AJA Introduces New KONA LH 10-bit Uncompressed Video Capture Card

AJA Introduces New KONA LH 10-bit Uncompressed Video Capture Card for Editing on Apple with Final Cut Studio

New card offers a full-ride to HD with no-compromise of quality or features

IBC, Amsterdam, Netherlands: September 9, 2005: AJA Video, a leading manufacturer of professional video interface and conversion solutions, today announced the immediate availability of its new KONA LH, a 10-bit uncompressed video capture card for editing on the Apple G5? with Final Cut Studio?. KONA LH is the only PCI card available for OSX and Final Cut Studio that offers both HD and SD analog and digital I/O -- in one convenient card, at a low price, and with the same excellent broadcast quality for which AJA is known.

Considering the various SD and HD formats on the market, the ability to
utilize both analog and digital sources makes a lot of sense for today's
editors. For them, KONA LH is the perfect solution because everything
is in just one card, simplifying their system setup, and providing the
most flexibility.

We recognize what the most popular choices are now for SD and HD in terms
of day-to-day workflows, and it makes good sense to roll it all into one
product, said Ted Schilowitz, Worldwide Product Manager, Desktop Video,
AJA Video. ?KONA LH is a completely migrated product with the most utilized
features of Kona 2 and Io at a breakthrough price, while maintaining the
highest standards of reliability and quality that professional editors
require and expect from AJA. The ability to bring in and layback to HDCAM,
DVCProHD, HDV, BetacamSP, Digital Betacam, even VHS, all on one product
is really powerful and will make a great solution for our customers that
build systems around the Apple platform.

Supporting native 10-bit uncompressed resolution, KONA LH provides optimum
quality for SD and HD, the highest available quality based on SMPTE SDI
standards. KONA LH also supports various codecs such as DVCProHD, HDV playback, DV50, and many more, with hardware acceleration on-board for the playback of DVCProHD, HDV, and Apple's Dynamic RT Extreme. This unique acceleration frees up the G5 to do more, such as more RT.

KONA LH offers unprecedented Analog video connectivity on a single PCI
card, including 12-bit HD Component Analog I/O, which is perfect for interfacing to today's HDV cameras and decks, allowing the HDV user to digitize to 10-bit uncompressed, DVCProHD, and many other codecs, offering a true professional workflow for the HDV format.

For Standard Definition work, the Analog inputs and outputs can be configured
as 12-bit SD Component/YC/Composite, all via three professional BNC connectors.
For SD and HD Digital I/O, KONA LH offers SDI/HD-SDI input, and two SDI/HD-SDI outputs. Broadcast-grade Genlock is also included.

KONA LH's built-in 10-bit hardware down-converter can be used during digitize
or playback, allowing the user to bring in HD as SD, and/or output HD as
SD for laying to tape or monitoring, all at 10-bit broadcast-quality.

In addition to perfection in video, KONA LH offers true professional audio:
native OS X multi-channel audio and 24-bit AES/EBU digital audio at 48kHz
for digital production. For ease of conversion, KONA LH also includes hardware
sample-rate conversion to allow asynchronous or even different sample rates
(32-96kHz), eliminating annoying synchronization hassles and unwelcome
snaps, crackles, and pops. KONA LH offers 2-channel AES on XLR, 2-channel
analog on XLR, and 8-channel SDI embedded audio.

KONA LH features dual-monitor desktop viewing for desktop paint and motion
graphics program output and also comes standard with a breakout cable and
works with the optional KL-Box for rackmounted I/O convenience.

Features Include:

? 10-bit Uncompressed SD/HD QuickTime Capture Card
? SD/HD/Analog (Component/Composite/S-Video)(HD Analog Component-only)
? DVCProHD hardware acceleration
? HDV hardware acceleration
? Dynamic RT Extreme hardware acceleration
? High-quality 12-bit Video A/D and D/A converters
? SDI or HD-SDI Input, 2 Independent SDI/HD-SDI Outputs
? 10-bit Hardware HD to SD Down-conversion
? 2-channel AES and 8-channel Embedded Audio
? 2-channel Balanced XLR Analog Audio
? HD/SD Genlock
? RS-422 Machine Control
? Final Cut Pro 5, Motion, After Effects, Combustion, and More
? Cables Standard, KL-Breakout Optional
? Three-year warranty
? Technical Support
? $1790 US List Price

[www.aja.com]