New Mac Pro, AJA & Frame Accurate Sync

[rmccam]

Hi Everyone,

I need to upgrade my computer so I'll likely be pulling the trigger on a new Mac Pro. The last while I've been using just a computer monitor for video playback, which obviously isn't ideal, but when I overhaul the system I'd like to go back to having a proper video out to a TV, ideally with proper sync to Pro Tools.

I'm looking at used AJA Kona LHi cards. Does that still make sense in 2019 with the new Mac Pro? The majority of the work I do is commercials, so I'd likely transcode to 1080 even if something ever did come as 4k.

Second part of the question: I'm currently using an OMNI, which I don't particularly love, but I have an Apogee Rosetta 800 and Coleman 5.1 monitor controller kicking around and thought to switch over. If I want to properly sync video, would I just have to get a Sync HD and use wordclock to sync to the Rosetta and RS-422 from the AJA to the Sync HD? Or do I need to keep an Avid interface?

Thanks in advance!

Ryan

[reichman]

First part of your question: a surprising number of our device drivers are 32-bit. Check with AJA or Blackmagic to see what cards are supported with their 64-bit drivers for Catalina. There are A LOT of unanswered questions surrounding Pro Tools and Catalina.

[rmccam]

Oh ****, that's a very good point. I didn't even think of that. That's a whole other level of problem. Ha Ha! I'll look into that. Thanks!

Assuming it will work, am I correct about the sync side of it with the Rosetta, or am I missing something?

[reichman]

Assuming it will work, am I correct about the sync side of it with the Rosetta, or am I missing something?

When I measure the Avid Video Engine and an AJA interface with a SynCheck, the sync is so tight that I haven't bothered with the expense of running a SYNC and house clock. But technically you should. I know those setups are running even tighter than mine. I guess the real question is, how often are you and your clients making critical lipsync/ADR decisions in an attended session? If the answer is never, you just saved yourself some dough.

[rmccam]

Well, according to this, the Aja Kona series is compatible with Catalina:

https://www.aja.com/news/top-stories/848

That's one less problem, I suppose.

[bad jitter]

I am wondering the same thing.

According to this page: https://www.aja.com/support/kona-system-configuration it seems that Kona Lhi is not compatible with the latest Mac Pro. It says that supported PCIe cards are KONA 5, KONA 4, KONA IP, KONA HDMI, KONA 1.

I would like to be wrong, as I have Kona Lhi. Anyone using it in new Mac Pro successfully?

[rmccam]

I'm using an AJA KONA LHi in a new (2019) Mac Pro without any issues. I've had it running for months now.

Ryan

[bad jitter]

Hi Ryan. Sounds great, thanks for the info!

[rmccam]

No worries. If you have any questions you can just direct message me.

Ryan