AJA Ultimate Performance

Desktop Software v16.1 and above is optimized for the new Apple M1 chip with native support for AJA macOS drivers, application plug-ins, AJA Control Room, AJA Control Panel, AJA System Test and AJA NMOS software.

KONA 5 boasts 4x bidirectional 12G-SDI spigots and a Reference Input directly on the card bracket. The 4x HDBNC SDI connections can be used in a wide variety of configurations to support your creative needs; use four cables simultaneously to support either 8K/UltraHD2 (via 4x 12G-SDI) or 4K/UltraHD (via 3G-SDI), alternatively use a single cable for input and a single cable for simultaneous pass-through/output for either 4K/UltraHD (via 1x 12G-, or 6G-SDI) or HD/2K (via 1x 3G-SDI, or even single/dual link 1.5G-SDI).

A full-sized HDMI 2.0 connection offers monitoring and output, with HDR , Deep Color and HFR support. Across the board, KONA 5 is the professionals choice for post, broadcast, graphics, virtual sets, pre-viz, live compositing and more.

KONA 5 ships with an included breakout cable that offers extensive connectivity for AES, RS-422 control support and Reference:

• 8-Channels of AES/EBU (BNC) In

• 8-Channels of AES/EBU (BNC) Out

• RS-422 9-pin connector for control

• LTC In and Out

KONA 5 also ships with 5x HDBNC to full-size BNC “pigtails” to ensure out-of-the box compatibility with your SDI infrastructure.

AJA offers full compatibility for the new Apple Mac Pro, including support for AJA Control Room with Metal compatibility as well as extensive support for a range of applications. macOS support for 11.0 (Big Sur), 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14 (Mojave) is also offered with KONA 5.

For productions handling high resolution workflows all the way up to 8K, KONA 5* is a perfect companion for the new desktop offering multi-channel 4K and 8K support.

*Special Note for ordering KONA 5 for use with a Mac Pro 2019

There are two choices:
(1) PN: KONA-5-R0-S01 will use PCIe slot power in Mac Pro 2019, but this KONA model should not be used in any other Mac or PC host system.
(2) PN KONA-5-R0 uses ATX power, and so can be used in other relevant Mac or PC host systems. However, a 3rd party ATX cable kit for the Mac Pro 2019
will be required > Link Here.

There are no caveats for other KONA or Io products.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) provides the ability to display a wider and richer range of colors, much brighter whites, and much deeper, darker blacks than standard signals allow. This gives your imagery a more ‘dynamic’ look and allows for natural true to life colors to be communicated to your audience.

KONA 5 HDR workflows can also benefit from AJA’s Control Room application and it’s companion, AJA Control Panel, which comes complete with built-in HDR test patterns.

AJA Control Room provides VPID signaling for SDR/HDR Transfer Characteristics, Colorimetry and Luminance transfer characteristics over SDI, bringing flexible output options to your KONA 5. HDMI ports that were already HDR compatible will work simultaneously, for HDR output via both SDI and HDMI.

AJA Control Room software adds support for HDR metadata capture from an incoming SDI or HDMI signal. The captured .mov video file will have embedded HDR metadata, allowing the file to be played back at its intended dynamic range.

AJA Control Room software also provides the KONA 5 with HDR Auto Playback Detection. Embedded HDR metadata in a recorded .mov file, is read and used to automatically set the HDR format on the monitor(s) connected to the KONA 5 HDMI and/or SDI outputs. Support for file-based .mov HDR outputs with metadata from Adobe Premiere Pro/Adobe Media Encoder HDR files is also available. Screening those rendered outputs is a simple and hi-quality experience with AJA Control Room. Every frame is presented in its full-quality, at the timing intended, and with the proper HDR format set correctly and automatically.

Explore more of our HDR Solutions here:

• Desktop Software v16 now supports HDR across more third-party professional video softwares applications than ever, including Adobe Premiere Pro

• Take advantage of HLG, PQ, HDR10 workflows in broadcast and post.

• Work between 709, BT2020 and P3 with ease.

The latest AJA Desktop Software v16 advances 8K workflows with KONA 5 by providing native support for 8K video in Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro and Avid Media Composer. KONA 5 offers the broadest video format of any AJA product, meaning you can confidently transition to larger format video workflows for Sports, eSports, Virtual Production, and other cutting-edge workflows.

For those who hop between 8K visual effects sequences and 4K live action footage, KONA 5 now also supports fast-bitfile-switching. In under 10 seconds you can flip between a KONA 5 personality tuned for 8K operations, to one dedicated to 4K and below. No waiting for firmware to update, no reboots required. Just powerful options to make your day go that bit faster and easier.

At a time when 8K recording devices are prohibitively expensive, unlock the next generation power of 8K capture and playback via KONA 5 and use a more cost effective workstation. Capture 8K ProRes on Windows, Linux or macOS for example, and use the file immediately in your NLE or other application of choice.

KONA 5 now supports fast bitfile-switching. In under 10 seconds you can flip between a KONA 5 personality tuned for 8K operations, to one dedicated to 4K and below. No waiting for firmware to update, no reboots required

AJA Control Room

• Supports CEA-608 or 608-in-708 via ANC extraction firmware

Avid & Adobe Plugins

• All SMPTE-291 (ANC) based captions supported
• Adobe Premiere supports native 708 if the raw data is available. For instance in the Adobe plug-ins we handle the case where Premiere hands us full 708 data, we just pass it through to the device.
• Avid Media Composer supports active video ANC (line 21) or ANC via ANC extractor/inserter (up to UHD/4K)

Connect your digital sources via 12G-SDI to KONA 5 for capture to and playback from a wide variety of formats. Master to destinations using high quality professional SDI outputs, machine control and analog or tri-level reference.
Monitor via HDMI 2.0 output for 4K or HD, or utilize as a 4K down sample from 8K SDI, so you can make use of your existing 4K monitors for 8K work.

KONA 5 also supports VPID signaling for SDR/HDR Transfer Characteristics, Colorimetry and Luminance via SDI.

• PQ, HLG, HDR10, HDR10+* and Dolby Vision* Support
• HDR Metadata Capture and Auto Playback Detection

*Dolby Vision and HDR10+ integration available when using the AJA SDK, or using compatible 3rd party software.

KONA 5 can be locked to an external reference for integration into larger productions, or feed LTC in and out to ensure footage captured with KONA 5 has the proper timecode.

A 9-pin RS-422 port on the included breakout cable allows control of a range of external devices for frame accurate captures and layoffs.

Capture real time footage with KONA 5 over SDI from high quality cameras, meld your footage with your virtual environment created by the Unreal Engine and send it back out in real time to air – a growing need for broadcasters, augmented reality (AR) needs and more.

Digital film makers also benefit with these new workflows: On set, enhance your live action VFX work with the ability to see a full composite live during the course of the shoot. This results in fewer reshoots, the ability for actors to understand the virtual environment they are working within for stronger performances and ultimately leads to a range of efficiencies and cost savings with the added benefit of a smoother transition into post production.

The built-in hardware downstream keyer allows graphics and images up to 4K/UltraHD to be easily overlaid on the input video in realtime.

AJA Technical Support is recognized as one of the best in the industry and is provided at no additional charge. Our support team will work with you to solve any issues you might encounter and get you working as quickly as possible.

• macOS support for 11.0 (Big Sur), 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14 (Mojave).

• Linux Ubuntu support for 20.04 LTS, 18.04 LTS, 16.04  LTS.

• Linux Redhat/CentOS (8) and (7) support.

• Windows 10 and updates.

Desktop v16.1 comes with a wide range of tested configurations to help you make an informed choice based on requirements.