As use of IP video grows, flexible video/audio support is key to balancing legacy systems with new workflows. FS8 delivers consistent, frame-synced HDR/SDR images from mixed sources.
AJA FS8, a video and audio processor that bridges SDI and IP infrastructures in broadcast, production and proAV. A part of AJA's FS line of frame sync devices, FS8 reliably runs up to eight channels of HD or four channels of UltraHD image processing, while handling frame sync, up/down/cross conversion and IP gateway functions.
Built into a 1RU device, it features a node-based web UI and connectivity ranging from 12G-SDI to ST 2110, Dante and MADI, with modernised tools that simplify productions.
"As adoption of IP video grows across industries, having flexible video and audio support is gaining importance for media companies balancing legacy infrastructure with the buildout of new workflows. We designed FS8 as an effective means of delivering consistent, frame-synced HDR and SDR images from mixed sources," said AJA President Nick Rashby.
"FS8 is our first frame sync to support ST 2110, but it does a lot more. It's a comprehensive solution for common production challenges including mismatched framerates, rasters and colour spaces, mono audio routing and management, and others."
Among FS8's standout features are its modern connectivity and high-density processing, which give users more flexibility. Up to 16x 12G-SDI inputs, and 8x HD or 4x UHD ST 2110-20 inputs, feed 8x HD or 4x UHD video processors, a design that reduces the need for extra equipment and results in savings on space, power and weight for users. Support for embedded SDI, ST 2110-30, Dante and MADI audio creates a 459x448 mono audio matrix that can be used cost-effectively for audio editing – from routing and conversion to level adjustment, delay and sample rate conversion.
With the unit’s configurable video and audio delay, users can create delays of up to 60 frames in HD, 30 in UltraHD, and up to 2.5 seconds of audio. Ultra-low latency is also possible, with less than half of a video frame of latency for the most demanding live applications.
Various other types of functionality are integrated such as UltraHD region-of-interest scaling, colour correction, proc amp and 3D LUT processing, with a set of deep ST 2110 troubleshooting tools. If more precise SDR/HDR colour management is required, an optional Colorfront license is available. For customisation, support for a publicly available RESTful API described by OpenAPI is also integrated, enabling users to create their own control interfaces, and allowing use of third-party integrations currently in development from Cyanview, Pomfort and Skaarhoj.
All these features are accessible through FS8's 1RU frame and browser-based web UI. The web UI has an interactive, node-based processing pipeline, video preview, audio meters, system and component-level preset recall, status monitoring and other features that simplify FS8 setup and control. FS8's front-panel colour LCD supports moving video and audio meters and enhances confidence monitoring, showing what viewers see with additional insight into the status of inputs, outputs and video processors. (See images included here.) www.aja.com
