AJA Ki Pro Ultra 12G 12G-SDI 4K/UHD/HD Recorder and Player Multi-Channel HD Recorder

Ki Pro Ultra 12G 12G-SDI 4K/UHD/HD Recorder and Player Multi-Channel HD Recorder

Ki Pro Ultra 12G is a multi-channel Apple ProRes® recorder offering up to 4-Channels of simultaneous HD recording, or in Single-Channel mode, a 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHR® recorder and player. Avid DNxHD® MXF is also supported up to HD formats in Single-Channel mode.

Ki Pro Ultra 12G offers 12G-SDI single cable simplicity for large rasters up to full 4K, (the 4x 3G-SDI inputs/outputs can be used for Quad Link operations as required) and HDMI 2.0 digital video connectivity with HDR support for both recording and playback. 

A wealth of analog and digital audio connectivity answers any project’s demand for efficient, powerful and flexible workflows. For distance and remote needs, 12G and 3G Fiber SFP+ options are available. Ki Pro Ultra 12G also offers the ability to record genlock free sources with frame sync support on inputs.

Designed to be either portable or rackmountable with half rack wide, 2RU high dimensions, Ki Pro Ultra 12G is well suited for use in any environment.

Features

• 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD Recorder and Player
• Supports single-channel 4K/UltraHD/HD recording to ProRes or DNx files
• Supports multi-channel HD recording to ProRes
• Records and plays back up to Apple ProRes 4444 XQ or Avid DNxHR HQX
• Genlock-free multi-channel HD recording up to 1080 60p
• Single channel recording up to 4K 60p
• HDR recording and playback
• 1x 12G-SDI I/O
• 3x 3G-SDI I/O (4x when also using the 12G-SDI capable port)
• HDMI 2.0 I/O
• SFP fiber cage I/O (fiber modules not included)
• 2x PAK media bays with Ki Protect
• Analog audio I/O (DB-25 loom connectivity)
• AES/EBU digital audio I/O (DB-25 loom connectivity)
• Multi-channel embedded SDI and HDMI audio
• REF, LTC, RP-188 and RS-422 support
• REST interface
• Support for 8K VPID multi-unit playback
• Front panel button controls with integrated HD resolution screen
• Easy to use web UI, configure and control from standard web browsers
• Compact 2RU, half-rack width design

Ki Pro Ultra 12G Overview Video

Learn how Ki Pro Ultra 12G is the perfect fit for live production, post-production, on-set...any place that high-quality reliable recording and playback is needed.

Explore the device’s broad feature set – from 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 video connectivity with HDR recording and playback to a dedicated web UI for remote control, file transfers and configuration and so much more.

Professional Connectivity

The video and audio connections on the rear panel of the Ki Pro Ultra 12G offer next generation connectivity with single channel 12G-SDI I/O over either BNC or optional FIber and three additional 3G-SDI ports for multi-channel HD or quad-link capture needs. HDMI 2.0 I/O offers single cable simplicity all the way up to 4K. AES and analog XLR balanced audio, LTC, RS-422 and LAN round out the package.

SFP+ cages offer the ability to install optional HD-BNC or Fiber SFPs for long cable run needs.

ProRes® 422 and 444 Recording

Ki Pro Ultra 12G records 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD to six quality levels of Apple ProRes® including Apple ProRes 4444 XQ. This lets you choose the balance of image fidelity and file size that’s right for each individual production as well as having the flexibility to record directly to native file formats that are understood by most major editing systems.

Next generation UltraHD 60p and 4K 60p recording is attainable all the way up to Apple ProRes HQ when using AJA PAK 2000, PAK 1000, PAK 512 and PAK 256 SSD media.

By utilizing Apple ProRes, your project will have the best image quality available, with manageable and affordable file sizes.

Genlock-Free Multi-Channel HD Recording

Record 1, 2, 3 or 4-Channels of beautiful HD up to 1080p 50/60 in Apple ProRes simultaneously with Ki Pro Ultra 12G – without the need to genlock the sources.

Simplify your multi-camera productions by running up to four cameras per Ki Pro Ultra 12G and save power, space, time and effort on set, in the studio and when setting up OB trucks. Ki Pro Ultra 12G even allows independent profile support per channel in Multi-Channel mode; for example, select high resolution Apple ProRes HQ for high quality finishing and use a second input to record Apple ProRes (Proxy) for an efficient editing pipeline.

Starting with input 1, add channels as needed in order when utilizing like raster size and frame rate, and record your HD Apple ProRes files on the same AJA PAK media*. Ki Pro Ultra 12G even allows rollover to a second PAK for hours of uninterrupted multi-channel recording. Internal frame synchronizers eliminate the need for sources to be genlocked, which can be especially useful when setting up live events.

Avid DNxHR MXF Recording

• Ki Pro Ultra 12G also allows users to record 4K and UltraHD rasters with Avid codecs within an MXF wrapper, supporting Avid editors and native MXF workflows with more flexible options.
• Ki Pro Ultra 12GSD offers Avid DNxHR codecs in an MXF wrapper for the following formats:
• DNxHR HQX
• DNxHR SQ
• DNxHR LB
• (4K) 4096 x 2160p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97
• (UltraHD) 3840 x 2160p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97

Avid DNxHD MXF Recording

Ki Pro Ultra 12G offers native Avid MXF support for HD workflows. Record and playback DNxHD files with an OP1a profile within an MXF container for DNxHD HQX (220x), DNxHD SQ (145) and DNxHD LB (36) codecs.

• This provides a native MXF workflow for Avid pipelines, free of transcoding.
• DNxHD HQX (220x)*
• DNxHD SQ (145)*
• DNxHD LB (36)**
• (HD) 1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94
• (HD) 1080i 25, 29.97
• (HD) 1080PsF 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97
• (HD) 720p 50, 59.94
• *Avid DNxHD only supported for 1080 and 720 resolutions
• **Avid DNxHD 36 only supported for 1080p
• 4K, 12-bit Full Raster Workflows for Professionals

Next generation 4K/UltraHD 50/60p recording and playback are attainable all the way up to Apple ProRes XQ when using AJA PAK Media with Ki Pro Ultra 12G.

4K/UltraHD is supported through 12G-SDI, 4x 3G-SDI, HDMI 2.0 or optional fiber inputs and outputs. Ki Pro Ultra 12G not only supports true 4K at 4096 x 2160p for digital cinema and high quality UltraHD for broadcast production, it also offers the color depth to match including HDR support.

Any shoot or project benefits from the fabulously rich colors and smooth gradations across the luminance and chroma range that 12-bit makes possible with full 4:4:4 support including Apple ProRes 4444 XQ up to 2K 50/60p.

VFX work benefits from Ki Pro Ultra 12G’s 12-bit support to captured Apple ProRes 444 files, resulting in clean green screen plates for easy and detailed post-production manipulation. With full HDMI 2.0, you can monitor it all from 4:2:2 YCbCr to full 4:4:4 RGB in 12-bit

Edit Ready, Synched Files for Edit

Multi-Channel recording with Ki Pro Ultra 12G provides individual, discrete recordings for each input that are timecode accurate and ready to be imported directly into a multi-channel editing sequence. No additional conversion or software is required, just drag and drop the files directly from the PAK Media into your edit. The clip naming convention is yours to customize to suit your needs, but each multi-channel file is always appended with _1, _2, _3 or _4 matching the input, making it very easy to track assets in post.

Multi-Channel independent file naming support also allows an independent additional name to be added to each recorded file for further identifying specific information for the project's needs.

Simultaneous Multi-Channel HD Capture to Apple ProRes and H.264

For the ultimate in Professional Multi-Channel Recording, combine your Ki Pro Ultra 12G with Ki Pro GO and capture multiple streams of Apple ProRes and H.264 in any combination that suits your needs, in only 2RU of rack space.

Ki Pro Ultra 12G and Ki Pro GO offer 1/2 rack width and 2RU height for convenient pairings in fly packs, equipment racks, OB trucks and facility environments.

The Best of Both Worlds

Combine Ki Pro Ultra 12G with Ki Pro GO for simultaneous high quality capture to Apple ProRes files for your post production work, with immediately useable H.264 files captured to off-the-shelf USB 3.2 Gen 2 drives for proxy workflows, streaming, review and approval and more.

HDMI 2.0: One Cable, Multiple Formats

Full HDMI 2.0 support on Ki Pro Ultra 12G offers deep color support all the way up to 4:4:4 12-bit RGB, perfect for rich color capture from affordable HDMI cameras and beautiful playback on the latest HDMI 2.0 displays.

A single cable can affordably transport both UltraHD or HD video and clean 24-bit 48 Hz 8-Channel audio to or from common HDMI 2.0 devices for a simple setup; perfect for independent producers, editors, ProAV, and anyone seeking to utilize the latest affordable capture and monitoring tools.

HDR

HDR or 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.

Ki Pro Ultra 12G provides this support for your 4K/UltraHD/HD HDR pipelines to HDMI and SDI compatible displays by generating HDR metadata in accordance with HDMI v2.0a/CTA-861.3 and SMPTE 352, which includes HDR 10 (PQ) and HLG for both input and output.

8K Playback

Ki Pro Ultra 12G has been updated to offer a powerful 8K playback functionality. By utilizing 4x Ki Pro Ultra 12G units as well as RS-422 control to all four units, playback of 8K video is achieved as individual 4K quadrants. The correct 8K SDI VPID is implemented to ensure compatibility with downstream devices.For 4x HDMI playback is also an option for this workflow with the addition of a suitable HDMI 2.0 to HDMI 2.1 converter.

Familiar Controls

Anyone familiar with the operation of a tape deck will feel immediately comfortable when working with Ki Pro Ultra 12G.

Just like a traditional tape deck, Ki Pro Ultra 12G features straightforward and dedicated transport buttons - record, play, stop, rewind, fast forward - making the device easy to operate with minimal training time.

The current status of the system and key configuration information is clearly displayed on the beautiful built-in high resolution LCD screen. Additional operational information can be found in the STATUS menu which can be accessed even when recording or playing back.

The Ki Pro Ultra 12G operating system offers users a logical menu structure that is easy to navigate with menu parameters presented in clear and understandable language.

Remote Control, Configuration and File Transfers

In a truck or a machine room, Ki Pro Ultra 12G is equipped for advanced remote control and configuration. With a standard Ethernet LAN connection to a host computer and any web browser, all Ki Pro Ultra 12G parameter settings, clip selection and transport controls can be controlled; no additional or special software installation is required on the host computer.

Multiple Ki Pro Ultra12G units can even be controlled from a single web interface making Ki Pro Ultra 12G an ideal solution for multi-camera and synched recordings.

Ki Pro Ultra 12G's web UI also provides a simple way to transfer media files across the network for remote sharing when in DATA-LAN mode.

RS-422 control allows Ki Pro Ultra 12G to integrate easily with supported editing systems and external controllers allowing it to fulfill several of the functions of a traditional VTR. Supported NLEs can even perform assemble edits directly to the Ki Pro Ultra 12G.

Reliable Storage Media

Ki Pro Ultra 12G captures directly to rugged and reliable AJA PAK SSD media. PAK Media is available in a variety of capacities to best suit the demands of your production.

PAK 2000 and PAK 1000 are the perfect companions for Ki Pro Ultra 12G offering 2TB or 1TB of fast SSD media for up to 4K recording at 60p in ProRes HQ. PAK 512 and PAK 256 models offer equal performance in smaller capacities when needed.

The twin media drive bays on the Ki Pro Ultra 12G allow extremely fast media changes and rollover recording even for multi-channel recording, which allows a recording to start on one media module and seamlessly continue onto the second module once the first has reached capacity.

PAK Media may also be used with the optional PAK Dock Pro which features a USB 3.2 Gen 2 bus-powered connection for lightning fast data transfers from and to your desktop or laptop.

PAK Products and exFAT and HFS+ Support

Ki Pro Ultra 12G allows you to use the file system that suits your needs. Full flexibility is provided to format your recording media as either exFAT or HFS+ within Ki Pro Ultra 12G itself or from your desktop computer, ensuring wide OS compatibility. PAK media can also be ordered in either format for fast implementation upon arrival.

Infinite Record and Rollover, Even in Multi-Channel Mode     

Losing one or even several feeds during a multi-channel shoot can cause major sync issues during the editing process that can be lengthy to resolve, if they can be resolved at all. But Ki Pro Ultra 12G is designed so that as soon as a loss in signal is detected on any of the inputs, a color bars frame with the legend “Loss Of Signal” is recorded until the input is restored or the shoot ends. In this way, all multi-channel clips have the same timecode duration and will align perfectly within any NLE. The editor then just simply cuts away from any recording that lost signal, without any heavy lifting to insert frames, or adjust audio to compensate. This function works with each input to Ki Pro Ultra 12G and will even function in Rollover mode, meaning that a loss of signal that spans separate media will pose no issues in editing, the time code of each file recorded being equal.

Forced Rollover support allows users to force a rollover recording to the second PAK port at any point, allowing quick extraction of the first PAK drive for fast transfer to editing environments, playout servers and more, while recording continues.

Infinite Record allows continuous recording and rollover from PAK Drive to PAK Drive for a variety of needs including multi-day sporting events, conferences, security needs and much more.

Ki Protect

Ki Pro Ultra 12G includes Ki Protect, a feature that helps to ensure data integrity if a media drive is accidentally removed or loses power during recording. The Ki Protect feature automatically pre-allocates recording space on the media drive for video, audio and timecode when the record button is pressed.

While recording, the file header is then continuously updated every time new data is written. That way, the only loss that should be incurred is the last few frames that were in transit to the media drive to be recorded when the operation was interrupted. Frames that are already recorded will be preserved and are recoverable, providing greater peace of mind on set and in the studio, essential for multi-channel recording.

High Resolution LCD with Onscreen Intuitive UI

Ki Pro Ultra 12G features a beautiful high resolution HD display for pristine monitoring of your material and serves as your interface to Ki Pro's familiar and intuitive menu system. The detailed overlay UI includes onscreen keyboard functionality and a clear view of the powerful yet simple to operate UI, all pristinely presented on the 4.8” 720p LCD display.

The large LCD provides detailed playback and monitoring perfect for onset use, the OB truck, helicopter or studio and it’s transparent menu overlays can be set at just the level the user prefers. Ki Pro Ultra 12G offers control over brightness of the display for flexible control to suit your working environment.

4K and HD Monitoring

Ki Pro Ultra 12G provides full resolution outputs for 4K, UltraHD and HD over 12G-SDI, 3G-SDI, FIber and HDMI, including the latest affordable UltraHD monitors using HDMI for on-set quality checks. An additional dedicated 2K and HD-SDI monitor output can be fed to any affordable and existing HD-SDI display.

During Multi-Channel recording, the user can select to send either a single source or a Multi-Matrix of all four sources to the 3G-SDI monitor and HDMI outputs in any combination desired.

Enhanced Super Out offers TC, Media remaining and up to 8-Channels of VU audio metering on the SDI Monitor output.

Up to 64-Channels of Audio

Ki Pro Ultra 12G offers up to 16-Channels of audio support embedded over SDI or Fiber per input, bringing a total of 64-Channels of high quality recording when in multi-channel mode. Flexible routing options mean that 8-Channel only outputs like HDMI, Analog and Digital carry options for selecting the 8-Channel group required. Monitoring via the headphone jack on the front of the unit is split into easy 2-Channel groupings by input for on-set checks.

Multi-Channel Audio monitoring on the built in display and over SDI and HDMI Monitoring out, allows the display of 8 channels of selected embedded audio in SIngle-Channel recording or 2 channels per source when in Multi-Channel recordings.

Closed Captioning Support

If you need to record or playout video with Closed Captioning embedded, Ki Pro Ultra 12G is fully compatible with your needs.

Ki Pro Ultra 12G recognizes CEA-708 within incoming SDI Inputs and encodes the Closed Captioning to your Apple ProRes recorded file. Upon playback, you can utilize the Closed Captioning within a recorded file over Ki Pro Ultra 12G's SDI outputs.

2SI (Two Sample Interleave)

Ki Pro Ultra 12G supports both Square Division Quad Split format and Two Sample Interleave offering a wide number of options to both record and playback 4K and UltraHD.

Set up is easy, with Ki Pro Ultra 12G sensing the format being delivered in its “Follow Input” mode.

Fiber and HD-BNC Connectivity

Ki Pro Ultra 12G's fully integrated fiber inputs and outputs means it can be integrated directly to a dedicated fiber network alongside many other fiber products. Fiber allows outgoing and incoming video signals to be transmitted as far as 10 km away. 

KPU-Shelf

Ki Pro Ultra 12G and Ki Pro GO conveniently fit side by side for easy 2RU rack mounting for workflows that can take advantage of rack mounts, from facilities to flypacks. See the Ki Pro Ultra 12G options page for more.