[Aja Sales department]

We would recommend that, if you have not already, you should contact AJA Technical Support for assistance with operation of the Ki Pro Mini.

Regarding your questions, here are some thoughts which AJA Technical Support will also be happy to review with you.

1. If the CF media is removed without using the SLOT button, then it’s possible that the directory of the media has been compromised. Media that does not want to mount or halts the boot up process of the Ki Pro Mini typically insinuates that the media has some issue. AJA recommends that you connect this media to a Mac OS X computer which will repair directory issues, then back up your media, and reformat the media in the Ki Pro Mini via the MEDIA menu parameter.
2. If you are using the incrementing record timecode output of the camera via SDI and the Arm Recording parameter on the Ki Pro MIni, be aware that any disruption in the timecode output from the camera will cause the Ki Pro Mini to cease recording. AJA would recommend that your Ki Pro Mini as well as your camera be running the latest firmware. AJA would also recommend the use of the SDI Out connector on the Sony PMW-F3 as opposed to the SDI A or B connectors on the camera.
3. Dropped Frames being reported and an inability to work with the device would again suggest an issue with the media as noted in the first point. AJA recommends backing up the media and reformatting it in the Ki Pro Mini for optimal operation.
4. Operating multiple devices from one battery can produce a high amount of draw on that single battery. The Ki Pro Mini maximum watt draw is 18 watts, the Sony PMW-F3 draws between 20 and 30 watts (depending on power up, idle or operation) and the monitor is likely several additional watts. The Ki Pro Mini requires at least 12 volt power so if the battery “sags” below this value it will power down. The camera and the monitor might continue to operate if they support voltage operation lower than 12 volt when compared to the Ki Pro Mini. It might be wise to try to power fewer devices from the single battery source and/or use a combination of battery sources to power the devices. Additionally, unscheduled power downs of the Ki Pro Mini during recording or playback operations could leave the CF media directory in a less than ideal state.
5. Truncated recordings where the data has been written to the media but not closed properly again suggest that the media directory is compromised either by not using the SLOT button prior to media removal or abrupt power downs during recording/playback. The recordings where data is written but the file is not closed properly may be recovered via the Movie Repair service offered by AeroQuartet:
https://aeroquartet.com/movierepair/repair
6. Again, refer to the notes regarding a media directory that is likely compromised.
7. Erratic behavior of the transport buttons would again suggest a media directory that has been compromised.

We are sorry you have experienced issues, but AJA Technical Support will be happy to review your configuration and use of the device to see if they can offer advice to improve your experience. If they deem that there is any issue with your Ki Pro Mini, they will be happy to arrange an RMA of the unit. They may be reached via phone or email between 9am and 5pm PST, Monday through Friday.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Aja Sales department]

The AJA Io Express only features digital inputs: SDI and HDMI. In order to interface with an analog video source, an analog to SDI converter would be needed. AJA offers the HD10AVA Mini Converter:
https://www.aja.com/products/converters/converters-hd-hd10ava.php

This converter works with both analog video and audio input and outputs SDI with embedded audio.

Please keep in mind that your source is 3/4″ U-Matic and you will likely also need a time base corrector in the signal path between the output of the 3/4″ VTR and the input of the HD10AVA Mini Converter; AJA does not offer timebase correctors, but you can find them from companies like Datavideo, Hotronic,TV One, etc. So your likely signal path would be: composite analog video output to timebase corrector, composite output of timebase corrector to HD10AVA Mini Converter, SDI out of HD10AVA Mini Converter to SDI input of the AJA Io Express. The analog audio out of the VTR can be routed to the HD10AVA Mini Converter, but you will need to check to see if the VTR is outputting professional or consumer levels (that model uses RCA audio outputs as opposed to XLR connectors and therefore may be outputting a consumer level); if so the HD10AVA can be configured for consumer audio levels via dip switch number four on the unit. Another thing to consider is if the timebase corrector introduces processing delay, you may need to route audio as well as video through the timebase corrector before connecting audio to the HD10AVA converter for optimal A/V sync.

For more information about the HD10AVA Mini Converter, you can review the manual for the product here:
https://www.aja.com/pdf/support/manuals_conv/AJA_manual_HD10AVA.pdf

If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact AJA Technical Support for assistance. They are available via phone or email, Monday through Friday, between 9am and 5pm PST.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Aja Sales department]

To promote a Ki Pro to the master role, simply select “Master” from the radio buttons in the gang view UI. Note: only one unit can be promoted to the master role. You will know if the unit you are addressing is the master because red text stating “Master” will appear in the UI above the gang selections and below the transport buttons.

Again, if you have additional operational questions, don’t hesitate to contact AJA Technical Support for assistance.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Aja Sales department]

Only the AJA KONA 3, AJA KONA 3G and AJA KONA LHi members of the KONA family of capture cards provide the ability to upconvert from SD 23.98 to 1080PsF 23.98. To upconvert from SD 23.98 to 1080PsF 23.98, you will need to do the following:
1. Be sure that the AJA Control Panel application is configured for the output of 23.98 in the Video Setup tab.
2. From your application, such as Final Cut Pro 7, you will need the video output of the application to be set for 525 23.98 with the 10-bit or 8-bit selection made appropriately for the footage you are using. 10-bit for formats like 10-bit Uncompressed 4:2:2 or Apple ProRes 422 codecs. 8-bit for 8-bit Uncompressed or DV, DVCPRO 50, etc.
3. In the AJA Control Panel application, go to the Format tab and set the Primary Format to 525 23.98 and the Secondary Format to 1080PsF 23.98. Depending on the output sent to your monitor or VTR, set the Secondary Format for the SDI and/or component output.
4. You may need to adjust the upconversion type based on your SD footage aspect ratio; there are a variety of choices for this in the Format tab.

If you have additional questions, feel free to contact AJA Technical Support, Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm PST.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Aja Sales department]

Gang recording is covered in the version 2.0 manual for Ki Pro. Gang recording requires the use of the web UI; it cannot be initiated from the front panel UI.

Here are some helpful hints:
1. Use a dedicated LAN switch. Since you have 12 devices, a 16 port switch would be recommended.
2. Be sure that the 802.11 wireless capability is disabled on all Ki Pro units to avoid network connection confusion.
3. On each Ki Pro, set each of the units to use a static IP address. For example, 192.168.0.2, 192.168.0.3, etc. It can also be helpful to give each Ki Pro unit a unique system name. For example, Ki Pro 1, Ki Pro 2, etc.
4. On your host computer, adjust the network setting manually to an address and subnet mask appropriate to communicate with the devices. For example, 192.168.0.1 with subnet 255.255.255.0 – you can configure this easily via Mac OS System Preferences>Network choosing to configure manually.
5. Open a web browser such as Safari or Firefox and type in the IP address of the Ki Pro you’d like to use as the master. For example, 192.168.0.2.
6. When the web UI for the Ki Pro appears, navigate to the Transport page. Below the transport buttons, you will see a button for showing the gang view. Click on this.
7. If all of your Ki Pros are seen on the network, you should see them appear in the list. If units are missing, consider using the refresh for available devices and/or hiding and then showing the gang view again. Sometimes networks can have “slow” members, thus requiring this effort. Using static IP addresses (compared to DHCP) and a closed network is advisable.
8. If you see all of the devices listed (Ki Pro 1, Ki Pro 2, etc), add them to the gang via the gang checkboxes in the UI and be sure to promote the unit you are currently communicating with to the master role.

For more detailed operational considerations, it is worth consulting the operation manual. You can also feel free to contact AJA Technical Support via phone or email, Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm PST if you need additional assistance.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Aja Sales department]

The inclusion of the Io HD in the press release about the AJA Control Room application was in error; we apologize for this confusion regarding the supported devices.

The AJA Control Room app is designed to work under Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.  The Io HD is not a cross platform i/o device; it only operates under Mac OS X due to its unique FireWire 800 connection/interaction with the host Apple computer.  For capturing from tape and laying back to tape, you may continue to use the already available, and free, AJA VTR  Xchange application.

The AJA VTR Xchange application for use with Io HD can be found at:
https://www.aja.com/ajashare/AJA_VTR_Xchangev5.1.1.zip

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Aja Sales department]

The AJA Ki Pro, using firmware version 2.0 or later, can be controlled via an external 9-pin serial controller, such as Future Video’s MC-20. The Future Video MC-20 features a jog/shuttle knob.

If you have additional operational questions, please don’t hesitate to contact AJA Technical Support via phone or email.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Aja Sales department]

You are using software tools/desktop applications to evaluate interlacing (these do not tend to support frame analysis of interlace as computer displays are progressive). The suggestion for using a CRT was the external video output of the KONA to a broadcast quality SD monitor. Note that non-CRT based viewing devices, like LCDs, are not great for evaluating interlaced material as they typically have de-interlacers built into their design.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Aja Sales department]

It sounds like you are evaluating interlacing using the FCP desktop display; this draws a field, not a whole frame and would explain why you sometimes perceive the footage captured as interlaced and sometimes not. A better method of evaluating interlaced material would be a CRT.

Again, please feel free to contact AJA Technical Support if you have questions about conversions; they will be happy to assist you.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com

[Aja Sales department]

If you need assistance with configuring conversions, please feel free to contact AJA Technical Support via phone or email between 9am and 5pm PST.

In brief, a 720p 25fps timeline is output over baseband video as 720p 50 (720p 25 is not an “over the wire” format). So there are two choices since you own two AJA products, both of which are capable of hardware based downconversion.

The simplest path would be to set your output AJA product to downconvert 720p 50 to 625i 25; you accomplish this in the Format tab by setting the Primary Format as 720p 50 and the Secondary Format to 625i 25. Then for the SDI output, select the Secondary Format. You will see the downconversion icon in the AJA Control Panel signal diagram. On the input AJA product, simply set it to capture 625i 25.

Alternatively, if you wanted, you could elect to simply send 720p 50 out of the output AJA product – without any conversions – and set up an incoming conversion on the input product. On the input product, you achieve this by setting the Primary Format to 625i 25 and the Secondary Format to 720p 50; if you do this, you will notice that the downconversion icon will appear on the incoming video signal when you look at the icon in the AJA Control Panel.

Again, if you have an issue configuring this, please feel free to contact AJA Technical Support.

—
AJA Video Systems
+1 (530) 274-2048 Intl.
(800) 251-4224 US
sales@aja.com