and Windows Q&A

1. What is Io Express exactly?

Io Express is the perfect PC or Mac video interface for anyone who needs an inexpensive monitoring and mastering solution when working with !le-based formats such as XDCAM HD, DVCPRO HD, Apple ProRes 422, Apple ProRes 422 (HQ), Avid DNX on Media Composer and more.

Portable and simple to use, Io Express is ideal for !le-based work"ows and mobile ingest needs.

2. Is Io Express cross platform?

Io Express is "exible and open, with cross-platform operation on both Windows and OSX.

3. What versions of Windows can Io Express be used with?

Io Express can be used with Windows 7 64-bit. Windows 7 is recommended for best performance.

4. How do I connect my Io Express to my computer?

When you order Io Express you can order it bundled with either a PCIe card or ExpressCard/34 for connectivity to the computer. You further have the option to order an extra card (whether PCIe or ExpressCard/34) if you expect to work with the Io Express across both portable and desktop environments.

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5. What applications can I use with Io Express on Windows?

Some of the applications Io Express can be used with are:• AJA Machina• Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5• Adobe After Effects CS5.5• Adobe Photoshop CS5.5• Autodesk Combustion• Sony Vegas 9 and above• Avid Media Composer 5.5• Avid NewsCutter 9.5

6. How do I capture with Io Express on Windows?

AJA’s Machina software is provided free of charge with Io Express and includes the ability to:

•Perform captures at 10-bit with RS422 control•Review Files and Sequences from Disk with support for QuickTime, AVI, and YUV !le types•Perform outputs at 10-bit with RS422 Control

•

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and Windows Q&A

In addition, many different software packages can be utilized with Io Express on Windows.

AJA can capture inside Avid Media Composer, Premiere Pro and After Effects and additionally AJA provides still image capture functionality inside Photoshop.

7. What Colorspaces and Bit depths are supported by Io Express ?

Io Express can support up to 10-bit YUV.

8. What resolutions are supported by Io Express on Windows?

Io Express can support:

NTSCPALHD 720pHD 1080iHD 1080p 24/25/30

9. What !le types can be used on Io Express ?

Io Express can capture Uncompressed QuickTime and AVI !les as well as DVCProHD and DV compressed quicktime. Furthermore, it can capture YUV based !le sequences.

For editing, Io Express can use any of the !le types it can capture, as well as many !le types native to Premiere Pro such as AVCHD, XDCam and P2 MXF !les.

In Media Composer 5.5 software, it is possible to capture Avid DNX !les.

In Sony Vegas 10 software, it is even possible to capture MPEG-2 MXF files.

Be sure to read your release notes for your particular NLE software as the options that Io Express makes possible, continues to grow.

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and Windows Q&A

10. What Windows Laptops are recommended for use with Io Express?

Depending on how Io Express will be used, many different laptops can be used with it.

The most important feature is that the laptop have either a 34mm or 54mm ExpressCard/34 slot. For SD work, nearly any laptop with an ExpressCard slot will do.For HD work, multicore processors, larger RAM amounts, and faster disk systems are required.

11. How is Io Express powered?

Portable products designed for use in the !eld require a readily available power source.Power for Io Express is provided by battery or AC through a 12v 4pin XLR connection familiar to crews around the globe. It is supplied with the same power supply as is Ki Pro.

Operational time when using the battery is dependent upon the watt hours provided by the battery, but expect that even lightweight batteries will power Io Express for several hours.

12. How do I connect my video devices to the Io Express?

You have a number of "exible options:

•HD, and SD-SDI input and output•HDMI v1.3a input and output•SD Component output•HD Component output

13. Does the device have the proper connectors and software for on-set capture?

On-set capture is more than just audio and video input spigots. A truly useful on-set device has a method for obtaining timecode data from a camera. The AJA Io Express provides hardware and software that makes this possible.

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and Windows Q&A

Io Express features support for both embedded RP-188 timecode within HD-SDI as well as a dedicated LTC input connector for devices that do not have embedded timecode.

With the free AJA software Machina for Windows and VTR Xchange for Mac you don’t even need to own an NLE for onset work.

14. Does the device address the connectivity needs of modern post-production?

The AJA Io Express was conceived as a product to complement and support growing !le-based acquisition formats. While there are numerous cameras on the market that do not require the user to perform logging and capturing of material anymore, broadcast-quality video output still requires the use of a “capture card.” Io Express features the output connectivity that users are looking for: HD/SD-SDI, HD/SD component analog and HDMI.

AJA appreciates that there will be the occasional need to ingest from sources that are not necessarily !le-based, so the Io Express provides HD/SD-SDI input and HDMI input to connect to modern devices.

15. What advanced connectivity does Io Express offer?

HDMI 1.3a is offered for Deep Color support for 10-bit capable monitors, as is a range of digital and analog video and audio interfaces.

16. How convenient is it to access all the connector on Io Express?

Logical connector layout and a user friendly form factor are important considerations for a product. The Io Express uses tried and true connector layout familiar to anyone who has used a professional VTR; input/output connectors are found on the back of the device as opposed to jutting from multiple sides as might be found on some devices. The Io Express is lightweight and quite compact making it truly portable.

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and Windows Q&A

17. How affordable is the Io Express?

Io Express is extremely affordable, hitting the sub-$1,000 mark for its US MSRP.

18. To learn more about Io Express visit:

http://www.aja.com/products/io/io-express.php19.

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and Windows Q&A