FS-Mini Frame Synchronizer

AJA FS-MINI Overview

The AJA FS-Mini is a portable broadcast-quality utility frame synchronizer supporting frame synchronization of untimed 3G-SDI, HD, and SD video signals. Its compact design fits behind a monitor, on the back of a rack, or on a camera rig to provide a flexible way of synchronizing and converting a wide range of video formats to the house standard in broadcast engineering and live event applications. The FS-Mini offers 3G-SDI input and output, HDMI output, and 2-channel RCA audio output. It also features a reference input for locking to a local reference, and it allows high-quality up-, down-, and cross-conversion. The device can be controlled via local DIP switches or over USB with AJA's free Mini-Config application for Mac and Windows.

The FS-Mini accepts an untimed signal, frame syncs it, processes it, and automatically routes it to the SDI output for use in production and at the same time to the HDMI output for monitoring. You can select which two channels of audio are routed to the RCA audio monitor outputs. A locking power adapter is included, and an optional D-Tap cable can be used for incorporating battery power in remote locations.

Note:

The FS-Mini supports 3G-SDI Level A only; 3G-SDI Level B is not supported. Also, it only passes embedded audio ancillary data through and no other types of embedded ancillary data.

Key Features

• Utility frame sync function; times input signals to an external reference
• Supports bi-level and tri-level references
• High-quality 10-bit video processing
• Low-latency processing; nominal video delay of 1 frame
• Freeze (on input signal loss) to black or last good frame
• Synchronizes 3G, HD, and SD video formats
• Simultaneous SDI and HDMI outputs
• 16-channel embedded SDI audio I/O
• 8-channel HDMI output audio
• 2-channel RCA-style analog outputs at -10 dBV (nominal)
• Utility frame rate conversion; supports 3:2 pulldown
• Up-, down-, and cross-conversion between 3G, HD, and SD video formats
• AFD input detection; down-convert control
• Simple configuration via a DIP switch or USB port and the free downloadable Mini-Config software for Mac/Windows
• Universal input 5V power supply included
• Video Processing
• Frame rate conversion/film cadence removal/insertion: 3:2
• Freeze (on input signal loss) to black or last good frame
• AFD input detection, down-convert control

Nominal video delay for HD/SD: 1 frame

Up-Conversion

10-bit hardware conversion

4x3 Pillar: results in a 4x3 image at the center screen with black sidebars

14x9 Pillar: results in a 4x3 image zoomed slightly to fill a 14x9 image with black side bars

Full Screen: results in a 4x3 image stretched horizontally to fill in a 16x9 screen

Letterbox to Full: results in the image zoomed to fill the full screen

Wide Zoom: results in a combination of zoom and horizontal stretch to fill a 16x9 screen; this setting will introduce a small aspect ratio change

Down-Conversion

10-bit hardware conversion

Crop: image is cropped to fit a new screen size

Anamorphic: HD image is converted to full-screen SD with a 16x9 aspect ratio

14x9: image is reduced slightly with the aspect ratio preserved; black is added to the top and bottom, and the left and right sides are cropped

Auto AFD: automatically selects the best down-convert mode based on the input video's Active Format Description (AFD) code

Letterbox: image is reduced with a black top and bottom added to the image area with the aspect ratio preserved

Cross-Conversion

10-bit hardware conversion

1080i to 720p

720p to 1080i

720p to 1080PsF

Aspect Ratio Conversion for SD to SD

Letterbox: transforms SD anamorphic material to a letterboxed image

H Crop: produces a horizontally stretched effect on the image; transforms anamorphic SD to full frame

SD Pillarbox: produces an image in the center of the screen with black borders on the left and right sides and an anamorphized image in the center

V Crop: transforms SD letterbox material to an anamorphic image

14x9: anamorphic to 14x9 conversion

Ancillary Data

Supports pass-through of PCM embedded audio

Supports pass-through of non-PCM audio when the source is in time with the selected SDI In or Ext Ref (non-PCM audio is not supported during frame sync operation)

All other ANC data is not passed

HDCP

The FS-Mini does not encode the HDMI output with HDCP encryption

By definition, HD-SDI inputs to the FS-Mini are unencrypted

The HDMI specification requires HDMI monitors to support unencrypted inputs

Genlock

Lock to an external reference

Lock to SDI input

Free run

User Interface

USB port used with an included USB cable and free Mini-Config software application to configure the device via PC or Mac

Mini-Config Software

AJA's free Mini-Config software for Mac and Windows can be used with any USB-enabled AJA Mini-Converter and provides an easy-to-use graphical interface with detailed information about the current input and output formats

• Portable 3G-SDI Utility Frame Sync
• SDI and HDMI Simultaneous Outputs
• Sync/Convert Formats to House Standard
• 2-Channel RCA Audio Output
• Reference Input
• Up-, Down-, and Cross-Conversion
• Local DIP Switch or USB Software Control
• Locking Power Supply Included