AJA KONA 5.0 - Manual (Page 24)

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wherever possible. Most high-end professional broadcast equipment supports SDI (VTRs,
cameras, media storage servers, etc.).
Analog Monitor Out (Component/Composite HD/SD)
Both the standard I/O cable and the optional KL-Box feature two groups of three BNC
connectors each, for input and output of component, composite and Y/C functions. The
signals are labelled on both the cable and KL-Box connectors.
The analog component output can be switched between SD and HD. KONA 3 features 12-bit
component video output for both HD and SD. SD can be switched to composite and Y/C. (The
same three BNC connectors share component and Y/C functions.) This allows use of an
inexpensive analog monitor for both HD and SD work. You can even use a composite video
monitor. For Dual Link HD-SDI output, HD or SD can be monitored through the component
output. Dual Link HD can be output as 4:4:4 RGB.
Component video signals are generally higher quality than composite, but not as high-quality
as serial digital (SDI).
Note: About RGB: Although RGB is used less in today’s video systems, KONA 3 supports it for
A/V Monitor output. However, because the KONA 3 (and SMPTE SDI’s) native format is
YPbPr, AJA recommends using YPbPr when the monitor supports it. The YPbPr format
provides “headroom” for “superwhite” and superblack”—and these video levels will be
clipped when transcoding to RGB. Also, the RGB/YPbPr transcoding involves a level
translation that results in mathematical round-off error. RGB can be configured in the
Playout setup panel of the specific application you are using with KONA 3.
Note: About YPbPr: KONA 3 supports three different types of YPbPr:
• SMPTE/EBU N10
• Betacam (NTSC)
• Betacam (NTSC-J [Japan]).
These three formats differ in level only and can be configured in the Playout setup panel of
the specific application you are using with KONA 3.
Reference Video
A single BNC on the standard KONA cable—or two BNC connectors on the K3-Box (it loops
through)—allow you to synchronize KONA outputs to your house analog reference video
signal (or black burst). If you have a sync generator or central piece of video equipment to use
for synchronizing other video equipment in your studio, connect its analog composite output
here. When KONA outputs video, it locks to this reference signal. When connecting a reference
video source, the locking signal should be the same format as the Primary format selected in
KONA software. It is possible in some circumstances to use an alternate format video signal if
the basic frame rate is compatible.