Introduction
ColorBox from AJA is a high performance color management device specifically designed to meet the color conversion and color correction needs of broadcast, live events, and on-set applications. Supporting HDR, SDR, and Wide Color Gamut (WCG) signals, it utilizes 12G-SDI for single wire 4K/UltraHD up to 4:2:2 10-bit 60p or 4:4:4 12-bit 30p, with a unique color processing pipeline, and down-conversion. The ColorBox’s ultra-low latency, less than ½ of a video line, makes it ideal for color managed workflows for live productions.
Built around a 33-point 3D LUT processor with tetrahedral interpolation, the AJA Color Pipeline provides additional 4x 1D LUTs and 2x 3x3 matrices that are each individually configurable or can be converted to Proc Amps or RGB Color Correctors. All of the color processing options can be easily managed via the web user interface, which can be accessed directly from a wired Ethernet connection.
ColorBox also includes processing pipelines from Colorfront, NBCU LUTs, and ACES. Additionally, ColorBox offers licensable upgrade options for advanced color managed workflows, including the Colorfront Engine, BBC HLG LUTs, and ORION-CONVERT. ORION-CONVERT’s unique real time floating point math approach to color transformations produces higher precision results to get “access to the colors between the colors.” This enables pixel perfect color transforms and round-tripping where maintaining color fidelity is paramount.
The ACES Pipeline includes support for ACES Metadata File (AMF). Internal AMF processing is built on the OpenColorIO (OCIO) from the Academy Software Foundation and supports configurable input and output transforms. ColorBox is an officially ACES logoed device ensuring end-to-end ACES compliance.
ColorBox can overlay information onto the image, including helpful user definable text fields, user loaded images such as graphic elements and frame lines, and more.
ColorBox also offers a sophisticated 4K test pattern generator and frame store, bringing valuable tools to your workflow, including capturing up to a 4K image as a 16-bit .tiff file for the highest quality reference stills. These captures can be saved locally on ColorBox or onto third party connected computers, which can simultaneously be running applications like Pomfort’s Livegrade Pro/Studio, Assimilate Live Looks, and QTAKE Video Assist software.
Features
- 12-bit 4:4:4 12G-SDI I/O for up to 4K/UltraHD HDR/WCG 30p
- 10-bit 4:2:2 12G-SDI I/O for up to 4K/UltraHD HDR/WCG 60p
- 12-bit 4:4:4 HDMI 2.0 output for up to 4K/UltraHD HDR/WCG 30p
- 10-bit 4:2:2 HDMI 2.0 output for up to 4K/UltraHD HDR/WCG 60p
- Ultra-low latency, less than ½ a video line
- Extensive AJA Color Pipeline built around the 33-point 3D LUT processor with tetrahedral interpolation
- 7x nodes plus Overlay
- 1x 3D LUT processor, user configurable as 3D LUT or Dynamic
- 4x 1D LUT processors, user configurable as 1D LUT, Dynamic, or Color Corrector
- 2x 3x3 Matrix processors, user configurable as 3x3 Matrix, Dynamic, or ProcAmp
- Supports industry standard file types, no conversion to proprietary format required
- Configurable Color Space, Range, and Transfer Characteristic
- Full frame LUT processing
- 7x nodes plus Overlay
- Six Color Processing Pipelines
- AJA Color
- Colorfront (Free and Licensable option)
- ORION-CONVERT (Licensable option)
- BBC HLG LUT (Licensable option)
- NBCU LUTs
- ACES
- Down-convert 4K to 2K or UltraHD to HD via SDI and/or HDMI outputs
- 4K/2K Crop for HDMI output
- Video Preview in web user interface for confidence monitoring
- Built-in Frame Store
- Up to 4K/UltraHD frame capture and recall
- Capture pre or post-processed images
- Test Pattern up to 4K/UltraHD, 14 test patterns built-in
- Overlay information on output
- User Text
- User Overlay
- Input and Output signal information
- Pipeline Configuration
- Overlay can be captured with image for future reference
- Onboard library for file management
- 16x 1D LUTs
- 16x 3D LUTs
- 16x 3x3 Matrices
- 16x Images
- 16x Overlays
- 16x AMFs
- Preset Management, 10 per Pipeline plus Startup Preset
- HDR signaling metadata management
- ANC metadata pass-through
- Embedded audio pass-through, SDI 16-Ch and HDMI 8-Ch
- Support for ARRI Alexa 35's Wireless Video Optimized LogC4 (WVO)
- Compact; 4 units can fit in just 1RU
- Ultra quiet fan operation suitable for on-set environments
- Lightweight, 1.0 lb (0.5 kg)
- Robust locking 4-pin mini-XLR power connector, DC power
- On/Off button so you can save power when not in use
- Select button used to bypass video processing
- Extensive API for third party control integrations
- Embedded web server for remote control
- Configure IP Address via USB port and supplied AJA eMini-Setup software for Windows and macOS
- Three year warranty
-
ColorBox features elegant design, with the front panel offering:
- USB OTG (on-the-go) port, configure initial IP address, or connect third party WiFi adapter
- Select Button, manually bypass video processing
- Power Button, manually turn on and off
- SDI Lock LED indicates lock to supported SDI input format
- Status LED indicates various ColorBox states
-
The rear provides:
- 12G-SDI Input
- 12G-SDI loop through output
- 12G-SDI Output
- HDMI 2.0 Output
- 4-pin mini-XLR power
- Ethernet port
-
The ultra quiet fan and properly positioned vents draw cool air through the front of the unit and exhaust warm air out of the back. ColorBox is designed to operate in warm environments, up to 122°F (50°C).
Integration Across Broad Applications
ColorBox offers key applications for modern workflows, including:
- 4K/UltraHD SDR and HDR pipelines for live television and concert production. OB trucks and other live event infrastructure can easily use ColorBox color correct signals and convert SDR signals to HDR and HDR to other delivery formats. The licensable Colorfront, ORION-CONVERT, and BBC HLG LUTs options, as well as the free built-in Colorfront transforms, ACES, and NBCU LUTs, provide all the necessary tools to manage HDR workflows and conversions. For hardware based control, SKAARHOJ and CyanView have integrated native control of ColorBox into their control panels.
- On-set look management and color grading for DITs or anyone in charge of ensuring that the content captured on-set will meet the needs of the Cinematographer, Director, colorist, costume and lighting designers, and editors on the production. A DIT can easily manage workflows to load multiple looks, make adjustments as needed, and save reference images (up to 4K) for dailies, postproduction, and later use. Pomfort Livegrade Pro and Studio, Assimilate Live Looks and Live Assist, as well as QTAKE Video Assist software integrate easily, offering native control of ColorBox in real time. The unique full frame processing capability of ColorBox eliminates partial frame LUT processing.
- Wherever the highest quality display monitor calibration is required for a production studio, rental house, on-set, live, or postproduction facility, ColorBox can help. OG-ColorBox features an extensive API that allows third parties, like Light Illusion ColourSpace and Portrait Displays Calman, to control the ColorBox Frame Store and its ability to output 12-bit RGB test patches for high quality monitor calibration applications.
Compact Form Factor
ColorBox is just 4in. x 7.5in. (104.1mm x 191.6mm), requiring a small footprint on your desktop, or you can rack mount up to four ColorBox devices in just 1RU with AJA’s 1RU Utility Shelf for easy addition to both production and post installations in DIT carts, fly away kits and equipment racks. It is also lightweight at just 1 lb. (0.5kg), making it perfect for DIT and mobile applications.
Image Processing Pipelines
ColorBox comes with a range of Pipelines to choose from. Select any particular Pipeline for your production needs. Some Pipelines are designed specifically for live broadcasts, live events, or on-set needs. Others, like the AJA Color Pipeline, offer greater flexibility for more control over each step of a transform for any application. Pipelines like Colorfront, ORION-CONVERT, or BBC HLG LUTs will display a watermark over the image until a license is applied, offering you the ability to “try before you buy” the optional license. ColorBox offers unique image processing capabilities with an unrivaled array of options for a device of its type with full 12-bit 4:4:4 up to 4K 30p and 10-bit 4:2:2 up to 4K 60p, plus down-conversion. A bypass node is integrated into each processing pipeline for both 12G-SDI and HDMI 2.0 outputs, allowing quick comparisons between the input and output signals.
There are six image processing Pipelines available:
- AJA Color
- Colorfront (requires license to remove watermark for some features)
- ORION-CONVERT (requires license to remove watermark)
- BBC HLG LUTs (requires license to remove watermark)
- NBCU LUTs
- ACES
