Instruction manual

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KONA 3G Installation and Operation Manual — The AJA KONA 3: An Ideal 2K
video, HSDL moves 2K data over the SDI cables. Because of the amount of data previously
mentioned, full size 2048x1556 images cannot be transmitted over the dual SDI lines at full frame
rate. Instead of moving the data at 23.98 (24) frames per second, the HSDL transport stream often
adheres to 14.98 frames per second. Because this is transmitted data, not video, the data can be
recorded at the 14.98 frames per second rate to a high speed storage device and then played back
from this high speed storage device at full speed, typically 23.98 frames per second. In contrast to
2048x1556 images, 2048x1080 digital cinema 2K can move across HSDL at the full frame rate of
23.98 frames per second.
Facilities with two lines of HD-SDI rated cable, in a limited sense, are already prepared for the
transmission of 2K data when attached to HSDL devices. If a facility already has storage that can
exceed 300MB per second, that facility might also be ready to record and play back 2K data at full
frame rate. Again, this transition to a “digital film” environment is far less cumbersome than a 4K
digital environment where such numbers double those of 2K.
So a third advantage, beyond image size and color reproduction, is the ability of 2K data to use pre-
existing elements of HD infrastructure when adopting 2K. For many facilities, be they large full-
service or boutique, this makes the financial transition from HD to 2K less of a burden. While a
transition to 4K would produce higher quality for most facilities, it would not be nearly as easy to
achieve financially.
The AJA KONA 3: An Ideal 2K Input/Output Device
Opening the door to data-centric workflow and universal mastering, the AJA KONA 3 card
represents a perfect input/output device (capture card) for facilities considering entering the “film as
digital” landscape. The card is ideal because it’s capable of working with SD, HD, Dual Link HD and
2K. The KONA 3 card can receive and send 2K data via HSDL—making it compatible with a number
of devices such as telecines and digital disk recorders (DDRs) already on the market and working
with 2K data.
The advantages of using the KONA 3 as an input/output device extend beyond its 2K HSDL
functionality. Not only can users ingest 2K data as simultaneous 2K DPX files and QuickTime files,
edit this information, and then output 2K data, but users can also elect to ingest 2K data and output
simultaneous HD from a crop directly derived from the 2K media. An SD downconvert of this HD
video can also be created simultaneously, if so desired. For review of 2K data on HD and SD monitors,
and for some mastering scenarios, the KONA 3 card can be used as a very flexible and effective tool.
Existing 2K data files in the Cineon and DPX file formats can be “wrapped” into 2K QuickTime
Reference Movies via AJA's DPXToQT Translator application so that users can take advantage of the
aforementioned flexibility without writing any new data to their drives. QuickTime reference movies
only point back to the source original DPX files from which they are derived. The main advantage of
this, beyond not writing any new data to the drives, is that the cumbersome sequence of potentially
thousands of frames can be consolidated non-destructively to a single file.
Furthermore, once media exists as a 2K QuickTime movie, it can be converted back into sequential
DPX files that can be given to facilities using software or hardware, such as film recorders, that do not
accept QuickTime files. This conversion can be accomplished via the AJA QTToDPX Translator
application. This process, it should be noted, does require writing new data because it may reflect
creative changes to the images that the user desired, such as effects.
Note: The QTToDPX Translator and DPXToQT Translator are both available from the AJA website in
the KONA 3 support area:
www.aja.com/html/support_kona3_swd.html
AJA Video Systems, Inc. along with other 2K HSDL device manufacturers, has seen the growing need
for a high quality image source, like 2K, in an evolving data-centric workflow. A 2K source can be
used to derive the high quality film, digital cinema, HD and SD deliverables without compromise
outside of a cumbersome leap to 4K. 2K capable devices, like the AJA KONA 3 card, will help facilities
and filmmakers enter a data-centric workflow that results in a universal mastering environment.