AJA FS8 Hybrid SDI/IP Media Processor
AJA FS8 Hybrid SDI/IP Media Processor, Up/Down/Cross, 12G-SDI/SMPTE ST 2110
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AJA FS8 Hybrid SDI/IP Media Processor
Powerful SDI/IP Processing for Broadcast and Live ProductionAJA FS8 is a powerful hybrid SDI/IP media processor designed to simplify demanding HD, UHD, 2K and 4K broadcast, live production and AV workflows. Combining frame synchronisation, format conversion, colour processing, HDR/SDR conversion, audio processing, and flexible routing in a high-density platform, FS8 supports traditional SDI, SMPTE ST 2110 IP, and mixed environments, helping broadcasters, event producers, and system integrators manage complex signal workflows with low latency and scalable UHD processing.
SMPTE ST 2110
Scalable, Standards-Based IP Production WorkflowsAJA’s SMPTE ST 2110 product family provides the connectivity, control, and interoperability needed to build scalable, standards-based IP production workflows. With four SFP28 cages, the FS8 supports up to 4x UHD or up to 8x HD ST 2110 streams. The two pairs of SFP28s support ST 2022-7 redundancy for maximum uptime. FS8 supports hybrid IP gateway workflows in which SDI and SMPTE ST 2110 signals are synchronized, converted, processed, and exchanged within the same platform. The FS8 can input SDI, apply frame sync, and a wealth of processing options such as SDR/HDR conversions, ROI, scaling, and then output SDI and ST 2110 streams. It also supports conversion from ST 2110 to/from SDI or stay in a full SDI or 2110 pipeline providing ultimate flexibility in dynamic production settings. The capability doesn’t end with signal processing, the FS8 can use PTP and generate a wide range of analog sync reference outputs to genlock other devices. It also features in-band and out-of-band control via NMOS IS-04 and -05 and Ember +.
HDR & Colour Management
HDR, SDR, and Wide Colour Gamut ProcessingFS8 supports real-time HDR, SDR, and wide colour gamut conversion for live production and distribution. Starting with the proven strengths of FS-HDR, the FS8 includes transform-based processing supporting 3D LUT workflows and single stream HDR productions with SDR and HDR deliverables, while expanding flexibility across more channels and hybrid SDI/IP paths.
Live Colour Management and Creative ControlFor camera matching, live grading, and HDR look management, FS8 provides configurable 3D LUT processors and integration points for professional live colour-management systems. A Pomfort Livegrade workflow allows colour decisions made in a live production environment to be applied in real-time. FS8 has a per channel Proc Amp and RGB colour corrector in line to fine-tune your live looks or camera match. The FS8 features colour management from Colourfront, NBCU LUTs, and BBC HLG LUTs.
Single Stream HDR and SDR productionProductions often must generate multiple colour-space and dynamic-range deliverables or convert SDR sources to HDR for mixing with other HDR sources. FS8 can apply different colour transforms per video processor output while preserving timing and generating the correct signaling metadata. A single source can be routed to multiple Video Processors for coordinated HDR and SDR processing and route to SDI and/or ST 2110 outputs using the internal signal routing matrix.
LegalizerFinally, a built-in YUV/RGB legalizer ensures the processed video remains within broadcast specifications, protecting live productions and deliveries from illegal luminance and chroma levels after colour processing, HDR transforms, and format conversions.
Operational Simplicity
Operators, Engineers, & AutomationFS8 features an embedded web server and an easy-to-use web UI, making sophisticated signal processing intuitive to configure, control, and deploy simplifying complex SDI and IP workflows while allowing engineering to maintain visibility and control. The interactive node-based processing pipeline and video preview provides the visibility, and control operators need to work with confidence. FS8 offers an advanced preset experience with System, Vid Proc, Audio Proc, IP Config, and 3D LUT presets available to the end user. Each preset type offers granular control over each part of the preset you want to recall. This greatly simplifies large scale deployments where defined processing pipelines can be shared across multiple units. NMOS IS-04 and IS-05 supports automated device discovery, registration, and stream connection management within SMPTE ST 2110 environments. The OpenAPI Specification (OAS) for the REST API is easily available for 3rd party or customized control, with integrations available from CyanView, Skaarhoj, and Pomfort. Ember+ support enables seamless integration with broadcast control and automation systems for remote monitoring and operational control.
Frame Synchronisation & Timing Control
Precisely Align Every SignalCameras, replay servers, graphics engines, encoders, and processing equipment rarely deliver signals at exactly the same instant. Each video processor in the FS8 aligns an untimed or asynchronously timed source to house reference or PTP timing. Adjustable output timing and frame delays compensate for latency elsewhere in the workflow, allowing signals from different processing paths to arrive together. FS8 provides horizontal, vertical, and frame-delay adjustments, allowing engineers to align signals from the pixel level to multiple whole frames. Frame delay can be set to ultra-low latency for color procession only, for example, with just half of a video frame of processing latency.
As sports fans have come to expect more dynamic and interactive experiences, augmented reality (AR) is a common and valuable production asset, but one that requires additional video processing time. For seamless integration of AR into live productions, larger frame buffering capacities are required to delay other sources. The FS8 offers the largest configurable frame delay in its class of up to 60 frames per video processing channel in HD (30 in UHD), ensuring all sources stay in time.
The web UI offers a timing comparator which describes reference to output delay and input to output delay. The combination of these tools provides everything you need to manage signal timing in to and out of the FS8.
Frame Rate ConversionWhen working in IP or Hybrid (SDI/IP), FS8 can do anything-in into anything-out frame-rate conversion with a utility frame drop/repeat approach as it is locked to time/PTP. In pure SDI workflows, the video processors frame-rate conversions will be locked to the incoming reference. For example, if you are locked to a 50Hz analog reference, input a 59.94p signal and convert to 50p, it will drop frames as needed and output a locked and aligned signal to the 50Hz ref. Please see the manual for more details.
Video Capabilities
Video Processing OptionsFS8 offers a robust and wide range of video processing options with an easy-to-use, intuitive, node-based web UI. Eight independent video processors provide an extensive toolset for normalizing and shaping incoming signals including frame synchronization, up, down, and cross-conversion, layering, and color management for 4K, UHD, 2K, and HD sources. SDI and ST 2110 connectivity makes FS8 equally at home bridging existing baseband infrastructure with IP workflows, operating entirely within either environment, or integrating existing SDI infrastructure within IP environments.
Up/Down/Cross-ConversionAJA’s advanced video processing delivers high-quality up/down/cross-conversion while preserving image fidelity throughout a ST 2110/SDI hybrid production pipeline. Dedicated 10-bit hardware processing delivers consistent image quality with reliable and repeatable performance.
Frame SynchronizationConfigurable video delay up to 60 frames in HD and 30 frames in UHD, plus an ultra-low-latency mode of less than half a video frame, gives engineers the flexibility to precisely align complex production workflows or simply process video as fast as possible. AR (Augmented Reality) imagery is fast becoming a de-facto standard for high-end sport production requiring massive delays of other signals, and FS8 has the tools to keep your diverse production elements in sync.
Region of Interest ScalingThe FS8 gives you powerful image shaping tools with adjustments for crop, scale, horizontal and vertical positioning - functioning as multiple high-powered 4K ROI’s embedded in this versatile media processing device.
Multi-Layer Video ProcessingThe FS8 has a built-in layering engine where you can layer one video processor behind or next to another and fill in the background with a matte color in this flexible layout tool, with an output preview in the UI.
Audio Capabilities
Audio Processing, Routing, & Synchronization ToolsPowerful video processing is complemented by an equally comprehensive set of audio processing, routing, and synchronization tools. The FS8 includes a large internal audio matrix, sample rate conversion, per-channel delay, gain, phase, mute, mixdown, embedding/de-embedding, and test tone generators so audio can remain synchronized and correctly assigned as video is processed. The FS8 offers Dante and ST 2110-30 IP audio, adding to the AJA Frame Synchronizer family’s comprehensive audio management capabilities.
Connectivity
ST 2110 I/OThe FS8 has two pairs of 10/25GigE SFP28 cages for optional ST 2110 I/O with 2022-7 redundancy and PTP supporting IP workflows. In SDI workflows, FS8 utilizes standard BNC as well as optional SFP with optical or HD-BNC inputs and outputs to integrate easily into 12G-SDI infrastructures. The SDI fiber I/O option allows fiber cable runs up to 10 kilometers to be directly connected to the FS8 without the need for separate fiber converters. An analog reference input allows the FS8 SDI outputs to be locked to your house reference signal. Using timing derived from PTP, FS8 provides a configurable analog reference output which can be used to genlock other devices. The Control Port is for accessing the web UI and out-of-band controls. Dante audio I/O is over the Primary and Secondary GigE ports for Dante network redundancy and control via Dante software. MADI I/O is via the two pairs of HD-BNCs. Dual redundant power supplies are included supporting continuous operation in mission-critical applications.
Operating Modes & IP Gateways
FS8 offers different operating modes tailored to different production needs.
SDI Onlyan all-SDI facility and will benefit from all available 16x16 12G-SDI I/O (including optional SFPs).
Hybrid 1 Modea hybrid facility working with both SDI and ST 2110 signals and offers connectivity to 8x8 SDI (BNC) and 8x8 HD or 4x4 UHD ST 2110.
Hybrid 2 Modea hybrid facility which requires both SDI over fiber and coax and offers connectivity to 8x8 SDI (optional SFPs) and 8x8 HD or 4x4 UHD ST 2110.
LCD Display & Controls
Front PanelThe FS8 front panel offers a color LCD display with real-time video processor output preview, audio level meters, and status for quick confidence monitoring in addition to critical system status monitoring including PTP. On the front panel, you will also find the select and adjust knobs, display navigation buttons, and status LEDs.
Colorfront Engine
Maintaining Perceptual IntegrityFS8’s HDR/WCG capabilities leverage video and color space processing algorithms within the Colorfront Engine, specially licensed by AJA from Colorfront as a licensable option for FS8.
Powered by the Colorfront Engine, FS8’s extensive HDR and WCG processing support enables real-time processing of up to 8 HD or 4 UHD signals. FS8 also enables the conversion of popular camera formats from multiple vendors into the HDR space, plus conversion to and from BT.2020/BT.709 as needed, critical for HDR/ SDR broadcast and OTT workflows.
TV ModeProvides specific conversions and simplified controls for highlight and roll-off management in live television broadcast productions.
Live ModeProvides conversions and controls that support live applications such as broadcast, OTT, A/V, and venue. New transforms support PQ workflows targeting 10,000 NIT displays.
SDR to Dolby Vision Preview ModeConverts SDR sources to perceptually matched HDR using the same color transforms as Colorfront Transkoder’s SDR2DolbyVision node, with simplified controls for highlights and contrast. Designed for preview and downstream Dolby Vision workflows, it enables the same settings to be applied in Transkoder for final deliverables with Dolby Vision metadata.
User & Dynamic 3D LUTs
3D LUT Preset UIFS8 supports uploads of user-created 3D LUTs, with the ability to store and recall as needed through the FS8’s new and easy-to-use 3D LUT Preset UI. 3D LUTs are ideal for SDR/HDR transforms, bringing a standard desired look to a production, and for applying creative LUTs for imagine enhancements and special visual treatments. FS8 supports 33-point Tetrahedral 3D LUT interpolation.
FS8 also supports Dynamic LUT uploads from third-party software for live color grading, with the ability to see changes as you implement them. For example, Pomfort LiveGrade software drives FS8’s Dynamic LUTs for continuous real-time LUT updates.
BBC HLG LUTs
HDR Conversion OptionsBBC HLG LUTs Mode offers additional functionality that adds HDR conversion options, particularly for television broadcasters who are looking for specific conversion criteria as a licensable option in FS8.
NBCU LUTs
Simultaneous HDR & SDRNBCU LUTs, developed by NBCUniversal Media, LLC in collaboration with Cromorama, enable a workflow for single-master live production of simultaneous HDR and SDR content. Designed for television broadcasters, NBCU LUTs include SDR, HLG, and PQ LUTs that maximize the dynamic range and color volume in HDR, without compromising core SDR broadcasts and are included with FS8.
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