AJA Video Systems FS4 4K/UHD Frame Synchronizer /Converter

AJA's FS family brings the full power of their hardware conversion expertise within compact 1RU rack units that offer unrivalled flexibility. Delivering AJA's industry standard up/down/cross-converter technology for the highest quality images, FS units are ideal for high-density applications such as mobile trucks and packed machine rooms, able to replace multiple hardware units in a single rack slot. A wide range of conversion possibilities makes them perfect for converting disparate sources to a common format, or handling whatever formats the production environment might throw at you.

New Thinking, New Interface
New thinking requires a new layout and FS4’s front panel has been redesigned to simplify and speed your access to the product’s wealth of features. The panel has also been designed to provide straightforward operation in single channel or four channel mode. In four channel mode, all four VIDx buttons under Channel Select are lit up. In single channel mode, only VID1 is lit and VID2-4 are off.

Up, Down, Cross-Conversion
Moving to 4K is never an instant change. Legacy signals and archival material need to be integrated into the 4K environment while 4K sources need to be down-converted for current 2K/HD pipelines.

Utilizing AJA's remarkable conversion algorithms, FS4 supports up, down, cross-conversion from SD, HD or 2K over 12G/6G/3G-SDI video to 4K or UltraHD video and back.  Both Quadrant (Square Division) and 2SI (Two Sample Interleave) output formats are supported.

AJA's powerful hardware conversion technology ensures the highest image quality for your productions. Key conversion features include:

• 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD/SD up, down-conversion

• SD/SD aspect ratio conversion

• HD/HD cross-conversion (720p/1080i)

• All done in beautiful 10-bit with dedicated hardware.

Incredible Digital Connectivity
Video and Audio deserve the connectivity and bandwidth required to meet the demands of your projects.

FS4 utilizes standard BNC as well as optional SFP inputs and outputs to integrate easily into a variety of workflows and facilities with support for SDI worklows all the way up to 12G. 

FS4 has BNC and Fiber* inputs and outputs to accept 4K/UltraHD/2K/HD/SD resolution SDI signals in Single Channel Mode. In Four Channel mode 2K/HD/SD inputs can be be routed to multiple locations simultaneously without the need for any external signal distribution.

A looping Reference input allows the FS4 to be locked to your house reference signal for rock-solid stability.

Digital Audio can be disembedded and embedded between SDI, MADI and AES for an incredible array of routing possibilities.

* SFP  inputs and outputs are optional.

12G/6G BNC and Fiber SFP Options
FS4's SFP options include both 12G/6G-SDI HD-BNC and Fiber I/O options, allowing great SDI flexibility and fiber cable runs of up to 10 kilometers to be connected directly to the FS4 without the need for separate fiber to SDI conversion.

Optional 12G/6G-SDI SFPs:

• HDBNC-2TX-12G: 12G/6G-SDI Dual Coax HD-BNC Transmitter

• HDBNC-2RX-12G: 12G/6G-SDI Dual Coax HD-BNC Receiver

• FIBERLC-2TX-12G: 12G/6G-SDI Dual Fiber LC Transmitter Single Mode

• FIBERLC-2RX-12G: 12G/6G-SDI Dual Fiber LC Receiver Single Mode

Single and Dual Channel Fiber connectors supported:

• Single-channel LC connector modules

• Single-channel SC connector modules

• Dual-channel LC connector modules

Possible CWDM options:

Choose from multiple wavelength CWDM SFPs, allowing advanced multiplexing of signals over a single fiber connection.

• Dual TX 1271/1291

• Dual TX 1311/1331

• Dual TX 1351/1371

• Dual TX 1391/1411

• Dual TX 1431/1451

• Dual TX 1471/1491

• Dual TX 1511/1531

• Dual TX 1551/1571

• Dual TX 1591/1611

Massive Audio Flexibility
The growth of 5.1 and 7.1 audio has increased the number of audio channels that must be managed in a production,  The MADI standard provides a convenient way to transport huge numbers of audio channels along a single cable, simplifying the cabling demands for broadcasters, mobile trucks and production. FS4 supports both fiber and coax MADI input and output.  An internal 277 x 208 mono audio matrix allows you to route 1 to 1 or 1 to many with full routing of MADI, mixdowns and all audio coming from SDI, fiber and AES sources for an incredible amount of audio processing capability in a single box.

Closed Caption conversion
FS4 supports closed captioning and the conversion of closed captioning between 2K/HD/SD and 4K/UltraHD formats - including full conversion of CEA-608 and CEA-708 standards. FS4 can preserve closed captioning even when converting between formats, removing the need to re-insert closed captions after conversion.

Active Format Description
Automatically sets Active Format Description information to match the converted signal. This means AFD information does not have to be inserted after conversion and provides accurate information for devices that understand AFD.

Remote Configuration and Control
FS4 is network ready and supports SNMP monitoring and web-based remote control. Units can be connected to any Ethernet network via the built-in 10/100/1000MB Ethernet port, allowing control and configuration of multiple FS units from any web browser on a connected computer. Configurations can be saved and applied to multiple units, ensuring consistency and quick configuration in large installs.

To integrate smoothly with the existing automation of a facility, FS4 can also receive external GPI commands to trigger a variety of functions.