AJA KONA 5 12G-SDI 8K PCIe Video I/O Card with HDMI 2.0

AJA KONA 5 12G-SDI 8K PCIe Video I/O Card with HDMI 2.0

Professional 8K and 4K Video I/O

The AJA KONA 5 is a professional PCIe video I/O card built for demanding 8K, 4K, 2K, HD, and SD video workflows. With four bidirectional 12G-SDI connections, HDMI 2.0 output, 8K capture and playback, HDR support, and up to 12-bit color, KONA 5 provides flexible connectivity for post-production, broadcast, live production, graphics, virtual production, and VFX workflows.

Key Features

• 8K/UltraHD2, 4K/UltraHD, 2K, HD and SD support up to 50/60p
• 4x bidirectional 12G-SDI connections with 16-channel embedded audio
• HDMI 2.0 output with 4K/UltraHD HFR support
• 8K to 4K downsampling for monitoring on existing 4K displays
• 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 support for 4K/UltraHD workflows
• 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 and HFR workflow support
• Support for HDR10, HLG, PQ and Dolby Vision
• Up to 12-bit LUT support
• 8K support for Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro and Avid Media Composer
• Multi-channel support with OBS Studio, vMix and Telestream Wirecast
• Reference input for analog black burst or tri-level sync
• Includes breakout cable for LTC, RS-422 and 8-channel AES/EBU
• Three-year warranty 

12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 Connectivity

KONA 5 features four bidirectional 12G-SDI connections, providing flexible configurations for professional SDI workflows. The connections can support 8K/UltraHD2 using four 12G-SDI links, as well as 4K/UltraHD, HD, 2K, and other SDI formats depending on the configuration.

A full-size HDMI 2.0 output supports 4K/UltraHD high-frame-rate monitoring, HDR, and Deep Color. KONA 5 can also downsample 8K SDI sources to 4K, allowing existing 4K monitors to be used within an 8K workflow. 

8K Capture and Playback

KONA 5 brings 8K capture and playback to Windows, macOS, and Linux workstations. It supports native 8K workflows in applications including Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Avid Media Composer, along with other supported applications.

Dynamic FPGA firmware reconfiguration allows users to switch between KONA 5 configurations optimized for 8K and 4K-or-lower workflows in under 10 seconds, without waiting for a firmware update or rebooting the system.

HDR and 12-Bit Workflows

KONA 5 supports professional HDR workflows including HDR10, HLG, PQ, and Dolby Vision, with HDR metadata capture and automatic playback detection. VPID signaling provides support for SDR/HDR transfer characteristics, colorimetry, and luminance information over SDI.

The card also supports 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 workflows for 4K/UltraHD and 10-bit YCbCr 4:2:2 workflows, providing flexibility for high-quality post-production and color-critical applications.

Professional Video Production Connectivity

The included breakout cable expands KONA 5 with 8-channel AES/EBU audio input and output, RS-422 machine control, and LTC input/output. The card also includes five HDBNC-to-full-size BNC cables for compatibility with existing SDI infrastructure.

KONA 5 supports external reference for larger production environments and can use LTC for accurate timecode. Its RS-422 connection enables frame-accurate control of compatible external devices.

Software and Application Support

KONA 5 works with AJA Control Room and AJA Control Panel and provides support for leading professional video applications, including:

• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Apple Final Cut Pro
• Avid Media Composer
• FilmLight
• OBS Studio
• vMix
• Telestream Wirecast

KONA 5 also supports AJA's SDK for developers and OEM applications requiring 8K or multi-channel 4K workflows. 

Virtual Production, VFX and Live Compositing

KONA 5 can capture real-time camera footage over SDI and work with Unreal Engine for virtual production, augmented reality, and live compositing workflows. Its hardware downstream keyer can also overlay graphics and images up to 4K/UltraHD in real time.

With its combination of 8K/4K video I/O, 12G-SDI, HDMI 2.0, HDR, high-bit-depth workflows, reference, timecode, and machine control, KONA 5 is designed for professional post-production, broadcast, live production, graphics, VFX, virtual production, and other high-resolution video workflows.

• Video Formats
  • (8K) 8192 x 4320p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60
  • (UltraHD2) 7680 x 4320p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60
  • (4K) 4096 x 2160p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60
  • (UltraHD) 3840 x 2160p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60
  • (2K) 2048 x 1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 47.95, 48, 50, 59.94, 60
  • (2K) 2048 x 1080PsF 23.98, 24, 25
  • (HD) 1080p 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60
  • (HD) 1080PsF 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30
  • (HD) 1080i 50, 59.94, 60
  • (HD) 720p 50, 59.94, 60
  • (SD) 625i 50
  • (SD) 525i 59.94
  • Note: High Frame Rate and 8K/UltraHD2 capabilities are dependent on host system attributes. Not all systems and configurations will support all frame rates and raster sizes.
• Video Inputs Digital
  • 12G-SDI, SMPTE-2082, 12-bit*, 10-bit
  • 6G-SDI, SMPTE-2081, 10-bit
  • 3G-SDI, SMPTE 425
  • RGB 4:4:4 12-bit*, YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
  • 1.5G-SDI, SMPTE 292M
  • Single Link HD-SDI YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
  • Dual Link RGB 4:4:4 12-bit*, Dual Link YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
  • 270 Mbps SDI, SMPTE 259M-C
  • YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit, 8-bit 
  • *Bit depth support is application dependent. Check with your software manufacturer for compatibility.
  • Note: KONA 5 SDI connectors are HD BNC
• Video Outputs Digital
  • 12G-SDI*, SMPTE-2082, 12-bit*, 10-bit
  • 6G-SDI*, SMPTE-2081, 10-bit
  • 3G-SDI, SMPTE 425
  • RGB 4:4:4 12-bit*, YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
  • 1.5G-SDI, SMPTE 292M
  • Single Link HD-SDI YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
  • Dual Link RGB 4:4:4 12-bit*, Dual Link YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit
  • 270 Mbps SDI, SMPTE 259M-C
  • YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit, 8-bit
  • HDMI v2.0
  • 30/36-bits/pixel, RGB or YUV, 6 Gbps per color component
  • 4K, UltraHD, 2K, HD, and SD with HFR support up to 60p (4:2:2), 10-bit
  • *Bit depth support is application dependent. Check with your software manufacturer for compatibility.
  • Note: KONA 5 SDI connectors are HD BNC
• HDR
  • SDI: VPID signaling for SDR/HDR Transfer Characteristics, Colorimetry and Luminance
  • HDMI: HDR10 Support - HDR Infoframe metadata, compatible with HDMI 2.0a/CTA-861.3
  • HDMI: HLG Support - compatible with HDMI 2.0b/CTA-861-G 
  • Note: HDR support is application dependent. Check with your software manufacturer for compatibility
• SDI I/O
  • SDI connections are bidirectional
  • 2K/HD, capture and monitoring is simultaneous
  • 4K/UltraHD with 12G-SDI, capture and monitoring is simultaneous.  
  • 4K/UltraHD with 3G-SDI, all four connections must be used for either Input or Output. 
  • 8K/UltraHD2 with 12G-SDI, connections must be used for either Input or Output. 
  • Note: When connections are configured for 12G-SDI or 6G-SDI, only UltraHD/4K/UltraHD2/8K formats are supported.
• Audio Inputs Digital
  • 16-channel, 24 and 16-bit SDI embedded audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous
  • 8-channel, 16 and 24-bit AES/EBU audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous or nonsynchronous, internal sample rate conversion (via 4x BNC on breakout cable)
• Audio Outputs Digital
  • 16-channel, 24-bit SDI embedded audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous
  • 8-channel, 24-bit HDMI embedded audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous
  • 8-channel, 16 and 24-bit AES/EBU audio, 48 kHz sample rate, synchronous or nonsynchronous, internal sample rate conversion (via 4x BNC on breakout cable)
• Downstream Keyer: Supports graphics up to 2K/HD with alpha channel over video, matte or framebuffer, or framebuffer content over incoming video or matte
• Reference
  • Analog Color Black (1V) or Composite Sync (2 or 4V) or HD Tri-Level Sync (1V) (via 1x HD-BNC at PCIe bracket)
  • Reference input is terminated into 75 ohms when Genlock is set to Ref In
• Timecode
  • LTC timecode input and output (via 2x BNC on breakout cable)
  • LTC timecode input (via 2-pin header on PCIe card)
  • LTC timecode input (via HD-BNC at PCIe bracket)
• Electrical Interface: 8-lane PCIe 3.0
• Machine Control
  • RS-422, Sony 9-pin protocol (via breakout cable)
  • 9-pin D-connector pinout is as follows:
  • 1: GND
  • 2: RX-
  • 3: TX+
  • 4: GND
  • 5: No Connection
  • 6: GND
  • 7: RX+
  • 8: TX-
  • 9: GND
  • Shell: GND
• Noise: <50dBA (A-weighted at 1m in free air)
• Size (w x d x h): 0.75" x 6.9" x 5.0" (19.05 x 175.26 x 127.00 mm)
• Weight
  • PCIe Card:  0.6 lbs (0.3 kg)
  • Cables (all combined): 1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)
• Power
  • 28W typical, 35W maximum via ATX power.
  • PC Internal ATX Power Connector (Molex p/n 45559-0002)
  • Note: Unlike other KONA cards, KONA 5 uses PCIe power from a 6 pin ATX connector, rather than the PCIe slot.
• Safe Operating Temperature: 0 to 40 C (32 to 104 F)
• Safe Storage Temperature (Power OFF): -40 to 60 C (-40 to 140 F)
• Operating Relative Humidity: 10-90% noncondensing
• Operating Altitude: <3,000 meters (<10,000 feet)

• AJA KONA 5 12G-SDI 8K PCIe Video I/O Card with HDMI 2.0
• Warranty: Limited 3-Year Manufacturer Warranty