Bryce Button, AJA Video Systems product marketing manager, was on hand at
Mediatech Africa to showcase several products that launched at NAB this year.
Products included the KiStor Dock, which quickly connects any KiStor module and allows
users to mount their FireWire 800 and USB, and the AJA Mini Matrix App, an on-the-go
reference guide for AJA’s Mini-Converter range.
Other AJA products on show were the Ki Pro Quad for 4K recording, ROI and the Hi5-
4K.
At Mediatech Africa Button met with broadcasters NBC, e.tv, eNCA and SABC, as well as
with production company Urban Brew.
“Whenever I travel to different countries it’s always interesting to see which of our
products generate the most interest. For example, ROI (Region of Interest) is doing
very well in South Africa because it merges computer DVI and HDMI signals into the
video world with high quality conversion and scaling to SDI output. ROI’s scaling
technology allows any portion of the computer screen to be selected and scaled, using
AJA’s high quality algorithms, to fit within the output frame. This allows for isolation of
individual windows or elimination of taskbars and other unnecessary interface elements.
It’s ideal for broadcasters and post-production facilities, and can also be used for
houses of worship and Skype,’ said Button.
Highlighting the Ki Pro Quad range for 4K, Button pointed out that some South African
filmmakers are excited about 4K because they want to deliver their programmes to
international broadcasters. However, local broadcasters are not yet making the switch to
4K.
“In the US we’ve been shooting 4K for a while because the higher the quality of original
material, the more potential it has to generate profits down the road. The real
convenience of Ki Pro Quad is its dedicated HD output so you don’t have to use a 4K
monitor. Traditionally with such high resolution you would normally have to work with
raw material, but with this product there is no need to do so except on feature films.
“Small devices like the Ki Pro Quad are very practical as there is less equipment to carry
in the field. Another added benefit is that the batteries last longer,’ commented Button.
The Hi5-4K, for 4K monitoring, also attracted a lot of interest at Mediatech Africa. This
device converts professional 4K or QuadHD signals, using four 3G-SDI inputs, to a
single HDMI.
