AJA Video Systems Press

AJA Video Systems received three Best of Show awards at this year’s National
Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Conference.

AJA’s newly introduced ROI (Region of Interest Mini-Converter), won the Broadcast
Engineering Pick Hit as well as the TV Technology STAR Award, both selected by a
panel of industry experts and contributing editors. Corvid Ultra, AJA’s newly shipping
video processing and scaling OEM solution supporting up to 4K, stereoscopic or high
frame rates and other high bandwidth applications, won the Black Diamond Best of
Show award from Digital Video Magazine.

“At this year’s NAB, AJA was committed to only showing products that are shipping
and available now, and that prevented us from showcasing some other
groundbreaking technologies that are waiting in the wings in engineering,” explained
Nick Rashby, president, AJA Video Systems. “We were a little apprehensive about our
decision, but these awards are a nice validation of our new approach. We’re proud to
win awards for products that our customers can buy today, and that our resellers can
get out into the channel immediately.”

AJA’s ROI Mini-Converter allows high quality conversion and real-time scaling, with
region of interest support of computer DVI-D and HDMI outputs to baseband video
over SDI. With extensive audio functionality, incredible image scaling, an elegant UI,
as well as aspect and frame rate conversion, ROI seamlessly incorporates computer
signals into video production.

Corvid Ultra is part of AJA’s OEM programme available to partners to incorporate into
software applications or hardware systems to facilitate high-bandwidth / high frame
rate performance using AJA’s proven technology.

Corvid Ultra features support for 2K and 4K DI workflows as well as high-quality
scaling capabilities for all resolutions. With support for high frame rates (48p and
60p), 4K and stereoscopic workflows, on-board debayering support and two
expandable card bays, Corvid Ultra provides maximum performance for the most
critical applications.

Corvid Ultra’s new TruScale™ arbitrary scaling engine option allows high-quality up or
down scaling of any raster from tiny web video up to and 4K.

ROI-newROI is available for a R9,500. Corvid Ultra is available at a US MSRP of
R75,000 (with PCIe card and cable), the TruScale™ option card is available for under
R35,000.

For a complete set of features and technical specifications for ROI and Corvid Ultra,
visit www.aja.com.

The Society of Camera Operators (SOC) volunteered to document the journey of the Space Shuttle Endeavour to its final home at the California Science Center as part of a project being managed by Terbine Entertainment, LLC and many other vendors and volunteers.

Acclaimed cinematographer Haskell Wexler (ASC/SOC) served as a camera operator who employed Ki Pro Mini portable digital video recorders from AJA Video Systems to capture the landing of the Endeavour Space Shuttle at LAX Airport in Los Angeles. The footage, along with footage captured of the shuttle’s journey through the streets of Los Angeles on 12 and 13 October, will be incorporated into Endeavour’s Final Journey, a documentary project spearheaded by producer David Knight, to accompany the forthcoming Endeavour exhibit at the California Science Center (CSC).

“With no budget and a tight timeline, a tapeless workflow seemed like the best fit for this project, and we knew that Ki Pro Mini would give us an ideal recording setup. They’re easy to deploy and use – plus all of our camera assistants had good experiences working with them,’ shared Mark August, SOC, Second Unit DP on Endeavour’s Final Journey. “Once we took delivery of the Ki Pro Minis, we were able to get them up and running straight out of the box within five minutes.’

Ki Pro Minis were mounted to three Panavision Genesis Cameras using Noga Arms. Wexler served as one of the camera operators, and was positioned near the flight line in preparation for the arrival of the Endeavour Shuttle riding atop a Boeing 747. Apple ProRes 422 footage of the landing was recorded to the Ki Pro Minis and sent to Deluxe who is donating their services to compile, edit and archive all of the material captured for use in the documentary.

August added, “Having a portable, reliable solution like Ki Pro Mini was instrumental to completing this phase of the project. All of the footage was instantly edit-ready, straight off the drives. We’re looking forward to using the recorders again for the next phase of the project, which will cover Endeavour’s complex journey through Los Angeles to its new home.’

On 12 October, Endeavour will be removed from its hangar at LAX and onto a 79-foot transporter with 92 independently operated wheels in preparation for its final trip home. Volunteer camera operators from SOC will again employ AJA Ki Pro Minis to document the Shuttle as it hits the streets of Los Angeles and travels to its ultimate destination – the CSC, where it will remain permanently on exhibit.

AJA Video Systems has announced support for Thunderbolt on Windows with select products in its line of professional video I/O solutions. Intel is currently demonstrating the first Windows PCs with Thunderbolt ports to deliver ultra-fast bi-directional 10Gbs performance to video professionals.

The speed of Thunderbolt-enabled data transfer offers myriad advantages for video workflows.

Says Nick Rashby, president of AJA Video Systems: “The popularity of Thunderbolt is apparent in the rapid rate of adoption of our Io XT video I/O device with dual-Thunderbolt ports. Increased speed provided to external devices by Thunderbolt has really given our Mac customers great flexibility and we’re looking forward to providing the same level of support to our Windows customers as well.’

“Thunderbolt delivers unparalleled performance, flexibility and simplicity to personal computing,’ adds Jason Ziller, Intel’s director of Thunderbolt Marketing. “Products like the Io XT from AJA Video Systems help highlight what Thunderbolt makes possible.’