Description
AJA Ki PRO MINI PORTABLE RECORDER - Video and Audio - CF Card
The Ki Pro Mini is a 10-bit, 4:2:2, miniature field recorder for creating 'ready- to-edit' professional digital video. It supports an Apple file-based workflow by recording standard Apple ProRes 422 QuickTime files on Compact Flash media, which can then be used as standard HFS formatted drives when connected to a Mac computer with a card-reader, bypassing proprietary compression schemes, and bridging production and post-production, effectively eliminating log and capture processes. This also extends client review capabilities and the productive lifetime of existing cameras. The recorder offers broadcast quality SD/HD-SDI input and output as well as HDMI, two channels of balanced, analogue audio input and time-code support. The miniature, rugged design offers 'extreme portability' and flexibility in mounting to camera or tripod using standard mounting plates or shoe adapters. Control options are flexible, with user-friendly local controls and remote control by web browser available over ethernet.
Edit-ready SD/HD files may be recorded from any SDI or HDMI camera to CF cards using 10-bit full-raster recording to Apple ProRes 422 SD and HD formats including ProRes 422 HQ, ProRes 422, ProRes LT and ProRes Proxy. Simultaneous recording to the host camera and the Ki Pro is supported. An optional mounting plate offers the opportunity to mate the recorder, which is smaller than many battery packs, 'with virtually any camera accessory bracket'.
Video is connected to the recorder using either the SDI or HDMI connectors. The selected input is fed to both video outputs at all times. If audio is present in the incoming video feed, it may be monitored with headphones and bar-graph meters. Audio from the analogue inputs may be embedded into any of the SDI pairs. Either the SDI embedded audio from the camera or the analogue audio inputs may be recorded to the Compact Flash. The two Compact Flash sockets will accept CF cards up to 64GB. One CF card is used at a time, with manual selection of the card to be used. Maximum recording time depends on the capacity of the CF card and the choice of ProRes format; AJA offer a software calculator which may be downloaded to work out precise timings, but as an example, a 1080i, 29.97fps, ProRes422 HQ recording will have a bit-rate of 30.93MBytes/second, and with 48kHz, 16-bit, stereo audio, will require 56.03GB of storage for 30 minutes. (Note that care should be exercised to select CF cards which are capable of recording the ProRes bit-rate required!).
The recorder is constructed from a coated aluminium extrusion of effective and striking design. Both sides are free of connectors and controls, but each has four threaded inserts for the attachment of mounting accessories, see below.
The front has, at the top, a 2 x 20 character LCD display for such tasks as setting inputs and outputs and configuring formats in conjunction with the menu buttons. Underneath this are familiar 'transport', buttons for play, stop, record, fast forward and fast reverse. Menu buttons include dedicated 'status', 'config', 'media', 'delete clip' and 'slot'. Two seven-LED bar-graphs show audio in a VU-like scale. Three rotary knobs adjust audio input level for left and right and headphone level to the adjacent 3.5mm stereo jack socket.
On the rear there are BNC connectors for HD/SD-SDI input and output and for time-code input. Two HDMI sockets provide inputs and outputs. An RJ45 socket with two integral LEDs connects to an Ethernet network. Two three-pole, female XLR sockets provide balanced analogue audio inputs, with a single adjacent switch which switches both input levels between Line, Mic and Mic with 48V phantom power. Two 2.5mm three-pole jack sockets provide a LANC input/loop out facility which provide 'record' and 'stop' functionality. (See technical note below).
On the bottom, a 4-pole male XLR provides the power inlet. On the top are two Compact Flash card slots each with an eject button and media status LED.
Video inputs and outputs: SD-SDI and HD-SDI, 1x BNC, SMPTE-259, 292, 296; HDMI.
Digital audio inputs and outputs: SDI embedded audio, 8 channel, 24-bit, 48kHz; HDMI embedded, 8 channel.
Analogue audio inputs: Line or microphone level, 2 channels, balanced, 2x XLR, 24-bit A/D, 48kHz. Phantom power: 48V DC. Network: 10/100/1000
Ethernet, RJ45. Power source: 12VDC; 100-240V AC using supplied AC adapter. Dimensions: 150 x 46 x 111 (h x w x d)mm. Weight: 0.572 kg.
Included accessories: User's manual on CD, AC adapter, auto-sensing, 110-240V AC.
Optional accessories: Mounting plate and table stand, see below.
Mini Mounting Plate
This is an 8mm thick aluminium plate which attaches to either or both sides of the recorder using four screws. It has a large number of screw holes, including key-hole types, to allow the recorder to mate to third-party battery plates, hot-shoe adapters and other mounting applications.
Mini Stand
This attaches to the recorder with four screws and holds it upright on a desk, shelf, or any flat surface. A power cable with right-angle XLR connector is provided for easy connection between the power supply and the recorder.
Rod Accessory Plate
This mounts onto two user-supplied 15mm camera accessory rods using thumb-screws, and provides a mounting surface at 90 degrees to the rods which can attach to a Mini Mounting plate. The accessory plate has knobs for adjusting the height of the rods relative to the Mini Mounting plate.
Technical Note:
'LANC' refers to the 'Local Application Control Bus System', a protocol devised by Sony, used on some Sony and other manufacturers' camcorders and many still cameras to control the camera remotely, such as from the handle of the tripod head.