New AJA Thunderbolt to HDSDI/HDMI at DVinfo.net

Jacques Mersereau · April 18th, 2012, 08:42 AM

I haven't yet seen this new AJA product, but it looks like a real winner for those with a Thunderbolt equipped Macs. Using BUS POWER it converts TB to HDSDI and HDMI for $300!

AJA Announces T-TAP, Thunderbolt Power in the Palm of Your Hand - AJA Video Systems

Brett Sherman · April 18th, 2012, 09:36 AM

This looks great. Wonder why there is no loop through? It would have to be on the end of the chain.

Thomas Smet · April 18th, 2012, 01:44 PM

That is the cheapest SDI out I have ever seen for a laptop hands down. It doesn't have capture but in our file based world today this could be the prefect product for my MBP. I wanted a device to have a proper video out and just couldn't bring myself to buy a capture device mainly for output. Well that and my wife wouldn't let me buy one. This product may be exactly what I need once I find out how well it will work with CS6 with native format editing. We use a AJA Kona at work and it works great in CS5 as long as you use AJA files. With CS6 using the new Mercury Transit system for i/o cards hopefully this T-TAP will be exactly what I need.

Steve Kalle · April 18th, 2012, 02:25 PM

It is just a Displayport to SDI converter. Thunderbolt specs include Displayport as its video output. Even though Aja says 10bit 422 output over SDI, be aware that the driver installed on the computer dictates 8 or 10bits being sent thru TB/DP; thus, the actual signal might not be 10bit going into the Aja converter.

Thomas Smet · April 18th, 2012, 03:25 PM

Are you sure about that? It sounds like it makes use of AJA's software drivers for NLE true output. It also packs in true 8 channel audio so there may be a little more then just display port passthrough to SDI. It also seems to cover all the standard broadcast formats including NTSC and PAL which don't also passthrough a display path very well. It also looks like it supports 1080p and 1080psf.

The information is a bit vague to really say one way or the other.

April 18th, 2012, 08:42 AM	#1
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	New AJA Thunderbolt to HDSDI/HDMI I haven't yet seen this new AJA product, but it looks like a real winner for those with a Thunderbolt equipped Macs. Using BUS POWER it converts TB to HDSDI and HDMI for $300! AJA Announces T-TAP, Thunderbolt Power in the Palm of Your Hand - AJA Video Systems __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

April 18th, 2012, 09:36 AM	#2
Brett Sherman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mount Rainier, MD Posts: 428	Re: New AJA Thunderbolt to HDSDI/HDMI This looks great. Wonder why there is no loop through? It would have to be on the end of the chain.

April 18th, 2012, 01:44 PM	#3
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Re: New AJA Thunderbolt to HDSDI/HDMI That is the cheapest SDI out I have ever seen for a laptop hands down. It doesn't have capture but in our file based world today this could be the prefect product for my MBP. I wanted a device to have a proper video out and just couldn't bring myself to buy a capture device mainly for output. Well that and my wife wouldn't let me buy one. This product may be exactly what I need once I find out how well it will work with CS6 with native format editing. We use a AJA Kona at work and it works great in CS5 as long as you use AJA files. With CS6 using the new Mercury Transit system for i/o cards hopefully this T-TAP will be exactly what I need.

April 18th, 2012, 02:25 PM	#4
Steve Kalle Trustee Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,554	Re: New AJA Thunderbolt to HDSDI/HDMI It is just a Displayport to SDI converter. Thunderbolt specs include Displayport as its video output. Even though Aja says 10bit 422 output over SDI, be aware that the driver installed on the computer dictates 8 or 10bits being sent thru TB/DP; thus, the actual signal might not be 10bit going into the Aja converter.

April 18th, 2012, 03:25 PM	#5
Thomas Smet Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,719	Re: New AJA Thunderbolt to HDSDI/HDMI Are you sure about that? It sounds like it makes use of AJA's software drivers for NLE true output. It also packs in true 8 channel audio so there may be a little more then just display port passthrough to SDI. It also seems to cover all the standard broadcast formats including NTSC and PAL which don't also passthrough a display path very well. It also looks like it supports 1080p and 1080psf. The information is a bit vague to really say one way or the other.