Grass Valley, CA (April 12, 2023) – AJA Video Systems announced v4.2 firmware for its popular FS-HDR real-time HDR/WCG converter/frame synchronizer with Colorfront Engine™ video processing. The free firmware update introduces the new Colorfront TV Mode, utilizing the latest color science advancements from Colorfront, as well as updates to the Live and Film Modes that make FS-HDR more powerful by adding support for ARRI LogC4 transforms. BBC LUTs have been updated to v1.6, including a new combination LUT for camera shading in live productions and a new CAM (Color Appearance Model) based LUT. 

As color management strategies continue to evolve, so do the tools needed to facilitate those strategies in the real world. FS-HDR’s new TV Mode is a simple-to-use color processing engine aimed at broadcast workflows. It provides operators access to new tools that enable greater control over critical elements in color conversions. These new Brightness, Highlight, Super Highlight, and Colorfulness tools offer controlled corrections within the guardrails of Colorfront’s perceptual processing algorithm, which will maintain perceived color, hue, and saturation without hard clipping artifacts. TV Mode also introduces Sony S-Log3 conversions, which have proven advantageous in modern live production applications.  

FS-HDR’s Colorfront Live and Film modes have also been upgraded with added support for ARRI LogC4 conversions, the latest color science that ARRI introduced with its ALEXA 35 camera launch. The addition of ARRI LogC4 allows FS-HDR users to convert to/from this new colorspace to/from a wide range of input and output color spaces available in both Live and Film modes.

BBC HLG LUTs are also updated to the latest v1.6 from BBC, including a new combination LUT that fuses two LUTs into one for camera shading applications and a new downmapping LUT based on the Color Appearance Model (CAM) or human visual system that attempts to preserve the artistic intent of original HDR content.

"The state of the art in color science is continually advancing, and the tools to manage color must keep pace," said AJA President Nick Rashby. "We’re committed to expanding FS-HDR support for the latest camera workflows and requirements for film and television, and the new firmware adds impressive capabilities to its already comprehensive feature set."

Pricing and Availability

FS-HDR is available today from AJA’s worldwide network of resellers for $9,569 US MSRP. The v4.2 firmware update is now available for free via AJA’s support page. For more information, visit www.aja.com/fs-hdr, or check out AJA’s What’s New Page. AJA FS-HDR will also be on display at NAB 2023 in the West Hall, booth #2600. 

About FS-HDR

FS-HDR is a 1RU, rackmount universal converter/frame synchronizer designed to meet the HDR and WCG needs of broadcast, OTT, production, post, and live event environments where real-time, low latency processing and color fidelity is required for 4K UltraHD and 2K/HD workflows. Developed in partnership with Colorfront, its HDR/WGC functionality is powered by Colorfront Engine video processing algorithms. www.aja.com/fs-hdr