AJA KONA HDMI User manual

KONA HDMI
Four Channel HDMI Capture
Version 16.2
Published January 24, 2022
Installation and Operation Manual

KONA HDMI Four Channel HDMI Capture v16.2 2 www.aja.com
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.
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™, V2Analog™ and
V2Digital™ are trademarks of AJA Video Systems, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Copyright
Copyright © 2022 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]

KONA HDMI Four Channel HDMI Capture v16.2 3 www.aja.com
Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Trademarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Contacting AJA Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Chapter 1 – Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
KONA HDMI Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Input / Capture Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
AJA Software & Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Disk Storage Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Cable Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
KONA HDMI Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Chapter 2 – Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Unpacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Shipping Box Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Installing the KONA Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Cabling the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
KONA HDMI Cable Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Installing KONA HDMI Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Download . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Software Package Installation and Re-installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
macOS Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Firmware Update Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Chapter 3 – Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Using KONA with Professional Video /Audio Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
KONA HDMI Developer Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Capture Formats using AJA Control Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
AJA Control Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
AJA Control Panel User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Controlling Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Using Multiple AJA Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Presets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Default Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Control Recommendations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Function Screens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
AJA Control Panel Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Control Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Format Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Input Select Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
HDMI Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
HDR Screen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
LUT Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Presets Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Firmware Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Info Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Appendix A – Specications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
KONA HDMI Tech Specs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Appendix B – Safety & Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Warranty and Liability Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Contents

KONA HDMI Four Channel HDMI Capture v16.2 4 www.aja.com
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Overview
AJA's KONA HDMI card brings the highest quality HDMI capture of video and
audio to computers running Mac, Windows or Linux Operating Systems. The AJA
KONA HDMI card can simultaneously capture two channels of HDMI 2.0 video (up
to 4K/UltraHD p60), up to four channels of HDMI 1.4b video (up to 2K/HD p60), or
combinations of both formats, depending on the controlling application used. SD
HDMI video is also supported.
KONA HDMI Features
• Standard PCIe form factor
• Four full size HDMI inputs
• HDMI 2.0 and 1.4b formats for broadcast supported
• HDR material can be captured / passed-through with AJA Control Room
(including using games consoles such as Playstation or Xbox as a source for up
to 4K/UltraHD p60 HDR content)
• Each HDMI port supports up to 8 channels of embedded audio
• Application Support:
• AJA Control Room (single channel capture)
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Avid Media Composer
• OBS Studio (multichannel switching and capture)
• Wirecast (multichannel switching and capture)
• vMix (multichannel switching and capture)
• DirectShow (Windows applications multichannel capture)
• V4L2 (Linux applications multichannel capture)
Input / Capture Capabilities
AJA Control Room
• Single channel ingest of up to 4K/UltraHD p60 on either port 1, or port 2.
• Single channel ingest of up to 2K/HD p60 on any port 1 through 4.
• HDR material can be captured / passed-through (including using PS4 Pro as a
source for 4K/UltraHD p60 HDR content).

KONA HDMI Four Channel HDMI Capture v16.2 5 www.aja.com
Adobe Premiere Pro
• Single channel ingest of up to 4K/UltraHD p60 on either port 1, or port 2.
• Single channel ingest of up to 2K/HD p60 on any port 1 through 4.
• HDR material can be captured / passed-through.
Avid Media Composer
• Single channel ingest of up to 4K/UltraHD p60 on either port 1, or port 2.
• Single channel ingest of up to 2K/HD p60 on any port 1 through 4.
• HDR material can be captured / passed-through.
Telestream Wirecast
• Single, Dual, Triple or Quad channel ingest of up to 2K/HD p60 simultaneously
on ports 1-4.
• Single or Dual channel ingest of up to 4K/UltraHD p60 simultaneously on
ports 1 and/or 2.
• Mixed channel ingest of up to 4K/UltraHD p60 on port 1, together
simultaneously with single or dual 2K/HD p60 on ports 3 and 4)
NOTE: KONA HDMI cards are configured for Wirecast using the AJA Multi-Channel
Configuration application, not the AJA Control Panel application.
To change between the above ingest configurations, you will need to create
different set ups using the AJA MultiChannel Config Application (installed with
the AJA software package for KONA HDMI). For example, if you want to change
from capturing all four HDMI inputs to capturing one 4K/UltraHD p60 signal on
port 1 and 2K/HD signals on ports 2 and 3, you need to stop capturing, set up
channels on ports 1, 3, and 4 differently, and then resume capturing in the new
configuration.
NOTE: The above combinations are available for AJA SDK developers, V4L2 developers
and DirectShow developers and their customers.
Vmix
• Single, Dual, Triple or Quad channel ingest of up to 2K/HD p60 on ports 1-4.
• Dual 4K/UltraHD ingest on ports 1 & 2. This disables ports 3 & 4.
AJA Software & Utilities
AJA’s KONA software and hardware were developed for powerful integrated
video/audio capture, editing, and production with a variety of software, including
AJA MultiChannel Config, AJA Control Panel, AJA Control Room, Telestream's
Wirecast, plus developer supported applications such as vMix and others. With
KONA and a qualified computer, you have the ultimate system for production,
post-production, broadcast, and streaming work. AJA software is distributed as
a unified package which includes all the software, firmware, plugins, and utility
programs for AJA’s Io, KONA, and T-TAP products.
Four retail packages are available, one for Mac, one for Windows, and two for
Linux (one package for Ubuntu, one package for Red Hat/CentOS).
NOTE: Support for the Linux OS retail drivers is based on the Linux application used and
comes from the application’s vendor.
To download AJA software, go to the AJA website:
https://www.aja.com/en/support/downloads
For a complete software compatibility list, see the AJA website link:
https://www.aja.com/en/category/edit/compatibility

KONA HDMI Four Channel HDMI Capture v16.2 6 www.aja.com
Mac, Windows and Linux Packages
These packages include:
Drivers
AJA device drivers for tightly integrated hardware/software operation.
AJA Multi-Channel Config
AJA's multi channel configuration tool for use with Telestream's Wirecast
application.
AJA Control Panel
The Control Panel provides:
• Source selection and control of your AJA hardware.
• A block diagram to show visually what routing and processing is being
performed.
AJA Control Room
Control Room is a cross-platform software application for ingest, playback and
output with AJA devices.
AJA System Test
System Test provides accurate and detailed evaluations of drive and system
performance statistics, allowing you to measure the capabilities of your system
for recording and playing back various resolutions and codecs. The application
includes:
• System Disk Test
• AJA Device Test
• System Report
The application tests Read and Write, Capture and Playback speeds in both
Megabytes per second and Frames per second. The disk speed tests differ from
standard disk I/O performance applications in that they specifically test the
system under conditions typically encountered with video capture, playback, and
editing.
NOTE: Theoretically the best test is to fill your storage disk to 80% and then test capture
at the highest data rate you will use.
Additional with Mac and Windows Packages
3rd-Party Plugins
AJA provides a dedicated plug-in for Telestream Wirecast which is included when
you install the desktop software package.
System Requirements
AJA Video recommends that your system meet minimum hardware and software
requirements to achieve a satisfactory level of performance. Updates to system
requirements are subject to change.

KONA HDMI Four Channel HDMI Capture v16.2 7 www.aja.com
See the Release Notes for you AJA Card or Device, available on the AJA website
and also installed with the software package, for minimum and recommended
system requirements including OS, CPU, RAM, and GPU.
NOTE: Also see Software Vendor system requirements for GPU recommendations and
additional hardware requirements and recommendations.
NOTE: For large scale installations with shared storage, IP, or for very high performance
requirements, AJA recommends consultation with an experienced a system
integrator. A consultant will be able to assist with many important variables.
Disk Storage Methods
To ensure performance and quality, the disk storage system used with
the workstation must be able to meet the demands of storing real-time
uncompressed media. At the very minimum, the disk storage system must be
able to provide and maintain a consistent transfer rate from the workstation to
disk (read/write). There are a variety of system configurations and peripherals that
can provide this level of performance.
For more on disk storage performance see "AJA System Test" on page 6.
Cable Connections
KONA HDMI Connectors
The KONA HDMI endplate provides four full size HDMI connectors.
• HDMI port 1 = up to 4K/UltraHD p60 (also capable of 2K/HD and SD)
• HDMI port 2 = up to 4K/UltraHD p60 (also capable of 2K/HD and SD)
• HDMI port 3 = up to 2K/HD p60 (also capable of SD)
• HDMI port 4 = up to 2K/HD p60 (also capable of SD)

KONA HDMI Four Channel HDMI Capture v16.2 8 www.aja.com
Chapter 2 – Installation
Installation Overview
The installation and set up of a KONA card is simple, and may vary slightly
depending on your system.
For the most up-to-date Mac system requirements for KONA, see the following
AJA website:
https://www.aja.com/en/support/kona-system-configuration/
For the most up-to-date Windows system requirements for KONA, see the
following AJA website:
https://www.aja.com/en/support/kona-pc-system-configuration/
Unpacking
Shipping Box Contents
As you unpack your shipment, carefully examine the contents. Ensure you
received everything and that nothing was damaged during shipping. If you find
any damage, immediately notify the shipping service and supply them with a
complete description of the damage. AJA will repair or replace damaged items.
If you find shipping damage, contact your AJA dealer or distributor for details on
how to have your AJA device repaired or replaced.
NOTE: Save packing materials and the shipping box. If you ever require service or move
your system use the packaging materials and box for safe shipment.
Installing the KONA Card
Figure 1. KONA HDMI Card
The KONA card can be installed into a PC chassis, legacy Mac Pro chassis with PCIe
slots, or into a Thunderbolt PCIe external chassis.
1. Turn off power to the host chassis.
2. Remove the power cable from the back of the chassis.
3. Open the chassis.

KONA HDMI Four Channel HDMI Capture v16.2 9 www.aja.com
4. Locate a recommended PCIe slot (see the AJA website for slot selection
instructions).
5. Remove the backplate from the PCIe slot.
6. Touch the chassis to discharge any body static.
7. Remove the KONA card from its anti-static bag.
8. Carefully insert the card by rocking it slowly into the slot. Ensure the card
aligns properly with the slot opening and is fully seated.
9. Secure the card in the chassis.
10. Close the chassis.
11. Power up the chassis.
NOTE: Always put a RAID controller and KONA on separate PCIe busses. This improves
performance by reducing bus contention.
Cabling the System
9 Cable Connections
Example 1: KONA HDMI Digital Video Capture with AJA Control Room
KONA HDMI Card
(in computer)
Graphics
Computer AJA
Control Room
Capture
DVR 1
HDMI
HDMI
HDMI
HDMI
Prosumer HDMI
Video Camera
HDMI Monitor
Workstation Computer
with AJA Control Panel
and AJA Control Room
Applications
Selects Which
Source To
Capture From
AJA
Control Panel
DVR 2
Connect up to four HDMI sources, and then use AJA Control Panel to instantly
select which source to capture using AJA Control Room.
NOTE: AJA Control Room cannot monitor or playback embedded HDMI audio though
the KONA HDMI card (the card has only inputs). However, the audio is captured
along with the video, and / or passed through to your software of choice.

KONA HDMI Four Channel HDMI Capture v16.2 10 www.aja.com
Example 2: KONA HDMI Multi-Camera Live Stream
KONA HDMI Card
(in computer)
Graphics
Computer
SDI with
Embedded
Audio
SDI
Max 90 m (300 ft.)
SDI Cable Length
(depending on
video format)
HDMI
Max 8 m (25 ft.)
HDMI Cable Length
(depending on
cable design and
video format)
HDMI
HDMI
HDMI
with
Audio
Prosumer HDMI
Video Camera
Hi5-PLUS
Mini-Converter
Professional SDI
Video Camera
Prosumer HDMI
Video Camera HDMI Monitor
Workstation Computer
with Video Switching
and Live Streaming
Application
Multi-Camera
Live Stream
Internet
Mics and Audio Mixer
Use a variety of HDMI sources from the same clock family (e.g. p30 with p60,
or p25 with p50), to provide up to four streams of live content delivered to the
application of your choice via KONA HDMI. With a video switching and live
streaming application (i.e. Wirecast or vMix), you can connect up to four HDMI
sources with an installed KONA HDMI card and then live switch between all four
sources for a live stream. In this example, the application (or full screen output
thereof) are being fed to the HDMI monitor via the host computers GPU, while
the show is also being streamed.
Example 3: KONA HDMI with KONA 1 Multi-Camera Live Event
Multiple AJA cards in the same Mac, PC or thunderbolt chassis can be used with
multi-channel switching / capture softwares such as Wirecast and vMix. This
expands your options in terms of different input and output configurations.
KONA HDMI Card
KONA 1 Card
(in same computer)
Graphics
Computer
HDMI
Max 8 m (25 ft.)
HDMI Cable Length
(depending on
cable design and
video format)
HDMI
HDMI
Prosumer HDMI
Video Camera
Prosumer HDMI
Video Camera
HDMI Monitor
Workstation
Computer with
Video Switching
Application
HDMI
Prosumer HDMI
Video Camera
SDI Video Projector
With a video switching application, you can connect up to four HDMI sources
with an installed KONA HDMI card, live switch between all four sources, and send
the video to a projector using a KONA 1 card installed in the same computer.