AJA HA5-4K Operating instructions

HA5-4K
HDMI to SDI Mini-Converter
Version 1.7r1
Published May 1, 2018
Installation and Operation Guide

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Notices
Trademarks
AJA® and Because it matters.® are registered trademarks of AJA Video Systems, Inc.
for use with most AJA products. AJA™ is a trademark of AJA Video Systems, Inc. for
use with recorder, router, software and camera products. Because it matters.™ is a
trademark of AJA Video Systems, Inc. for use with camera products.
CION®, Corvid Ultra®, lo®, Ki Pro®, KONA®, KUMO®, ROI® and T-Tap® are registered
trademarks of AJA Video Systems, Inc.
AJA Control Room™, KiStor™, Science of the Beautiful™, TruScale™, TruZoom™,
V2Analog™ and V2Digital™ are trademarks of AJA Video Systems, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 AJA Video Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. All information in
this manual is subject to change without notice. No part of the document may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying or recording, without the express written permission of AJA
Video Systems, Inc.
Contacting AJA Support
When calling for support, have all information at hand prior to calling. To contact AJA
for sales or support, use any of the following methods:
Telephone [phone]
FAX [phone]
Web https://www.aja.com
Support Email suppor[email protected]
Sales Email [email protected]

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Contents
Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Trademarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Contacting AJA Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 1 – Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Default Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
AJA Mini-Cong Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
I/O Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Chapter 2 – Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
USB Control and Setup—Using AJA Mini-Cong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Acquiring AJA Mini-Cong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Installing AJA Mini-Cong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Running AJA Mini-Cong. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Operating AJA Mini-Cong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Tabbed Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Input Tab Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Output Tab Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
HDR Tab Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Audio Tab Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Update Tab Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Software Update Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Info Tab Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Appendix A – Specications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
HA5-4K Tech Specs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Appendix B – Safety and Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Warranty and Liability Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Limited Warranty on Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Limitation of Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Governing Law and Language; Your Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

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Chapter 1 – Introduction
Overview
AJA's HA5-4K Mini-Converter provides high-quality conversion of HDMI v2.0
to 4K SDI with 4 x 3G-SDI outputs. HA5-4K allows conversion of HDMI video
from various sources, including DSLR's, mirrorless cameras, action cameras, or
prosumer 4K video cameras to 4K SDI for use in professional workflows. The
HA5-4K outputs SDI video with the same format and frame rate as the incoming
HDMI video. The HA5-4K also supports both Square Division and Two Sample
Interleave output mapping.
Default Operation
The HA5-4K auto configures to the connected HDMI input (no dipswitch settings
required). The auto-configure function identifies the connected input and
outputs the equivalent SDI format.
An SD or HD output signal uses only BNC SDI Out 1, and the remaining BNC
output connectors are inactive by default. However, the DA function accessible
with Mini-Config allows replication of the output signal on those extra output
BNCs.
AJA Mini-Config Control
AJA’s Mini-Config application is available for firmware updates and advanced
configuration. Configuration set via Mini-Config is stored in the HA5-4K unit
through subsequent power cycles.

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Features
• HDMI to 4K/HD/SD-SDI (see "Appendix A – Specications" on page 19 for a
complete list of supported inputs).
• HDMI 2.0 support including:
• 4:2:2/4:4:4/4:2:0 YCbCr
• 4:4:4 RGB
• 8, 10, or 12 bit (HFR 4K/UltraHD 4:4:4 limited to 8 bit)
• 2 or 8 channels of embedded audio
• SDI support including:
• SMPTE 425 Level A and B
• Quadrant or 2SI mapping
• 4:2:2/4:4:4 YCbCr
• 4:4:4 RGB
• 10 bit
• 8 channels of embedded audio
• Pad/Crop between 4K and UHD
• P to PsF conversion
• DA Function
• Support for HDMI 2.0a
• HDR Static Metadata Descriptors
• Setup via PC/Mac using USB port and supplied USB cable (AJA Mini-Cong
conguration software application available via download from AJA website)
• Uses universal input +5V power supply AJA model DWP-U-R1 (included)
• 5 year warranty
NOTE: 3D is not supported in this converter.
NOTE: 720p 4:4:4 formats are not supported in this release.
Block Diagram
Figure 1. HA5-4K Converter, Simplified Block Diagram
SDI Out
1
SDI Out
2
SDI
XMIT
Delay
Sample
Rate
Converter
SDI Out
3
SDI Out 4
Video
Video
Audio
Audio
HDMI v2.0
Input with
Embedded
Audio
USB Bus
(connect to
PC or Mac)
Control
HDMI v2.0
RCVR
Frame
Buer
and
Video
Processing
Audio
Disembed
SDI
XMIT
SDI
XMIT
SDI
XMIT
Video
Video
Video

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I/O Connections
Figure 2. HA5-4K Converter Connections
Input
HDMI
Connector
USB Port
+5-20 VDC
Power
Input
SDI Output 1
SDI Output 3
SDI Output 4
SDI Output 2
Power LED
Lock LED
NOTE: The LOCK LED adjacent to the HDMI input connector indicates by color the
detected signal type. Green is SD, red is HD, amber/orange is 4K/UHD, and off is
no signal.
Installation
Typically, HA5-4K installation consists of the following steps:
1. Ensure the HA5-4K is disconnected from power.
2. Connect video equipment to the converter BNCs and HDMI connector.
3. Apply power to the converter (AJA power supply included).
4. The HA5-4K will now run using the default factory settings. If you wish to
alter the factory settings, you’ll need to:
• Install the AJA Mini-Cong software on your computer
• Attach the HA5-4K via USB
• Make your changes using AJA Mini-Cong setup screens.
This process is detailed in "USB Control and Setup—Using AJA Mini-Config" on page
7.
NOTE: The HA5-4K packs an unprecedented feature set into a mini converter box. As
a result, the unit uses approximately 10 watts of power. It will be very warm
to the touch, which is normal. The unit is engineered to operate across the full
temperature range, from 0 to 40 degrees C.
NOTE: For highest reliability, the mini converter relies on convection cooling instead
of using a built-in fan. Therefore, when installing the unit, mount in a location
where it has access to air for proper cooling. Do not stack the HA5-4K with other
mini converters.

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Chapter 2 – Operation
USB Control and Setup—Using AJA Mini-Config
Your AJA Mini-Converter can be used right out of the box for some applications
since it is designed to recognize inputs and perform standard actions
automatically by default. However, to use its full capability, you must use AJA’s
Mini-Config software application for PCs and Macs. This same application can be
used to update to new Mini-Converter software released by AJA.
Acquiring AJA Mini-Config
AJA’s Mini-Config application is available for download from the AJA website.
To download the latest AJA Mini-Config package, which includes the AJA Mini-
Config application, Mini-Converter firmware, and documentation, go to:
https://www.aja.com/en/products/mini-converters/mini-cong-software
Select either the Windows or Mac icon to download the desired version.
Mini-Converter Documentation
Included with the AJA Mini-Config package is a complete set of documentation
for all Mini-Converters supported by AJA Mini-Config. A .PDF of the Installation
and Operation Guide for the currently connected Mini-Converter can be accessed
from the AJA Mini-Config UI via the Help/Manual drop-down menu.
Documentation for all AJA Mini-Converters that use AJA Mini-Config can also
be accessed directly in the AJA Mini-Config download package Documentation
folder, and via the Documentation icon available on the Mac installer.
Documentation (and firmware) included with the AJA Mini-Config application
are the versions available at the time of distribution. However, Mini-Converter
software, firmware and documentation are updated regularly, so newer versions
may exist.
To download the latest documentation for an individual Mini-Converter, go to:
https://www.aja.com/en/category/mini-converters
and navigate to the Support webpage of that Mini-Converter.
Installing AJA Mini-Config
PC Installation
To install AJA Mini-Config on a Windows PC:
1. Download the application from the AJA website (select the Windows icon
on the AJA Mini-Cong Support webpage).
2. Open the AJA_MiniCong.zip le
3. Double-click on the MiniInstaller.msi le.
4. A Setup Wizard will guide you through the installation.

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Figure 3. AJA Mini-Config PC Setup Wizard
5. Click Next to begin. Answer the questions in the subsequent dialogues.
When nished, an AJA Mini-Cong shortcut will be installed on the desktop,
and you will be able to locate the AJA Mini-Cong application in the AJA
folder in the Programs listing.
NOTE: If the AJA Mini-Config application already exists on the PC, a different Setup
Wizard appears.
Figure 4. AJA Mini-Config Setup Wizard, Reinstallation
With this screen you can Repair (reinstall) or Remove (uninstall) AJA Mini-Config
on the PC.
Mac Installation
To install the application on a Mac:
NOTE: Macintosh computers must be Intel-based (G5, G4 and earlier models will not
work with AJA Mini-Config).
1. Download the application from the AJA website (select the Apple icon on
the AJA Mini-Cong Support webpage).
2. Open the AJA_MiniCong folder.
3. Double-click on the AJAMiniCong.dmg le.

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4. Answer the prompt and a utility program will be launched.
Figure 5. AJA Mini-Config Mac Installer
5. To complete the installation drag the “MiniCong.app” icon to the
Applications folder.
Running AJA Mini-Config
Connect the Mini-Converter to the PC or Mac via the supplied USB cable. Connect
the external power supply (supplied) to the Mini-Converter.
PC Startup
To run AJA Mini-Config on a PC, double-click on the AJA Mini-Config icon on your
desktop, or open the AJA folder in the program list and click on the AJA Mini-
Config application located inside the AJA Mini-Config folder.
Mac Startup
To run AJA Mini-Config on a Mac, open the Applications folder and locate the AJA
Mini-Config application. Double-click the application to launch it.
Saving Setups
A File drop down menu on the AJA Mini-Config application bar allows you to
save the current state of the Mini-Converter to a preset file for later recall.

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Using this feature you can set up the converter for different applications, storing
each configuration (Save Preset As...) with a unique name for easy recall (Open
Preset...).
A Revert to Factory Settings menu item similarly allows you to change the
settings back to AJA’s factory defaults.
Operating AJA Mini-Config
The AJA Mini-Config application provides a graphic interface for viewing settings
and updating software. It consists of an information area at the top that shows
the available Mini-Converters attached to the computer via USB, with a graphical
rendering of the selected Mini-Converter showing all the connectors and their
current state.
Colored text next to the connectors indicates the signal type and what the Mini-
Converter is doing:
• Blue text indicates the values automatically selected
• Black text indicates values that you have manually selected
• Red text indicates the Mini-Converter is not detecting a signal, or cannot
operate with the current user settings.
NOTE: Even if no output device is detected, the SDI connector text still shows the signal it
is outputting.
NOTE: Configuration settings in red will change based on the attached output device as
well as input signals. For improved accuracy and reliability, you should configure
the Mini-Converter only when the target output device is attached and input
signals are supplied at the inputs.
Screens are virtually the same on both PC and Mac, with subtle differences that
reflect the general look of the platform environment.
Running Multiple Mini-Converters
AJA Mini-Config can manage multiple AJA Mini-Converters connected via USB—
even when they are of differing types. However it only connects to one at a time.
You can choose which Mini-Converter you wish to control using the pulldown
menu in the upper right hand corner. If you want to configure multiple Mini-
Converters in parallel, you can do it by running multiple instances of the AJA
Mini-Config application and have each control a different Mini-Converter.
NOTE: During a Mini-Converter firmware update, only one Mini-Converter should be
connected to the computer via USB.