AJA Video Systems has unveiled FS8, a video and audio processor that bridges SDI and IP infrastructures in broadcast, production and proAV. Building on AJA’s FS frame sync line, FS8 reliably powers up to eight channels of HD or four channels of UltraHD image processing, including frame sync, up/down/cross conversion and IP gateway functionality. The 1RU solution features an intuitive, node-based web UI and wide-ranging connectivity, including 12G-SDI, ST 2110, Dante and MADI, offering modernised tools that streamline productions. FS8 will be on display at IBC in Amsterdam from 11–14 September at RAI Amsterdam, stand 7.B25.
“With IP video adoption growing across industries, having flexible video and audio support is more essential than ever for media companies balancing legacy infrastructure with the buildout of next-generation workflows. We designed FS8 as a powerhouse for delivering consistent, frame-synced HDR and SDR pictures from mixed sources,” said AJA President Nick Rashby. “FS8 is our first frame sync to support ST 2110, but it does so much more. It’s a Swiss Army knife solution for common production headaches, from navigating mismatched frame rates, rasters and colour spaces to mono audio routing and management, and more.”
Among FS8’s standout features are its modern connectivity and high-density processing, which provide 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, reducing the need for additional equipment for space, power and weight savings. Support for embedded SDI, ST 2110-30, Dante and MADI audio creates an impressive 459×448 mono audio matrix, providing cost-effective audio grooming, from routing and conversion to level adjustment, delay and sample rate conversion.
Configurable video and audio delay enables delay 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. UltraHD region of interest scaling; colour correction, proc amp and 3D LUT processing; precise SDR/HDR colour management through an optional Colorfront licence; and a deep ST 2110 troubleshooting toolset are also integrated. Support for a publicly available RESTful API described by OpenAPI enables the creation of custom-built control interfaces and the 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’s interactive, node-based processing pipeline, video preview, audio meters, system and component-level preset recall, status monitoring and more all simplify FS8 setup and control. FS8’s front-panel colour LCD supports moving video and audio meters and enhances confidence monitoring with additional insight into the status of inputs, outputs and video processors.
Key FS8 feature highlights include:
- UltraHD and HD Vid Proc Modes, allowing the mix and match of up to four channels of 4K/UltraHD or up to eight channels of 2K/HD frame sync, processing and IP gateway functionality – including HDR conversions
- Expansive video I/O options, including 12G-SDI over coax and fibre and ST 2110-20 with ST 2022-7 redundancy, with audio disembedding and embedding
- Audio I/O options, including Dante, MADI, ST 2110-30 and embedded SDI audio, with each audio input offering sample rate conversion and every I/O offering delay, level and phase adjustment, creating a 459 x 448 matrix of audio processing
- Flexible HDR and SDR colour transforms for dynamic range and wide colour gamut conversion, with each video processor able to independently select from integrated NBCU, User 3D LUT or Dynamic LUT Modes, or licensable Colorfront and BBC HLG LUT Modes
- 33-point 3D LUT processors with tetrahedral interpolation
- 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD video processing and up, down and cross-conversion
- Configurable HDR metadata for output SDI VPID and ST 2110 SDP
- Test signal generator, including SDR and HDR test patterns, moving box, custom text overlay per video processor and audio tone generators per mono audio channel output
- Region of Interest (ROI) scaling and positioning
- Motion-adaptive deinterlacer
- Up to 60 frames of configurable video delay in HD, 30 frames in UHD and 2.5 seconds of configurable audio delay
- Ultra-low latency video processing mode, less than half of a video frame
- Simple frame rate conversion
- Configurable analogue reference output
- Ancillary data grooming
- Intuitive input and output routing matrix controls
- System and component-level presets
- Four audio downmixers, from 5.1 or 7.1 surround to stereo
- AJA’s five-year warranty and technical support, with no contracts, recurring software maintenance fees or ongoing feature subscriptions required to access core functionality
Pricing and Availability
AJA FS8 will be available soon through AJA’s worldwide network of resellers for US$14,995 MSRP, with optional licences for Colorfront Engine and BBC HLG LUTs priced at US$1,995 and US$295 respectively.
Visit https://www.aja.com
