AJA Kona 3 – Mac Pro – PAL Land

[Bob Zelin]

I have never used the Kona 3 in a PAL enviornment, but I use the Kona 3 with HDW-M2000 and DVW-A500 and DVW-M2000 on a regular basis in NTSC, with no issues.

Because you have changed everything, and are still getting “sparklies” in the video image, I suggest that you DO try the Blackmagic Decklink. I suspect that you will get the same problems, but you will feel much better after trying the Blackmagic, and seeing if you have the same problems (I bet you will).

As to what is causing your problem – I dont know. You say that you have changed the Kona 3, the MAC Pro, and have the problem with both Digi Beta AND HDW-M2000 ! The only thing left in common is your Blackmagic HD-Link which is how you monitor your video. Before I blame the HD-Link, perhaps you SHOULD try a Blackmagic Decklink card (like the Decklink HD Extreme) – this will answer your question very quickly if the problem is your AJA card or not.

Bob Zelin

[Rory Hinds]

Hi Bob

I don’t think its the HDLink as it gets a solid signal when I feed it HD or SD directly from the VTR’s and its only when the Kona3 is connected I get the sparkles and drop outs.

I would say this is a software problem with Kona3 drivers although AJA are saying its not but don’t have PAL equipment to test it so they are shooting in the dark on this one and as I have the PAL equipment and have done the testing for them its extremely frustrating to be jumping through hoops.

Hopefully other Kona3 PAL users will speak up as I do find it incredible that there are so few PAL users out there.

Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com

[Itamar Kool]

I use a Kona LHe and I guess the drivers for that card are not very different to the drivers for the Kona 3 as far as the PAL signal is concerned. I have no problems at all with it

Kool En De Anderen
MAC Pro/Kona LHe/Apple FCS 2/Adobe PPCS3/Huge fibrechannel
http://www.koolendeanderen.nl

[Gary Adcock]

[Rory Hinds] “I’m getting sparkles on the HDLink monitor with it consistently dropping the signal”

with the Kona crads swapped out- why is this not a decklink issue then? have you checked on any other type of display?

“After weeks of trouble and many isolation sessions, swopping this for that then that for this to find the problem the only thing it points to is the Kona3 is bad so I need to get a Decklink.

Rory
if you have swapped out cards and the problems still persist what makes you think it is not your system? the odds of 2 or more cards showing the same issue are remote.

have you checked the 2000 deck for issues also?

gary adcock
Studio37
HD & Film Consultation
Post and Production Workflows

[Walter Biscardi]

[Rory Hinds] “I would say this is a software problem with Kona3 drivers although AJA are saying its not but don’t have PAL equipment to test it so they are shooting in the dark on this one and as I have the PAL equipment and have done the testing for them its extremely frustrating to be jumping through hoops.”

We edit a documentary series in 1080i/50 PAL and have never seen what you are describing. We do not use an HD link, but rather feed the Component and HD-SDI signals directly from the Kona 3’s to our HD monitors and decks. We have never seen this “sparkle” behavior you’re describing. If it was there, we would have noticed it and surely network quality control would have rejected the episodes.

I would look at the HD Link as a culprit. In your original post you said you’re getting the sparkles through the HD Link but you didn’t mention the decks. Are you NOT seeing the sparkles on the direct feeds from the Kona 3 to the VTRs? If not, then the Kona 3 is not the issue. Feed the HD Signal directly to the HD monitor and see if the sparkles are there.

If AJA has already sent you multiple replacement boards, then I really don’t think it’s the AJA boards.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
https://www.biscardicreative.com
HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi

[Bob Zelin]

Hi Rory –
I have read your reply, as well as everyone elses. If you have the luxury of being able to borrow a Blackmagic Decklink card (without having to pay for it), I would absolutely do it ! I personally believe that you will see the same problem (which is why you should not return the AJA hardware and purchase Blackmagic cards), but if you can try it, it will give you peace of mind. Sony VTR’s will have “sparklies” when the scanners are dirty from the copper brushes “flaking off”. I too think that this may be a Sony VTR issue, but I know that you are doing comprehensive tests. If you can get the Blackmagic card just for a test (and you are willing to do it ) – then try it.

Bob Zelin

[Rory Hinds]

Hi Gary

I swopped out the Mac Pro so I know its not the Mac.

View a direct feed off the VRT via the HDLink is fine, its only when connected to the Kona3 that I have issues.

I’ve checked the Kona Control Panel and all is okay there.

I plan to purchase a Decklink card to rid me off this problem as everything is pointing to the Kona3.

I’ve replaced every component in my setup and still the problem persists with the Kona3… what more am I do to without tech support having the same setup as I do?

Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com

[Terence Curren]

Sparkles sounds to me like a reference issue. Are you feeding solid reference to both the deck and the Kona card? Is the Kona card set to external reference?

Terence Curren
http://www.alphadogs.tv
http://www.digitalservicestation.com
Burbank,Ca

[Rory Hinds]

Hi Terence

You are the voice of reason as I’ve been saying to support that this is a reference issue all along as the signal drops and I do get weird line alternating problems and now the sparkles.

I have tried setting the Kona3 to reference in to my Black&Burst and still no joy.

Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com

[Rory Hinds]

okay I’m convinced this is a ref sync issue.

I’m managed to get a stable signal with no sparkles in PAL SD as I have a Black and Burst going ref into the Kona3.

So this leaves HD to be sorted.

Do I have to purchase a TriSync for HD reference as the Kona3 doesn’t work on Freerun?
This doesn’t seem right as surely AJA would have mentioned this.

Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com