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AJA Debuts XENA 2K and Adds New Adobe Premiere Pro Support Into XENA Line (8/5/2006)

v2 Software Offers Elegant Adobe Premiere Pro Implementation and XENA 2K Brings Multi-Format 2K Workflow to the Windows Desktop

AJA Video, a leading manufacturer of professional video interface and conversion solutions, today announced XENA 2K and the v2 software upgrade to the XENA LS and LH line of video playback and capture cards. XENA v2 software offers unparalleled support for Adobe(R) Premiere(R) Pro 2.0 across the Windows-based XENA product family. The XENA 2K video card is AJA's top-of-the-line card for Windows XP, delivering uncompressed SD, HD and Dual Link HD and enabling customers to work with 2K frames in a flexible and future-safe architecture.

"Adobe is enthusiastic about the new AJA XENA 2K and the v2 software upgrade with its innovative workflows and high-quality video playback," said Simon Hayhurst, director of product management, Video products for Adobe. "It fully complements Production Studio, enabling our customers great editing, effects, sound and delivery on one integrated, professional editing system."

v2 software for the XENA LS, LH, and 2K offers AJA's exclusive plug-ins for seamless integration with Adobe Premiere(R) Pro 2.0 in addition to existing support for Adobe(R) After Effects(R), Adobe Photoshop(R), Autodesk Combustion(R) and Eyeon Fusion(R). XENA 2K combines state-of-the-art hardware for Windows PCs with AJA's own drivers, supporting uncompressed SD or HD formats, including new 2K and Dual Link formats. AJA's XENA cards are tailor made for creative professionals who work in anything from video editing to motion graphics design and compositing. Aside from multi-format uncompressed, XENA v2 software also offers HDV playback via the XENA card's multiple video outputs within Premiere Pro 2.0.

The new XENA 2K workflow enables ingest and output of 2K files via HSDL (High Speed Data Link) for integration with telecine and film scanning devices. Within Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0, full raster 2K files of any supported file format (DPX, Cineon, AVI, QuickTime, etc.) are instantly accessible for editorial and playback, without the need to render into proprietary codecs. Real-time key-frameable Primary Color Correction is also offered within Premiere Pro 2.0 for 2K and HD projects. All of this, coupled with the unique ability to output cropped and positionable 1080 HD and/or SD video, brings a complete and powerful 2K workflow to the PC.

AJA XENA cards are flexibly suited to a meet a variety of production needs:

-- XENA 2K (for PCI-X) and XENA 2Ke (for PCIe) supports 2K, SD, HD and Dual Link HD;
-- XENA LH and its PCI Express-compatible cousin XENA LHe are ideal for seamless HD and SD workflows; and
-- XENA LS and XENA LSe deliver AJA quality and robust feature set for SD-only workflows at an entry-level price.

"With v2 for XENA, we have invested considerable time and resources into providing customers with the best Adobe Premiere Pro integration available," said John Abt, President, AJA. "Our XENA family delivers the high-quality, reliable and feature-rich cards AJA has become known for in the digital video community."

XENA 2K Features:

-- SDI, HD-SDI, Dual Link SD and HD-SDI 4:4:4, and 4:4:4:4, HSDL
-- AJA XENA software plug-ins and support for Adobe Premiere Pro 2.0, Adobe After Effects 7.0, Photoshop CS/CS2, Autodesk Combustion 4 and Eyeon Fusion 5
-- AJA Machina software
-- Native support for uncompressed DPX, Cineon, TGA, TIFF, BMP, YUV, and AVI and QuickTime files
-- Support for 2K frame formats
-- HSDL support
-- Look Up Table support (LUT)
-- 4-lane PCI-express bus interface (XENA 2Ke)
-- PCI-X 133 interface (XENA 2K)
-- Broadcast-quality hardware 10-bit up-convert, down-convert and cross-convert
-- 12-bit HD component and SD component/composite analog output
-- 8-channel 48k and 96k AES, and 16-channel embedded audio
-- RS-422 machine control
-- Cables standard, K3-Box breakout optional, 3-year international warranty

Pricing and Availability

XENA 2K and XENA 2Ke will ship May 31 to AJA dealers and system integrators worldwide. XENA 2K and 2Ke will be available for a list price of $3490 (US). v2 of the XENA software will be available May 31 to all new customers of AJA XENA LS, LH, and 2K cards. The upgrade will also be available to existing XENA LH, and XENA LS customers free of charge. The optional K3-BOX is available for a list price of $299 (US). This upgrade is not available to owners of the XENA HS.

www.aja.com

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