AJA KONA 3G, Installation And Operation Manual

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use it where possible. Most high-end professional broadcast equipment supports SDI (VTRs,
cameras, media storage servers, etc.).
Note: In the past manufacturers have used separate I/O connections for standard- and high-
definition SDI because the circuits were different. On KONA 3G we use the same
connectors for both HD and SD-SDI (both input and output) due to our dual-rate chipset
which supports both HD and SD.
HDMI 1.4a Monitor Output
KONA 3G offers an HDMI 1.4a output for monitoring in HDMI or DVI protocols (use DVI if
you’re outputting to a DVI monitor). The output also supports Stereo 3D output in either Side-
by-Side or Top-Bottom (Stacked) output of left-eye and right-eye signals.
Analog Monitor Out (Component HD or SD or SD Com Y/C)
KONA 3G features 12-bit component video output for both HD and SD. The analog
component output can be configured in a variety of ways; as a component, composite or Y/C
signal. This flexibility allows, for example, the use of an inexpensive analog input-only monitor
for both HD or SD viewing. Since the three BNC connectors share component, composite and
Y/C functions, output of component is exclusive while composite and Y/C can be output
simultaneously. For Y/C monitoring an adapter cable from dual BNC for Y/C to S-Video mini-
DIN style connector is required. For analog monitoring, a component video signal is generally
regarded as higher quality for monitoring than a composite signal.
A Note About YPbPr —Component Video, or YPbPr, has been given several names over time.
YUV, Y/R-Y/B-Y, and YCbCr, are just some examples. Although these various formats have
some differences in levels, they are all basically the same. KONA 3G uses the modern
YPbPr terminology exclusively. KONA 3G supports three different types of YPbPr: SMPTE/
EBU N10, Betacam (NTSC), and Betacam (NTSC Japan). These three formats differ in level
only and are configured in the AJA Control Panel.
A Note About RGB —Although RGB is used less in today’s video systems, KONA 3G supports it
for A/V Monitor output. However, because KONA 3G’s (and SMPTE SDI’s) native format is
YPbPr, AJA recommends the use of YPbPr whenever possible for analog monitoring.
Although component video monitors often have RGB inputs, it’s better to use YPbPr
when the monitor supports it. The YPbPr format provides “headroom” for “superwhite”
and “superblack”—and these video levels
will be clipped when transcoding to RGB. Also,
the RGB/YPbPr transcoding involves a level translation that results in mathematical
round-off error. RGB can be configured in the AJA Control Panel.
HDMI and Analog Output in 4K Format
When the KONA 3G is in 4K Mode with a 4K format selected, the HDMI and Analog Outputs
can be selected to display one of the four 4K picture quadrants for output. A quadrant
selection menu is provided in their respective AJA Control Panel tabs. (refer to
“Using 4K
Mode” on page 88
).
Reference Video
A single BNC connector is standard on the KONA 3G cable (self terminating). Two BNC
connectors are standard on the breakout box (these provide loop through: if ref is not looped
out, a 75 ohm terminator should be used for the loop out connector). Reference allows you to
synchronize KONA 3G outputs to your house analog reference video signal (or black burst). If
you have a sync generator or central piece of video equipment to use for synchronizing other
video equipment in your studio, then connect its analog composite output to the KONA 3G
reference input. When KONA 3G outputs video it uses this reference signal to lock to. When
connecting a reference video source, the locking signal should be the same format in Hz
(1080i29.97, 625i25, etc.) as the Primary format selected in the AJA Control Panel. It is possible
in some circumstances to use an alternate format video signal as long as the basic frame rate
is compatible (for example, using a 525i29.97 genlock signal to lock a system running
1080i29.97)—if the Hz coincide.