Re: advice kona 3 vs LH

Bill -
there are many answers to this question. If you have a non TBC's source, like a U-Matic 3/4", DVD, VHS, or similar horribe composite source, the best solution is to get an AJA I/O box as the front end. The AJA I/O box will take a composite signal, and frame sync the input, and spit out a SDI output (with embedded audio). This SDI output can go into a Kona 3, and be instantly upconverted to HD-SDI.

But there are other solutions, at varying prices. If you wish to use the AJA HD10AVA, you can send your crappy source into a Frame Synchronizer (from Datavideo, Hotronics, For-A, and countless others) and send this output into the AJA converter (or anybody elses converter). Remember, A/D converters from anyone, want to see a STABLE SYNC SOURCE. People get confused between TBC's and Frame Synchronizers - a TBC will help a specific machine (like an old 3/4" VTR with external sync and subcarrier inputs), but will do nothing for a cheapo 3/4", VHS, or DVD player - here you MUST use a Frame Synchronizer. If the Datavideo DAC-1000 is $300, to me, this is cheap enough of a solution.

If you say "why can't they just build this into the capture product" - they do - it's called the AJA I/O. If you say "why can't it be cheaper" - I just told you how to do it cheaper - the Datavideo.

Bob Zelin