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OT: AJA IO vs AJA Kona
Forgive my ignorance – I’m still learning…
Here’s the deal: I have at my workstation an AJA IO. It’s been there since I started work (I’m a “beginning” editor) 1 1/2 years ago, and I’ve just taken it for granted. However, lately I’ve become aware of some of the AJA Kona cards, which seem to do all of the same things as my IO and are much, much cheaper. If I don’t NEED all of the connections of a full-fledged IO, and would be happy with one of the Kona cards, is it feasible to sell the IO, get a Kona, and put the monetary difference to use elsewhere?
Does the IO do things better than the Kona, or just more of them?
Thanks for all thoughts.
Nick
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5 Replies
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The I/O has the advantage of being PORTABLE. You can have six computers and only need one card…well, DEVICE really. Because it connects via firewire. The Kona LS is a PCI-X card that you install in your computer. That card is tied to that computer.
And the other Kona cards, Kona 3 and Kona LH are high def cards. They do high def and standard def. And again, are tied to the computer.
Shane
Littlefrog Post
http://www.lfhd.net -
Also, the Kona 3 is badically all digital (it has an analog video out for monitoring if you have the breakout box, but no in). I don’t know about the LS or LH, but I’m sure it still stands that the benifit of the IO is that you can do Analog and Digital SD in the same box. If you’re using both, you probably should hold on to it.
-Ben
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I think it would be very safe to say that most of us here on the Cows who are using Kona cards also have access to an IO box too.
The AJA Kona products are the best in the business but they have limited support for lower SD video standards such as S-Video. Therefore, any production house that has Kona cards installed also need the use of an IO box from time to time.
Now, let me say that if you have a Kona card installed, then you only really need a IO LA to add the other inputs/outputs for your analog connections.
To be perfectly honest, we only use our IO box for making tape dubs. Our primary format is XDCAM HD which has an SDI output that we connect to our IO and its outputted thru analog component to our BetaSP deck. This is the perfect use for the AJA IO and the major reason why most everyone who owns a Kona card should have an IO box.
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Wayne Carey
Schazam Productions
http://www.schazamproductions.com -
Hi Nick
WE have 2 systems, one uses Kona LH and the other uses and IO la (both are “lite” versions of the real deal)
Our situation is 2 fixed edit rooms with real ntsc video monitors, audio monitors, and tape decks. for this i find the IO limiting.
I cannot have any other firewire device attached except through a third party FW card. It will not support ANY HD so everything has to be dvcpro50 or dv or 8 bit. When i do want to capture dv material via firewire i have to unplug the IO and restart the machine. in other words, its not practiccla for edit room application HOWEVER i am sure its great if you are on the road or something
I much prefer the Kona Card as it has all sorts of Good down and upconversions from HD to SD and back. AND you can use the extra money for sdi to analog converters for that popular analog world (we master everything to betaSP and make copies and dubs from that so i guess you couold say we use our Beta as a format converter.
The Io may also be good for a Photoshop AE 3D workstation envirionment, allowing you to connect a generic PC or Mac to a tv monitor, but there are cheaper ways to do that
hope this helps
bee eph
“I like video because its so fast!”
Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc. -
Thanks for the responses everyone. Bob, you make some good points.
Nick
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