AJA Ki Professional Go2 overview
The Ki Professional Go2 comes filled with a spread of options aimed toward assembly the wants {of professional} manufacturing environments. Right here’s a breakdown of what it affords and the place it shines.
Multi-channel HD/SD recording
The Ki Professional Go2’s skill to report as much as 4 HD or SD channels concurrently is its core perform. This function is helpful for occasion producers or anybody seeking to seize a number of feeds without having separate recorders.
Versatile storage choices
The Ki Professional Go2 offers 5 USB recording media ports, making it appropriate with off-the-shelf USB 3.2 Gen 1 media. This setup provides customers loads of freedom to handle and broaden their storage with out breaking the financial institution. So, in case you’re capturing lengthy occasions and even simply needing further house on the fly, the Ki Professional Go2 makes it simple to maintain recording with out interruption.
Take a manufacturing group filming a multi-hour convention. With a number of USB ports, they will swap drives the second one fills up. And since it makes use of off-the-shelf media as a substitute of dear proprietary storage, crews can journey lighter and cheaper. For customers on location with restricted sources, these versatile storage choices imply they don’t must carry a great deal of backup drives; a handful of USB sticks can deal with the job, saving each cash and trouble.
8 and 10-bit 4:4:4
The Ki Professional Go2 helps HD recording in each 8-bit and 10-bit 4:4:4, permitting for higher shade depth and accuracy. This functionality is especially helpful for productions that require high-quality shade illustration, like chroma keying or visible results. The ten-bit 4:4:4 format captures a richer shade vary, which minimizes banding and delivers extra pure transitions between shades.
This actually comes into play with inexperienced display screen work. Capturing a full spectrum of colours with precision makes eradicating the background a lot simpler. Take a industrial shoot with a spokesperson in entrance of a inexperienced display screen. Utilizing the 10-bit 4:4:4 format ensures the inexperienced background is captured in fantastic element, making it simpler to take away with out leaving artifacts. This high quality increase can save money and time in post-production, as editors don’t need to battle with shade inconsistencies. For manufacturing groups centered on high-fidelity shade or visible effects-heavy tasks, the Ki Professional Go2’s help for 8 and 10-bit 4:4:4 is a robust asset.
Much more, it may possibly seize as much as 12-Bit 4:2:2 if bit charge is extra essential than shade depth. Regardless of your undertaking, in case you’re recording in HD, the Ki Professional Go2 has the potential to ship.
LCD show
The machine features a shade LCD for monitoring and navigating menus. This display screen permits customers to examine recording standing and make changes without having exterior screens. Whereas purposeful, the small show is probably not ample for professionals preferring bigger screens for previewing video.
HDMI and SDI inputs and outputs
Providing each HDMI and 3G-SDI inputs for every recording channel, the Ki Professional Go2 is flexible dealing with both digital camera supply. For customers working with combined setups, this function is a large plus.
Versatile format and determination
The machine is appropriate with a number of resolutions and body charges, starting from SD to 1080p. This flexibility can accommodate various undertaking necessities, though the shortage of 4K help limits its software in high-resolution tasks. In lots of circumstances, shoppers are hesitant to pay extra for 4K tasks.
Community connectivity
The Ki Professional Go2 has a built-in web-based UI for distant management, configuration and monitoring by means of Ethernet. This community function is good for groups managing the recorder from a distance, reminiscent of these dealing with reside occasions from a management room.
Timecode and Genlock help
This recorder ensures exact sync throughout multi-camera productions, which is important in multi-cam setups to maintain all feeds aligned. It’s particularly helpful in reside broadcasting environments.
Placing the AJA Ki Professional Go2 to the take a look at: Strengths and weaknesses
With options that attraction to numerous manufacturing wants, it’s simple to see why the Ki Professional Go2 stands out in its class. But, for a tool designed with multi-channel recording in thoughts, there are some shortcomings.
What we like
Multi-channel flexibility
The Ki Professional Go2’s flexibility in multi-channel recording is its predominant attraction. It data as much as 4 HD channels concurrently, supporting each H.264 and H.265 codecs. For manufacturing groups, this implies a capability to seize totally different digital camera angles with out the necessity for added gear. This functionality additionally caters effectively to reside occasions the place getting a number of views is essential, like capturing totally different angles at a sports activities occasion or a live performance. It’s significantly useful for many who want a transportable resolution with out sacrificing recording capability or format high quality.
In an surroundings the place each second counts, having a tool that may deal with a number of channels is a large asset. It’s not solely environment friendly but in addition simplifies post-production workflows by consolidating recordings right into a single system. Whereas this flexibility is commendable, it’s essential to notice that this machine is restricted to HD recording solely, which could not be ample for tasks that require 4K or greater resolutions.
Redundant recording
The Ki Professional Go2 comes outfitted with redundant recording. Redundant recording is a extremely valued function in high-stakes productions. It permits recordings to be saved concurrently on each USB drives and community storage. That is perfect for anybody managing content material the place information loss may imply a reshoot.
Contemplate a convention the place a panel dialogue must be recorded for each livestreaming and post-event publishing. Having redundant recording ensures that even when one storage fails, the content material stays secure. Nonetheless, for groups that don’t want this degree of safety or have already got different backup strategies, this function may not be as compelling.
Audio versatility
Audio is one other space the place the Ki Professional Go2 exhibits energy. The recorder helps a number of audio configurations, permitting customers to work with embedded audio from SDI and HDMI sources. It additionally has analog XLR inputs with phantom energy, which offers flexibility in numerous audio setups.
This makes the machine appropriate for environments with various sound necessities. Nonetheless, it’s essential to think about that audio versatility may not be as essential to customers who depend on post-production modifying for audio synchronization or who don’t want XLR inputs of their setup.
Sturdiness and portability
The Ki Professional Go2’s compact two rack unit (2RU) design means it’s transportable and sturdy. The construct high quality ought to enable it to resist the damage and tear of being moved incessantly. Its portability doesn’t come on the expense of durability, which means that manufacturing groups can really feel assured taking it into the sphere in difficult environments.
What we dislike
Whereas the Ki Professional Go2 brings quite a bit to the desk, there are notable drawbacks that potential consumers ought to take into account.
Single-Channel Playback Solely: A Hindrance to Multitasking
One of many Ki Professional Go2’s largest drawbacks is its single-channel playback. The machine can solely play again one channel at a time, which will be limiting for customers who must evaluation a number of feeds directly.
As an illustration, a reside occasion crew may need to examine a number of digital camera angles facet by facet, however the Ki Professional Go2 doesn’t supply that choice. This restriction may result in frustration for professionals who’re used to extra superior playback choices. Whereas it’s nonetheless potential to evaluation every channel individually, the method is time-consuming and different units on this worth vary supply extra versatile playback.
No Cross-Conversion: A Limitation in Versatile Workflows
The opposite shortfall of the Ki Professional Go2 is its lack of cross-conversion capabilities. The machine doesn’t convert enter codecs, which is usually a disadvantage in workflows that require mixed-resolution outputs. For manufacturing groups working with totally different cameras or needing various output resolutions, this is usually a problem.
Contemplate a setup with each 1080p and 720p feeds. With out cross-conversion, the Ki Professional Go2 can’t seamlessly deal with these variations, which could result in compatibility points in sure workflows. For groups that depend on changing inputs throughout the recorder, this function’s absence may restrict flexibility.
Market
The Ki Professional Go2 has competitors, though the sphere isn’t crowded. Let’s check out a comparable machine.
Datavideo HDR-80
The Datavideo HDR-80 is a four-channel HD recorder. It lacks the audio flexibility that Ki Professional Go2 has. Whereas it affords nice options, it doesn’t match the Ki Professional Go2’s versatility in audio setups or portability for discipline work.
The decision
The Ki Professional Go2 is a strong selection for professionals who want reliable HD multi-channel recording, sturdy audio help, redundant storage, and versatile inputs. It’s well-suited for reside occasion producers, cellular studio crews and anybody engaged on HD-focused tasks.
That mentioned, its lack of 4K recording and multi-channel playback could also be deal-breakers for some. If these options are important, different units on this worth vary may be a greater match.
Total, the Ki Professional Go2 delivers dependable efficiency for the proper viewers. In case your workflow facilities on HD recording and also you worth sturdiness and suppleness, this recorder checks the containers. However in case you want 4K or superior playback choices, you’ll need to discover options.
Strengths
- Multi-channel flexibility
- Redundant recording
- Audio versatility
- Sturdiness and portability
Weaknesses
- Single-channel playback solely
- No cross-conversion
Tech specs
Video I/O4 x BNC (3G-SDI) enter
4 x HDMI 1.4a enter
5 x BNC (3G-SDI) output
1 x HDMI 1.4a output
5 x USB-A 3.0 / 3.1/3.2 Gen 1 outputEmbedded audioHDMI: 2-channel
SDI: 2-channelAudio I/O2x XLR enter
2x RCA monitor output
1x 1/8 inches / 3.5 mm headphone outputPower I/O2x XLR 4-pin inputOther I/O1x RJ45 (LAN)Media/reminiscence card slotNoWi-FiNoBluetoothNoMobile app compatibleNoVideo formatHDMI (8/10-bit 4:4:4 RGB)
1080p: 60/59.94/50/30/29.97/25/24/23.98
1080i: 60/59.94/50
1080PsF: 30/29.97/25/24/23.98
720p: 60/59.94/50
576i: 50
480i: 59.94Timecode supportYesPulldown conversionNoCamera triggerNoPre-roll recordNoEncoding formatsUp to 1920 x 1080
H.264 8/10-Bit 4:4:4
H.265 8/10-Bit 4:4:4
H.264 8/10/12-Bit 4:2:2
H.265 8/10/12-Bit 4:2:2
H.264 8-Bit 4:2:0
H.265 8-Bit 4:2:0Maximum audio tracks2Reference inputLooping (non-terminating), tri-level syncPhantom energy+48 VInput power12 to 18 VDC
100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 HzBatteryNoPower consumption55 W (typical)Environmental resistanceNoOperating conditions32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C at 10 to 90% humidityStorage conditions-40 to 140°F / -40 to 60°CDimensions10.59 x 8.64 x 3.31 inches / 268.9 x 219.46 x 84.08 mmWeight5.07 lb / 2.3 kg
