELO makes it possible to monitor real-time feeds remotely from anywhere.

The AJA Video ROI mini-converter has enabled required video outputs and supports a diverse range of audio formats that clients request, the VCC added.

More than 30 AJA Video HELO units are located at the facilities of VCC clients, and a few more are on-site at the company’s headquarters to enable its Host Automation Tool (HAT) workflow, the company said. 

More information is available on the AJA Video and VCC websites.

Elite badminton players from around the world congregate each year to compete in the Malaysia Open, an important stop on the circuit of tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Fans unable to make it to Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil this year were kept apprised of the latest updates via high-quality YouTube live streams produced by Macking Domain. Over the course of the six-day tournament, more than 12 hours of match footage across four courts were streamed to the Malaysia Open YouTube channel. Macking Domain relied on a host of technology to deliver the action, including four AJA HELO H.264 recording and streaming devices.

Given a straightforward set of video delivery requirements by its client, Macking Domain set out to establish a workflow built on AJA’s HELO. “We needed to deliver 1080/60p video with audio from each of the four courts and get live scoreboard content from each court integrated into the feed, which is why AJA’s HELO made so much sense,” shared Yoke Tee Tan, General Manager, Macking Domain. “It’s an affordable device that makes it incredibly easy to bring audiences a very high-quality viewing experience.”

Four Sony cameras, one on each court, were connected to a Newtek VMC1 digital media production system and captured live match footage. Courtside laptops housing scoreboard feeds were then encoded to NDI, and audio was embedded from each court using AJA Mini-Converters. Embedded audio signals came in as an NDI stereo channel via a network device interface converter and were split into two separate mono channels on a TriCaster video production system. The eight mono channels were routed to the corresponding scoreboard and linked with the associated court stream using 1 M/E; that signal was then routed to each SDI output on the VMC1. All four SDI outputs from the VMC1 were connected to four AJA HELO units for live streaming straight to YouTube; footage was simultaneously recorded to SD cards in HD using the HELOs.

“The results were impressive,” shared Tan. “All four HELO units streamed seamlessly with no delays or setbacks, and the UI presets made it easy to save and recall settings in a single click, which helped ensure a consistent look across streams.”

About HELO

AJA’s HELO allows users to simultaneously stream video signals to Web Content Delivery Networks while encoding and recording H.264 files to SD cards, USB storage or network-based storage with the push of a button. Supporting a range of professional workflows, the H.254 streaming, recording and encoding device includes 3G-SDI and HDMI inputs and outputs and the power to handle up to 1080p recording formats among other features. www.aja.com/products/helo

About AJA Video Systems, Inc.

Since 1993, AJA Video has been a leading manufacturer of video interface technologies, converters, digital video recording solutions and professional cameras, bringing high quality, cost effective products to the professional, broadcast and postproduction markets. AJA products are designed and manufactured at our facilities in Grass Valley, California, and sold through an extensive sales channel of resellers and systems integrators around the world. For further information, please see our website at www.aja.com.

Grass Valley, CA (November 14, 2019) – AJA Video Systems released Desktop Software v15.5 for KONA, Io and T-TAP products, featuring additional functionality for both HDR and 8K workflows, plus new performance upgrades enhancing creative freedom and flexibility across Windows, Linux and macOS. New features include Metal support on macOS and full compatibility with macOS Catalina; HDR over SDI via VPID; and HDR Test Patterns for 8K/UHD2/4K/UHD/2K/HD workflows. For the KONA 5 PCIe I/O card, the update also adds full 2SI SMPTE raster support for 8K; RGB support for 8K capture and playback; and 8K to 4K downsample via HDMI.

Desktop Software v15.5 introduces new functionality with NLEs, including deeper HDR integration with Avid Media Composer 2019.11 and native 8K or 4K (downsampled from 8K) playback with Adobe Premiere Pro 2020. The update also adds SMPTE ST 2110-40 monitoring via SDI on AJA Io IP and Avid Artist DNxIP and AJA NMOS support for multiple devices connected to a single host. Additionally, Desktop Software v15.5 increases speed and creative support on Mac workstations – including the new Mac Pro – by featuring full compatibility with macOS Catalina, new Metal support on macOS and other optimizations.

Desktop Software v15.5 highlights include:

● Full compatibility with macOS Catalina

● New Metal support on macOS

● HDR over SDI via VPID

● HDR Test Patterns for UHD2/UHD/HD

● Deeper HDR integration with Avid Media Composer

● Full 2SI SMPTE raster support for 8K on KONA 5

● RGB support for 8K capture and playback on KONA 5

● 8K downsample to 4K via HDMI on KONA 5

● Native 8K or 8K to 4K downsampled output with Adobe Premiere Pro

● HDMI input detection improvements

● New countdown functionality to mark out or end of clip in AJA Control Room

● New fan controls and fan speed indicator in AJA Control Panel

● DirectShow updates including addition of support for KONA 5 and KONA IP

● Support for Windows, Linux and macOS

Pricing and Availability

Desktop Software v15.5 is now available as a free download from AJA’s support page.

About AJA Video Systems, Inc.

Since 1993, AJA Video has been a leading manufacturer of video interface technologies, converters, digital video recording solutions and professional cameras, bringing high-quality, cost-effective products to the professional broadcast, video and post production markets. AJA products are designed and manufactured at our facilities in Grass Valley, California, and sold through an extensive sales channel of resellers and systems integrators around the world. For further information, please see our website at www.aja.com. 

Chiba, Japan, Inter BEE Booth #7312 (November 13, 2019) – AJA Video Systems has introduced new upgrades for its Ki Pro Family of production-proven file-based recorders. A new v1.5 firmware update for Ki Pro GO adds timecode recording and playback, expanded primary and backup recording to all USB ports and new clip naming and segment recording. Ki Pro Ultra Plus v5.0 introduces a new Infinite Recording feature that allows the unit to act as an always running backup recorder. Both firmware updates will be available soon to customers as free downloads.

Ki Pro GO is AJA’s new portable, multi-channel H.264 recorder and player, featuring up to 4-channels of simultaneous HD and SD capture to affordable, off-the-shelf USB media. With the v1.5 firmware update, Ki Pro GO now records and plays video with timecode. The timecode can originate from an incoming SDI video’s RP188 data, be recorded as the time of date or be specified to start at a specific hour. For playback, timecode values are automatically embedded as RP188 data on Ki Pro GO’s SDI outputs. The v1.5 update also expands backup and primary recording to all five USB ports, providing users with increased flexibility to choose their desired recording destination. Additionally, the update adds new clip naming and segment recording, automatically creating a unique file name for each clip and identifying each segment of a continuous recording for extended event time needs.

The Ki Pro Ultra Plus is a multi-channel HD Apple ProRes® and single-channel 4K Avid DNxHR and ProRes recorder. The v5.0 firmware update adds numerous performance enhancements and a new Infinite Record mode that automatically captures all footage, providing the ability to run as an always running backup recorder. Infinite Record mode includes automatic formatting and rollover to both AJA Pak Media slots for uninterrupted recording, so there is no downtime when one drive fills up. Ki Pro Ultra Plus offers up to 4-channels of simultaneous HD recording, or 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD recording and playback via SDI and HDMI.

“Following lots of positive feedback from our users, we’ve upgraded Ki Pro GO with even more functionality to streamline H.264 recording and flexibility throughout production,” said Nick Rashby, President, AJA Video Systems. “With our new update to Ki Pro Ultra Plus, we’re delivering even more features that customers have been asking for, like Infinite Recording.”

Pricing and Availability

Ki Pro GO v1.5 and Ki Pro Ultra Plus v5.0 are available soon as free downloads from the on AJA’s website. For more information on the full Ki Pro Family, visit our website.

About AJA Video Systems, Inc.

Since 1993, AJA Video has been a leading manufacturer of video interface technologies, converters, digital video recording solutions and professional cameras, bringing high-quality, cost-effective products to the professional broadcast, video and post production markets. AJA products are designed and manufactured at our facilities in Grass Valley, California, and sold through an extensive sales channel of resellers and systems integrators around the world. For further information, please see our website.

Chiba, Japan, Inter BEE Booth #7312 (November 13, 2019) –AJA Video Systems has announced new 8K support for HDR Image Analyzer 12G, its powerful real-time HDR and WCG monitoring and analysis platform developed in partnership with Colorfront. The upcoming free software release will feature up to 8K/UHD2 HDR monitoring and analysis for high raster content with 12G-SDI for higher bandwidth workflows with the simplicity of single-cable connectivity.

HDR Image Analyzer 12G fuses AJA’s production-proven video I/O technology with powerful HDR and WCG image analysis tools from Colorfront, including waveform, histogram and vectorscope monitoring and analysis of up to 8K content over 12G-SDI for broadcast and OTT production, post, QC and mastering. Within a compact 1RU chassis, HDR Image Analyzer 12G provides users with a comprehensive toolset to monitor and analyze SDR and HDR formats, including PQ (Perceptual Quantizer) and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG). Additional feature highlights include:

● Up to 8K/UltraHD2/4K/UltraHD/HD 60p over 12G-SDI inputs

● UltraHD UI for native resolution picture display over DisplayPort

● Configurable layouts for placing desired tools in the preferred window

● Remote configuration, updates, logging and screenshot transfers via an integrated web UI

● Remote Desktop support

● Support for display referred SDR (Rec.709), HDR ST 2084/PQ and HLG analysis

● Support for scene referred ARRI, Canon, Panasonic, RED and Sonycamera color spaces

● Display and color processing lookup table (LUT) support

● CIE graph, vectorscope, waveform and histogram support

● Nit levels and phase metering

● False color mode to easily spot pixels out of gamut or brightness

● Advanced out of gamut and out of brightness detection with error intolerance

● Data analyzer with pixel picker

● Line mode to focus a region of interest onto a single horizontal or vertical line

● File-based error logging with timecode

● Reference still store

● SDI auto signal detection

● Three-year warranty

“Driven widely by 8K advances in Japan and across Asia, there is a growing international demand for powerful production tools that facilitate the creation and delivery of ultra-high definition content,” said Nick Rashby, President, AJA Video Systems. “HDR Image Analyzer 12G was developed to support higher bandwidth content and provide customers with pinpoint color accuracy, and the new addition of 8K support will power the highest resolution workflows as 8K adoption advances across the industry.”

Pricing and Availability

HDR Image Analyzer 12G will be available soon through AJA’s worldwide reseller network for $19,995 US MSRP. To order or for more information, visit AJA Video Systems.

About AJA Video Systems, Inc.

Since 1993, AJA Video has been a leading manufacturer of video interface technologies, converters, digital video recording solutions and professional cameras, bringing high-quality, cost-effective products to the professional broadcast, video and post production markets. AJA products are designed and manufactured at our facilities in Grass Valley, California, and sold through an extensive sales channel of resellers and systems integrators around the world. For further information, please see our website.

With millions of daily visitors, YouTube has become an ideal platform for government agencies to keep the public apprised of breaking legislative developments. Content traditionally reserved for public TV or meeting rooms is now increasingly being live streamed, as the Minnesota House of Representatives is showing. House Public Information Services, a non-partisan office of the Minnesota House of Representatives, broadcasts select meetings live on PBS and cable when the House is in session, but also delivers a live stream of every meeting room to YouTube, relying on AJA’s HELO to stream meeting content to potential viewers 24/7.

Looking to enhance the accessibility and quality of each stream, House Public Information Services Engineering Director Michael Simonds recently modernized the agency’s workflow, bringing streaming in house and upgrading image quality from SD to HD. “HD is everywhere now, and before using HELO, our feeds were downconverted from 1080i and streamed in SD to our website using a third-party service. That level of quality just wasn’t cutting it anymore, especially for the cost, but fortunately technology like HELO has made it easy and affordable to stream HD content to better cater to audience viewing habits,” shared Simonds. “With HELO, we can live stream high quality content straight to YouTube, so anyone who is interested in meetings or debates on important issues can open up the YouTube app, find the stream they want to view and tune in directly from their computers, phones or other portable devices; it’s improved the viewer experience and saved us a ton on streaming costs.”

HELO’s support for closed captioning was another key consideration in the workflow overhaul, as the office strives to be ADA compliant for the public. Latency also played a large factor in the decision. “HELO’s closed captioning support is huge and a major reason we decided to go with it,” noted Simonds. “The devices have also helped us reduce latency by nearly 90 percent– going from one minute to five seconds; that’s a noticeable improvement and perfect for the kind of talking heads content we’re covering.”

The Minnesota House of Representatives campus spans multiple committee rooms with production equipment spread throughout the House Chamber and surrounding buildings. The main production facility is based in the state office building across the street from the House Chamber and features two production control rooms. Since all meetings are considered public, 13 HELOs located in a media hub in the basement of the Minnesota State Capitol, where content is distributed, stream committee room footage 24/7 to allow access to meetings that may not get television coverage. All video typically runs through the media hub and is converted from SDI to fiber for long distance runs, and back to SDI in the main control room. There, it is run through a switcher and graphics system. Audio is distributed back at the House Chamber and submixed down to Simonds’ department. Graphics are then added into the feeds, which are converted back to fiber and transmitted across the street to the Capitol building and back into the media hub. The feeds are then sent across a VLAN to the House IT network, where its Internet connection is used to send the feeds to YouTube.

Simonds concluded, “The HELOs pack a lot of punch for such little devices. Lined up vertically in a rack, their power is impressive, especially given the massive workstations traditionally used to achieve the same end result. They’re also super easy to use; plug them in, turn them on and they do exactly what you want. They just keep working, even when running 24/7– true workhorses.”

In addition to using HELOs for live streaming to YouTube, Simonds’ team uses a host of other AJA gear for delivering content to broadcast to public TV stations; these solutions include FS2s for frame synchronization, and Hi5 Mini-Converters for converting SDI to HDMI for large HDMI monitor walls.

About HELO

AJA’s HELO allows users to simultaneously stream video signals to Web Content Delivery Networks while encoding and recording H.264 files to SD cards, USB storage or network-based storage with the push of a button. Supporting a range of professional workflows, the H.254 streaming, recording and encoding device includes 3G-SDI and HDMI inputs and outputs and the power to handle up to 1080p recording formats among other features.

About AJA Video Systems, Inc.

Since 1993, AJA Video has been a leading manufacturer of video interface technologies, converters, digital video recording solutions and professional cameras, bringing high quality, cost effective products to the professional, broadcast and postproduction markets. AJA products are designed and manufactured at our facilities in Grass Valley, California, and sold through an extensive sales channel of resellers and systems integrators around the world. 

GRASS VALLEY, Calif.—AJA Video has begun shipping its portable 2RU KUMO 3232-12G compact router, offering 32 12G-SDI inputs and outputs, the company announced today.

The new router, which supports large format resolutions, high frame rates and deep color formats, reduces cable runs when transporting 4L/Ultra HD via SDI, the company said.

Capable of being controlled with a network-based or physical controller, the KUMO 3232-12G mirrors the KUMO 3232. With a MSRP of $3,995, the newly shipping router is equipped with a USB port for configuring IP addresses with AJA’s eMini-Setup software. Multiport gang routing supports emerging 8K workflows.

Other features include:

• Single cable support for streamlined 4K/UltraHD signal routing;
• redundant power supply option;
• configure and save up to eight salvos per router;
• auto re-clocking SDI rates: 270 Mbps /1.483/1.485/2.967/2.970/5.934/5.940/11.868/11.880 Gb/s;
• embedded web server for remote control on any standard web browser; and
• five-year warranty and support.

More information is available on the AJA Video website.

GRASS VALLEY, Calif.—Arena TV employed AJA Video’s FS-HDR, FS4 and Hi5-4K-Plus Mini-Converters as it delivered a simultaneous HDR and SDR feed of this year’s FA Cup Final.

According to Dafydd Rees, deputy director of Arena TV, the broadcast of English football’s showcase event was the culmination of three years of work between the BBC, Arena and AJA. “FS-HDR was the key to unlocking the entire concept, giving us the highest possible quality HDR up- and down-mapping to bring audiences much more dynamic HDR and SDR pictures,” he said.

The workflow began with Grass Valley cameras that output the main feeds in HLG or PQ HDR. 3G-SDI outputs were then fed into AJA FS-HDR for conversion to SDR for shading. For replays, slowed down replay materials were fed through FS-HDR for pass-on for simultaneous SDR and HDR output.

Additional materials that required HD to 4K up conversion were then run through an AJA FS4 to ensure pristine 4K output. Pre-recorded SDR materials were fed from an EVS device to an FS-HDR for SDR to HDR transformations. After the content was routed through other equipment, an AJA Hi5-4K-Plus enabled SDI to 4K HDR HDMI monitoring.

“We picked FS-HDR because we know AJA FS gear is reliable, plus FS-HDR’s dual power supplies also give us redundancy,” added Rees.

Arena TV said it intends to refine its single HDR workflow concept with each new project.