KONA X Next Generation Video I/O with Streaming DMA
Designed from the ground up to support next-generation AI and AR workflows, KONA X is a 4-lane, PCIe 3.0 video I/O card with two full-size, bidirectional 12G-SDI BNC connections and two full-size HDMI 2.0 connections, one for input and one for output. KONA X lets users achieve as low as sub-frame latencies with Streaming DMA (Direct Memory Access), which enables powerful real time workflows with no perceptible delay on I/O and processing crucial for implementations such as live sports and virtual production*.
Supporting 4K/UltraHD, 2K/HD, SD, 10-bit 4:2:2, 4:4:4 and 12-bit color spaces for pristine image quality, KONA X offers the flexibility to ingest and output with 12G-SDI and full-size HDMI 2.0 ports. The bidirectional 12G-SDI ports provide immense flexibility for capture and simultaneous pass-through, and with the appropriate software, multi-channel capture and streaming.
KONA X is driven by AJA's Control Room and Control Panel software, with support for leading content creation applications. KONA X is also compatible with AJA's multi-platform Developer SDK.
For HDR* workflows, KONA X supports HDR10, HLG, PQ, and Dolby Vision for rich color delivery over SDI and/or HDMI.
KONA X has the horsepower for your work today and into the future.
*Application dependent
Note: KONA X and KONA Xpand image text rotated for clarity
Features
- 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD/SD up to 50/60p
- 2x bidirectional 12G-SDI with up to 16-channels of embedded audio
- HDMI 2.0 input and output with up to 8-channels of embedded audio
- RGB 4:4:4 12-bit (4K/UltraHD) workflows supported
- YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit and HFR workflows supported
- VESA HDMI I/O compatibility - the video subsystem timing is agnostic, enabling capture and playback of a myriad of HDMI formats
- Support for Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro and Avid Media Composer and much more
- Support for OEM applications with the AJA Developer SDK and In-Firmware Microcontroller
- 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
- Optional KONA Xpand board provides Bi-level / Tri-level Video Reference (BNC), LTC in/out, RS-422, 8-channels of AES/EBU audio (with included breakout cable) and 2-channels of analog audio in and out (via user supplied DB-15 to XLR cable)
KONA X is also available in a fanless version for sound sensitive environments. Note that precautions should be taken to maintain card temperature under maximum levels.
Ultra-low Latency / Streaming DMA
With Streaming DMA (Direct Memory Access), the DMA operation happens directly between the video I/O and the computer’s buffer in applications that support it, completely bypassing the on-card memory. Depending on the software application being used, this enables customers to achieve as low as sub-frame latencies and a much simpler method of dealing with dynamic video.
Virtual Production Workflow
The latest connectivity combined with up to sub-frame latency and Steaming DMA engine, makes KONA X ideal for modern virtual production environments.
This workflow diagram illustrates the KONA X, with its ultra-low latency, as a key part of a virtual production workflow.
AR Support with Unreal Engine
Capture real time footage with KONA X 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 filmmakers also benefit from 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 postproduction.
Augmented Reality (AR) Sports Workflow
KONA X and application software that supports Streaming DMA allows users to achieve as low as sub-frame latencies, which is important for eSports and live production environments, where the synchronization of AR graphics and graphical overlays and split second reaction times for viewer interactions are required.
This workflow diagram illustrates KONA X being used on a live sports broadcast for realtime graphics insertion and overlays.
Hardware Keying
The combination of KONA X's built-in hardware downstream keyer and ultra-low latency allows graphics and images up to 4K/UltraHD to be easily overlaid on the input video in real time.
- (4K) 4096x2160p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60
- (UltraHD) 3840x2160p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60
- (2K) 2048x1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60
- (2K) 2048x1080PsF 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30
- (HD) 1920x1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60
- (HD) 1920x1080PsF 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30
- (HD) 1920x1080i 50, 59.94, 60
- (HD) 1280x720p 50, 59.94, 60
- (SD) 625i 50
- (SD) 525i 59.94
- (4K CEA) 4096x2160p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60
- (UltraHD) 3840x2160p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60
- (2K CEA) 2048x1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60
- (HD) 1920x1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60
- (HD) 1920x1080i 50, 59.94, 60
- (VESA DMT) 1600x1200p 60
- (VESA DMT) 1280x1024p 60
- (HD) 1280x720p 50, 59.94, 60
- (VESA DMT) 1024x768p 60
- (VESA DMT) 800x600p 60
- (SD) 625i 50
- (SD) 525i 59.94
- (VESA DMT) 640 x 480p 60
- 12G-SDI, SMPTE-2082, 12-bit, 10-bit
- YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit up to 60p, RGB 4:4:4 12-bit up to 30p
- 6G-SDI, SMPTE-2081, 10-bit
- 3G-SDI, SMPTE 425
- RGB 4:4:4 12-bit, YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
- 1.5G-SDI, SMPTE 292M
- Single Link HD-SDI YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
- 270 Mbps SDI, SMPTE 259M-C
- YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit, 8-bit
- HDMI v2.0
- 30/36-bits/pixel, RGB or YUV, 6 Gbps per color component
- 4K, UltraHD, 2K, HD, and SD
- YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit up to 60p, RGB 4:4:4 12-bit up to 30p
- Connectors are full size BNC / full size HDMI
- HDMI Inputs and Outputs support VESA (DMT) rasters at limited rates
- 12G-SDI, SMPTE-2082*, 12-bit, 10-bit
- YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit up to 60p, RGB 4:4:4 12-bit up to 30p
- 6G-SDI, SMPTE-2081*, 10-bit
- 3G-SDI, SMPTE 425
- RGB 4:4:4 12-bit, YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
- 1.5G-SDI, SMPTE 292M
- Single Link HD-SDI YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
- 270 Mbps SDI, SMPTE 259M-C
- YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit, 8-bit
- HDMI v2.0
- 30/36-bits/pixel, RGB or YUV, 6 Gbps per color component
- 4K, UltraHD, 2K, HD, and SD
- YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit up to 60p, RGB 4:4:4 12-bit up to 30p
- Connectors are full-size BNC / full-size HDMI
- HDMI Input and Output support VESA rasters
- SDI: VPID signaling for SDR/HDR Transfer Characteristics, Colorimetry, and Luminance
- HDMI: HDR10 Support - HDR Infoframe metadata, compatible with HDMI 2.0a/CTA-861.3
- HDMI: HLG Support - compatible with HDMI 2.0b/CTA-861-G
- 2x full-size 12G-SDI connections
- SDI connections are bidirectional
- Single channel SDI capture (plus simultaneous SDI pass-through monitoring)
- Single channel SDI output
- 2x full-size (Type A) HDMI 2.0 connections
- HDMI connections are unidirectional (1x Input, 1x Output)
- Single channel HDMI input
- Single channel HDMI output
- HDMI output connector supports
- Single channel SDI source monitoring
- Capable of two channel 4K p60 capture or playback
- 16-channel, 24-bit SDI embedded audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous• 8-channel, 24-bit HDMI embedded audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous
- 8-channel, 16 and 24-bit AES/EBU audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous or nonsynchronous, internal sample rate conversion (via 4x BNC on breakout cable )
- 2-channel, 24 and 16-bit D/A analog audio, 48 kHz sample rate, balanced, using industry standard 2x XLR on DB-25 breakout cable (cable not included)
- +24 dBu full scale digital (0 dBFS)
- +/- 0.2 dB 20 to 20 kHz frequency response
- 16-channel, 24-bit SDI embedded audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous
- 8-channel, 24-bit HDMI embedded audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous
- 8-channel, 16 and 24-bit AES/EBU audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous or nonsynchronous, internal sample rate conversion (via 4x BNC on breakout cable)
- 2-channel, 24-bit D/A analog audio, 48 kHz sample rate, balanced, using 2x XLR
- +24 dBu full scale digital (0 dBFS)
- +/- 0.2 dB 20 to 20 kHz frequency response
- Supports graphics up to 4K/UltraHD with alpha channel over video, matte or framebuffer, or framebuffer content over incoming video or matte
- Analog Color Black (1V) or Composite Sync (2 or 4V) or HD Tri-Level Sync (1V)
- Reference input is terminated into 75 ohms when Genlock is set to Ref In
- LTC timecode input
- LTC timecode output
- PCIe Gen 3x4
- RS-422, Sony 9-pin protocol
- 9-pin D-connector pinout is as follows:
- <50dBA (A-weighted at 1m in free air) <40-45dBA preferred (Phase 01 )>
- Fan is rated at 33.1dBA
- RoHS 3
- IEC 62368-1: 2014 2nd Edition safety standard
- Passive Configuration (no fan): 190.5 x 15.9 x 98.6 mm (7.5" x 0.63" x 3.88") Bracket Height: 127 mm (5.0")
- Active Configuration (with fan): 247.7 x 15.9 x 98.6 mm (9.75" x 0.63" x 3.88") Bracket Height: 127 mm (5.0")
- Xpand Card: 108.0 x 15.9 x 98.6 mm (4.25" x 0.63" x 3.88") Bracket Height: 127 mm (5.0")
- PCIe Card: Active (with fan): 290.3g (10.2oz), Passive (no fan): 217.7g (7.7oz)
- Xpand Card: 90.7g (3.2oz)
- 20W typical with 16W on +12V and 4W on +3.3V
- PC Internal or PCi Aux Power Connector: Molex part number 45558-0003
- Safe Operating Temperature: 0 to 40 C (32 to 104 F)
- Safe Storage Temperature (Power OFF): -40 to 60 C (-40 to 140 F)
- Operating Relative Humidity: 10-90% noncondensing
- Operating Altitude: <3,000 meters (<10,000 feet)
SDI Video Formats
HDMI Video Formats
Note: Additional VESA (DMT) formats supported for certain applications
Video Inputs Digital
Video Outputs Digital
*Compliant with subsets of specification for supported formats
HDR
SDI I/O (via PCIe Bracket)
HDMI I/O (via PCIe Bracket)
HDMI Monitoring for SDI Inputs
Video I/O Performance
Audio Inputs Digital
Note: Audio I/O is available via optional KONA Xpand card, or via customer supplied breakout connection to internal card connector
Audio Input Analog
Note: Requires the optional KONA Xpand card
Audio Outputs Digital
Note: AES audio requires the optional KONA Xpand card. SDI and HDMI audio do not require the Xpand card.
Audio Output Analog
Note: Requires the optional KONA Xpand card
Downstream Keyer
Reference
Note: Available via optional KONA Xpand card, or via customer supplied breakout connection to internal card
Timecode
Note: Available via optional KONA Xpand card, or via customer supplied breakout connection to internal card
Electrical Interface
Machine Control
1 | GND |
2 | RX- |
3 | TX+ |
4 | GND |
5 | No Connection |
6 | GND |
7 | RX+ |
8 | TX- |
9 | GND |
Shell | GND |
Note: Available via optional KONA Xpand card, or via customer supplied breakout connection to internal card
Noise
Regulatory Compliance
Size (w x d x h)
Weight
Power
Note: Card can utilize PCIe power from a 6 pin PCi 2x3 Aux Power connector or the PCIe slot
