Latin America. AJA IBC2024 showcased a preview of Virtual KONA, a new virtualized, software-defined video capture and playback solution that the company is developing in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).
This new solution integrates AJA's NTV2 software development kit (SDK), which is deployed by developers around the world to create high-quality workflow solutions with AJA video input/output cards, along with AWS Cloud Digital Interface (CDI).
AWS CDI is a networking technology for transporting high-quality, uncompressed video within the cloud with high reliability and latency as low as 8 milliseconds. Combined, the technologies break down the barriers between on-premises and the cloud for media production, allowing third-party developers to build solutions in both environments for a variety of applications spanning streaming through live streaming, post-production, and more.
Virtual KONA and the AJA SDK provide a direct complement to AWS CDI, making it possible for any software application that supports KONA to connect to the cloud for I/O. This eliminates the need for developers to code an integration from scratch, while delivering the same media and metadata capabilities that AJA's line of audio and video I/O cards are known for, but in a virtual environment.
Third-party applications and hardware solutions that leverage the integration will be able to seamlessly input and output uncompressed high-resolution, high dynamic range (HDR) video between the cloud and on-premises workstations located virtually anywhere in the world to support visual effects, color correction, editing, streaming graphics and playback, streaming, and other necessities.
"As live and creative production workflows become more distributed, there is a growing demand for hybrid cloud and on-premise workflows. Virtualizing workstations and the third-party applications running on them while also being able to stream that work to local workstations for production stakeholders is crucial for remote teams," said Nick Rashby, President of AJA.
He added that: "AWS CDI provides the networking technology to transport live content with extremely low latency to the cloud, while Virtual KONA and the AJA SDK provide the fast and reliable I/O needed to move media and metadata in and out of that network to and from on-premises workstations, which makes the technologies highly complementary."
The company also unveiled a number of new products and upgrades in Amsterdam, most notably AJA's next-generation KONA IP25 audio and video input/output card with SMPTE ST 2110 bidirectional support; the OG-ColorBox color conversion and management device for live production; a feature-packed ColorBox v3.0 update; and an openGear OG-C10DA distribution amplifier card. AJA also introduced updates to the market for Diskover Media Edition, including new add-ons for PixitMedia's Ngenea data orchestration solution and Spectra Logic's RioBroker, and software enhancements v2.3.
"Advances in broadcast, production, post-production, broadcast, and professional AV channels allow professionals to create and deliver more engaging content for audiences, but they also introduce new obstacles for teams. As more facilities, venues and professionals adopt IP and high dynamic range and higher resolution workflows, we are working to deliver solutions that address those challenges," said Rashby.
Merlin is AJA's Master Distributor for Latin America and was accompanying these launches in Amsterdam.
In the photo: Valdiney Marcelino, Manny Rosado and Edson Marion.
