Re: XDCAM workflows using AJA Kona LHi

Hi Jeremy,

Thanks for your detailed answer. One general remark - we are rather newbies at FCP - we've just moved from Windows based system (Matrox RT.X2 with Adobe Premiere Pro CS4) and we are exploring new environment. Unfortunately manuals for FCP is so massive and detailed so it is very difficult to go through it and Kona's documentation is not very good. Anyway, let's move forward:

1. Kona's hardware support.

Well, I'm a bit confused now - I did not expect that Kona will make whole rendering real time, but on their webpage in features section it is written:

- DVCPRO HD hardware acceleration
- HDV hardware acceleration
- Dynamic RT hardware acceleration

So, does that mean that they posted information which is not true?

2. Kona's conversion.

You are saying that Kona is able to make professional hardware based up/down and cross conversion both on input and output. Now, how can I make down conversion from 1080i to SD using Kona but using file as an output? Currently I do not have any recorder which would have SDI or HDMI input, does that mean that I cannot use Kona to make HD/SD conversion? I planned to acquire footage either from XDCAM files or SDI connection, edit it in HD and then use Kona to make down conversion to file and tape it on DVCAM. Is that possible?

3. XDCAM

Currently I'm using XDCAM transfer tool to acquire clip. I make easy setup to AJA Kona LHI - Apple ProRes 422 HQ and then bring the clip on the timeline saying Yes when asked to conform. Perhaps it would be better to acquire footage by SDI to ProRes? My project do not require to use Color right now - FCP color filters are sufficient for me now.

4. Configuration

Slot number - the first one beneath graphic card - number 2 I suppose - according to AJA reqs.
MAC OS - I am up to date according to update tool
FCP - 6.0.5
Kona firmware and drivers - 1.1

Thanks in advance for further suggestions.

Krzysztof