AJA KONA 5 12G-SDI I/O, 10-bit PCIe card

Take command of the most challenging projects using the immense power of KONA 5, AJA’s blazingly fast, 8-lane PCIe 3.0 I/O card, designed for today’s most demanding video and audio workflows.

Whether you are working with HFR 8K/UltraHD2, 4K/UltraHD, 2K/HD, SD, Deep Color, and/or HDR, experience the quality and peace of mind that KONA 5 brings to your world. Supporting 4:2:2, 10-bit 4:2:2 and 4:4:4, 12-bit color spaces for pristine imagery, KONA 5 allows the flexibility to ingest and output with 12G-SDI and monitor with a full-size HDMI 2.0 port. The bidirectional 12G-SDI ports provide immense flexibility for capture and simultaneous pass through, and with the appropriate software, multi-channel capture and streaming, and backward compatible with 6G/3G/HD-SDI.

KONA 5 works with AJA's Control Room and Control Panel software, with powerful drivers and application plug-ins that provide support for leading content creation applications, such as Adobe® Premiere® Pro, Apple® Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer®, FilmLight, OBS Studio, vMix and much more. KONA 5 is also compatible with AJA's multi-platform and widely-adopted SDK for Developers.

For HDR* workflows, KONA 5 supports HDR10, HLG, PQ, and Dolby Vision for rich color delivery over SDI and/or HDMI. KONA 5 has the power for the work you do today and into the future.

Features

• 8K/UltraHD2/4K/UltraHD/2K/HD/SD up to 50/60p
• 4x bidirectional 12G-SDI connections with 16-channel embedded audio
• HDMI 2.0 output, 4K/UltraHD HFR, plus 8K to 4K downsampling
• RGB 4:4:4 12-bit (4K/UltraHD) workflows supported
• YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit and HFR workflows supported
• Up to 12-bit LUT support (.cube)
• 8K support for Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid Media Composer and much more
• Multi-Channel support with OBS Studio, vMix and Telestream Wirecast
• 8K or multi-channel 4K support for OEM applications with AJA SDK
• Dynamic FPGA Firmware Reconfiguration for quick mode changes
• 4K Closed Caption Support
• VPID signaling for SDR/HDR Transfer Characteristics, Colorimetry and Luminance via SDI
• PQ, HLG, HDR10 and Dolby Vision Support
• HDR Metadata Capture and Auto Playback Detection
• Includes support for the latest Apple silicon
• Reference Input on card (Analog black burst or Tri-level)
• Included breakout cable for LTC, RS-422, 8-ch AES/EBU

AJA Desktop Software is optimized for the latest Apple silicon with native support for AJA macOS drivers, application plug-ins, AJA Control Room, AJA Control Panel, and AJA System Test.

Professional Connectivity:

12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0

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 professional's choice for post, broadcast, graphics, virtual sets, pre-viz, live compositing and more.

Extended Connectivity

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 cables to ensure out-of-the box compatibility with your SDI infrastructure.

Desktop Software supports HDR across many third-party professional video softwares applications, including Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro and Avid Media Composer

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

Work between 709, BT2020 and P3 with ease

HDR

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:

HDR Solutions

8K Capture and Playback

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 on Windows, Linux or macOS for example, and use the file immediately in your NLE or other application of choice.

8K NLE / VFX Software Support

The latest AJA Desktop Software 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 plus many other applications. KONA 5 offers the broadest video format of any AJA product, providing and easy 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.

Dynamic FPGA Firmware Reconfiguration

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.

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

Avid & Adobe Plugins

All SMPTE-291 (ANC) based captions supported.

Adobe Premiere Pro 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).

Workflow

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 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.

AJA Control Room Metadata Toolset

Metadata is the key for managing advanced workflows. AJA is bringing to market an entirely new way to harvest metadata in the SDI signal stream and export the metadata to a sidecar file.

This new feature, called AJA Control Room Metadata Toolset*, is being introduced in Desktop Software v17.1 and adds the following functionality:

Supports capture of any metadata type, including SCTE-104 and Dolby Vision metadata, that is part of the SDI Ancillary metadata payload.

Using an AJA KONA capture card that supports SDI input and the included AJA Control Room software (such as KONA 5 or KONA X), the card captures the metadata, which is then preserved in a metadata sidecar file.

AJA Control Room can playback the metadata to provide quality monitoring.

AJA Control Room can export the metadata synchronized with the media on a per-frame basis.

Sync Up

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.

Machine Control

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.

AR Support with Unreal Engine

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), virtual production 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.

Quick Start Guide on using KONA 5 with Unreal Engine

Hardware Keying

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

Legendary Support

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.

Apple Mac Pro Compatible

AJA offers full compatibility for the new Apple Mac Pro, including support for AJA Control Room with Metal compatibility and extensive support for various applications. Refer to the latest macOS release download release notes for supported version information.

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

There are no caveats for other KONA or Io products.

KONA 5 Operating Systems Compatibility

Supports macOS, Windows, and Linux Ubuntu / Rocky. Please see Release Notes for details and version information which can be found in the Downloads, Software tab.

Applications Compatibility

AJA Desktop products offer unparalleled workflow compatibility with a range of software applications that span production, post, and delivery, and more. Please click here for compatibility information.