AJA FS8 4K hybrid SDI/IP media processor 1RU

AJA FS8

AJA FS8 is a multi-channel frame synchronizer and converter that prepares SDI and SMPTE ST 2110 signals for production. In a single 1RU device it combines frame synchronization, up/down/cross-conversion, frame-rate conversion, HDR/WCG processing, 3D LUT-based and live color management, audio processing, delay management and metadata handling, plus an SDI to/from IP gateway. It is designed for cine-live productions, broadcast, production trucks, flypacks, live venues, studios and remote production.

FS8 offers 8 independent channels of HD video processing or up to 4 channels of UHD processing (two video processors are paired for each UHD channel), configured in a visual node-based pipeline in the web interface. The processors are fed by up to 16 12G-SDI inputs (8 on BNC plus 8 through optional HD-BNC or fiber SFPs) and by 8 HD or 4 UHD ST 2110-20 streams over four 25 GbE SFP28 cages, with full routing of any I/O port to any processing channel. Audio from SDI embedded, MADI, Dante and ST 2110-30 meets in a 459x448 mono audio matrix.

Color tools include NBCU LUTs, user and dynamic 3D LUTs (for example driven by Pomfort Livegrade), a proc amp, an RGB color corrector and a YUV/RGB legalizer per channel; the Colorfront Engine and the BBC HLG LUTs are available as optional licenses. Control is via the web UI, the front-panel color LCD, a REST API (OpenAPI), NMOS IS-04/IS-05 and Ember+, and redundant power supplies support mission-critical operation.

Key features

• UHD Vid Proc mode: up to 4 channels of 4K/UHD frame sync and conversion, including HDR conversions
• HD Vid Proc mode: up to 8 channels of HD frame sync and conversion, including HDR conversions; modes can be mixed (8 video processors in total, 2 per UHD channel)
• Operating modes: SDI Only (up to 16x16 12G-SDI), Hybrid 1 (8x8 SDI on BNC + ST 2110) and Hybrid 2 (8x8 SDI on optional SFPs + ST 2110)
• IP gateway in Hybrid modes: up to 8 HD or 4 UHD paths, direction freely mixed (e.g. 4+4 HD or 2+2 UHD)
• 4K/UHD/2K/HD up/down conversion and 720p/1080p/1080i cross-conversion with 10-bit hardware processing
• Frame rate conversion and motion adaptive deinterlacer
• HDR/SDR and wide color gamut transforms per channel: NBCU LUTs, user 3D LUTs, dynamic 3D LUTs; Colorfront Engine and BBC HLG LUTs as licensable options
• 33-point 3D LUT processors with tetrahedral interpolation; configurable HDR metadata in output SDI VPID and ST 2110 SDP
• Proc amp, RGB color corrector and YUV/RGB legalizer
• Region of Interest scaling and positioning, video processor layering with matte generator
• Video delay up to 60 frames in HD and 30 frames in UHD; ultra-low-latency mode of less than half a frame; timing comparator
• Test signal generator per video processor: SDR and HDR patterns, moving box, user text overlay, tone generators
• Audio: 459x448 mono matrix with SDI embedded, MADI, Dante and ST 2110-30 sources, sample rate conversion, delay, level and phase per channel, surround-to-stereo downmixers
• SMPTE ST 2110 (-10, -20, -21, -30, -40) with ST 2022-7 redundancy, PTP (ST 2059-2), NMOS IS-04/IS-05, Ember+
• ST 2110 tools: ping per IP interface, PCAP capture from the device, SDP view, NMOS discovery modes, operational statistics
• Dante: primary and secondary GigE ports, 64x64 channels, PTPv2, AES67, RAVENNA and ST 2110-30 compatible
• Genlock to PTP, analog black burst or tri-level; configurable analog reference output
• System, Vid Proc, Audio Proc, IP Config and 3D LUT presets, recalled without restarting the unit
• Front-panel color LCD with video preview, audio meters and status; browser-based UI and REST API (OpenAPI)
• Dual redundant power supplies, 1RU chassis

Compatibility

• Pomfort Livegrade (dynamic 3D LUTs, look management)
• SKAARHOJ Rack Control Duo hardware panel (also controls FS-HDR, FS4, FS2, FS1-X)
• CyanView RCP (proc amp and RGB color corrector control)
• NMOS IS-04/IS-05 and Ember+ control and automation systems
• Audinate Dante Controller and Dante Domain Manager
• AJA SDI SFP modules: HDBNC-2TX/2RX-12G, FIBERLC 12G single mode, FIBERLC/FIBERSC 3G single mode, FIBERLC 3G multi-mode

Notes

• 10/25 GbE SFP28 modules for ST 2110 are not included and must be purchased from third parties (AJA has tested several FS.com models); the SDI HD-BNC and fiber SFP modules are optional.
• The Colorfront Engine (FS8-LIC-CF) and BBC HLG LUTs (FS8-LIC-BBC) are optional perpetual licenses, each with a free 15-day trial; NBCU LUTs, user and dynamic 3D LUTs are included.
• FS8 processes HD, 2K, UHD and 4K formats; SD video is not supported.
• In SDI mode the outputs lock to the analog reference; in Hybrid modes the unit is genlocked to PTP and can output an analog reference to genlock other equipment.

Specifications

• Video formats: 4096x2160p and 3840x2160p, 2048x1080p and 1920x1080p 23.98 to 60; 1920x1080PsF 23.98 to 30; 1920x1080i 50/59.94/60; 1280x720p 50/59.94/60
• Video inputs: 8x 12G-SDI BNC (12G/6G/3G/1.5G, SMPTE 292/424/2081/2082, YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit, 3G Level A) + 8x optional SFP (HD-BNC or fiber, SMPTE 297) + 4x UHD or 8x HD ST 2110-20 (ST 2022-7 Class A-D)
• Video outputs: 8x 12G-SDI BNC + 8x optional SFP (HD-BNC or fiber) + 4x UHD or 8x HD ST 2110-20 (ST 2022-7, narrow gapped senders)
• Media interfaces: 4x SFP28 cages for 10/25 GbE SFPs (not included); ST 2110-20/-30/-40, PTP, NMOS IS-04 v1.3 and IS-05 v1.1, LLDP, IGMP v2/v3
• Audio inputs: 16x SDI embedded (128 channels), ST 2110-30 (1x16, 2x8, 4x4, 1 ms and 125 us), Dante 64 channels on 2x RJ-45, 2x MADI on HD-BNC (128 channels, AES-10)
• Audio outputs: embedded per video processor (128 channels), ST 2110-30, Dante 64 channels, 2x MADI on HD-BNC (128 channels)
• Audio processing: 459x448 matrix; gain +/-18 dB, phase invert, input delay up to 0.25 s and output delay up to 2.5 s; SRC on all inputs with bypass for non-PCM audio (Dolby E, AC-3); four 5.1/7.1 to stereo downmixers
• Ancillary data: pass-through of embedded ANC, timecode (LTC, VITC1, VITC2), SCTE-104 and closed captions; ST 2110-40
• Video delay: nominal 2 frames, adjustable 0-30 frames UHD / 0-60 frames HD with H and V timing
• Reference: 1x BNC analog reference input and 1x BNC configurable reference output (black burst or tri-level); PTPv2 SMPTE ST 2059-2 in-band
• Control: 1x RJ-45 Gigabit (web UI, REST API, NMOS, Ember+), 2x RJ-45 Gigabit for Dante; color LCD with backlit keypad, two rotary/push knobs, LED alarm indicators
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 444.5 x 406.4 x 44.45 mm (1RU)
• Weight: 3.6 kg
• Power: 100-240 VAC 50/60 Hz, dual redundant power supplies, 70 W typical, 90 W max
• Operating temperature: 0 to 40 C; humidity 10-90% non-condensing