Professional I/O
Compare AJA legacy I/O by signal, host and software
This guide compares seven individually researched AJA Io and KONA capture devices that AJA places in its legacy-device documentation, plus the T-TAP exclusion. They are not one product family with interchangeable limits: some accept SDI/HDMI on a Thunderbolt enclosure, some are PCIe cards, and two ingest SMPTE network video rather than a cable from a camera or console. The examples below keep input path, capture rate, host and software together. Manufacturer specifications and historical support pages are evidence about documented arrangements, not proof of present stock or a tested setup.
Start by naming the source standard
A regular HDMI or SDI source needs a physical video input on the card. Io 4K, Io Express and Io XT list both HDMI and SDI inputs; KONA LHi adds analog input, and KONA 3G captures SDI while its HDMI connector is an output. By contrast, Io IP and KONA IP receive broadcast video over an IP network. Their SDI/HDMI connectors are monitoring/output paths, not HDMI or SDI input sockets. A 10GbE SFP+ cage is not a general-purpose console input, and an RJ-45 Ethernet lead does not turn an unrelated source into SMPTE ST 2110.
Current-reference ST 2110 input choice
Five current-reference products in this reviewed library document an SMPTE ST 2110 network-video input: Blackmagic Design DeckLink IP 100G, DeckLink IP HD, DeckLink IP HD Optical and DeckLink IP/SDI HD, plus AJA KONA IP25. The earlier AJA Io IP and KONA IP appear only when earlier products are included; IP25 is a distinct current PCIe model. Find models for this same SMPTE ST 2110 input choice.
Allowing earlier network I/O devices
Including earlier references expands the ST 2110 input set to seven models: DeckLink IP 100G, DeckLink IP HD, IP HD Optical, IP/SDI HD, current AJA KONA IP25, earlier Io IP and KONA IP. These AJA models have distinct PCIe/Thunderbolt interfaces, revisions and software limits; none is a consumer HDMI/SDI input card. Find this same earlier-inclusive IP-input request.
Capture format depends on the input and firmware
The “4K” label needs a specific raster, frame rate, link and signal standard. Io 4K’s model page lists SDI formats through 4K/UHD 60p, but HDMI input/output reaches only 4K/UHD p30. Its firmware can select Quad or UFC operation, and high-frame operation depends on the Thunderbolt 2 host. The public finder plan stays at 1080p60 for that product rather than letting its product-wide HDMI tag be combined with an SDI-only 4K60 mode. This is a deliberately conservative interface boundary, not a claim that AJA never documents SDI 4K60.
Do not transfer the SDI 4K60 row to HDMI
No reviewed earlier-inclusive Windows AJA Control Room plan matches 4K60 capture from an HDMI source over Thunderbolt. The Io 4K specification lists its higher 4K/UHD 60p path under SDI; HDMI is limited to 4K/UHD p30, so the authored HDMI plan stops at 1080p60. Check this exact earlier-inclusive HDMI/4K60/Thunderbolt/Windows/AJA Control Room request.
Io Express is lower-rate: its product table reaches 1080p30 and 720p60, so a 1080p60 requirement should remove it. Io XT lists 1080p through 60 but uses Thunderbolt 1, with two SDI inputs and one HDMI input. KONA 3G is a PCIe board with Quad/UFC firmware mode differences; it supports HD through 1080p60, while the exact KONA 3G documentation does not establish 4K60. KONA LHi supports 1080p60 digital modes; the analog input family has a separate evidence boundary and is not assigned the same 1080p60 matcher mode without an analog-specific timing table.
Network 4K60 separates two AJA products
PCIe capture from an ST 2110 network
For earlier-inclusive Windows capture at 4K60 from ST 2110 over PCIe using AJA Control Room, the two reviewed matches are current KONA IP25 and earlier KONA IP. IP25 is a PCIe Gen 4 x8 card with two 10/25GbE SFP28 media cages; its SFPs are not included, the separate RJ-45 is control, and the network must be configured for ST 2110/PTP. The older KONA IP is revision-sensitive: its documented 4K/UHD mode uses ST 2110-23 2SI, while KONA-IP-R0-S02 lacks the BNC used for ST 2022-6. Check the model/revision, network standard, host slot and package before purchase. Find this same earlier-inclusive KONA IP/4K60/PCIe/Windows/AJA Control Room request.
External Thunderbolt network capture
For the parallel earlier-inclusive Windows ST 2110 4K60 request over Thunderbolt using AJA Control Room, the two reviewed matches are earlier Io IP and current KONA IP25 installed in a compatible Thunderbolt 3/4 PCIe expansion chassis. Io IP's input is network IP, while its SDI and HDMI connectors are output/monitor routes; AJA limits simultaneous capture and monitoring to 2K/HD. KONA IP25 remains a PCIe board and its enclosure is not assumed included. Find this same earlier-inclusive Io IP/4K60/Thunderbolt/Windows/AJA Control Room request.
Current Windows PCIe ST 2110 capture with AJA Control Room
For the current-reference Windows PCIe request for one 4K60 ST 2110 stream using AJA Control Room, KONA IP25 is the sole reviewed match. The KONA IP25 assessment explains that the 4K60 receive workflow depends on the SFP28 media link, compatible network equipment, PTP and stream configuration; it is not an HDMI/SDI card or a promise of multiple simultaneous 4K streams. Find this same current-only IP/4K60/PCIe/Windows/Control Room request.
Windows IP capture with OBS
Under current-only conditions, DeckLink IP 100G is the sole reviewed match for Windows, PCIe, 4K60 ST 2110 capture and OBS; Blackmagic's exact model specification lists OBS Studio as a third-party supported application but cautions that support may vary. Its eight-channel Windows p60 specification is a hardware limit, not an OBS-specific simultaneous-channel test; confirm the current OBS/driver path, stream mix, PTP timing and network setup. AJA's compatibility matrix does not list OBS for KONA IP25, so that model remains excluded. Read the DeckLink IP 100G assessment and check Blackmagic's model specification. Check this same current-only IP/4K60/PCIe/Windows/OBS request.
Host connection is a separate compatibility gate
PCIe, Thunderbolt, ExpressCard/34 and USB are not interchangeable labels. Io 4K uses Thunderbolt 2; Io XT uses Thunderbolt 1; Io IP uses Thunderbolt 3. An adapter or a USB-C-shaped port does not establish that a particular AJA device will work with a modern host. KONA 3G, KONA IP and KONA LHi are internal PCIe boards; their lane width/generation, expansion chassis and breakout accessories need separate checks. AJA’s historical driver notes do not guarantee a current OS version.
Thunderbolt as the host requirement
Six earlier-inclusive models match Windows, unencrypted HDMI, 1080p60 capture and a Thunderbolt host link: AJA Io 4K, Io XT, UltraStudio 4K Extreme 3, UltraStudio 4K Mini, Express Recorder 3G and Mini Recorder 12G. The AJA devices use Thunderbolt 2 and 1 respectively; the new Blackmagic units document Thunderbolt 4 host support, not generic USB-C compatibility. Find this same earlier-inclusive HDMI/1080p60/Thunderbolt/Windows request.
One earlier ExpressCard/34 laptop route
When earlier devices are included, AJA Io Express is the one reviewed model with an ExpressCard/34 laptop adapter for this Windows HDMI/AJA Control Room request. Its alternate desktop package uses a PCIe adapter and tether; its maximum is 1080p30, not 1080p60. Find this same earlier-inclusive ExpressCard/34 laptop request.
ExpressCard/34 with a 1080p60 floor
No reviewed model meets this exact earlier-inclusive Windows HDMI/AJA Control Room request when both ExpressCard/34 and 1080p60 capture are required. Io Express is the only reviewed ExpressCard route, but its source table reaches 1080p30, not 1080p60. Removing the 1080p60 minimum returns Io Express; the higher numeric requirement does not. Check this same earlier-inclusive ExpressCard/34/1080p60 request.
PCIe SDI: current-use scenarios must be checked individually
Windows SDI at 1080p60 on PCIe
Thirty-six earlier-inclusive products match SDI at 1080p60 on PCIe with Windows. Among AJA boards, KONA 3G and KONA LHi each have a one-source 1080p60 digital plan; HDMI on KONA 3G is output only. Standalone KONA 5 is a separate current Gen 3 x8 SDI card with its own Control Room and conservative OBS plans and a required 6-pin ATX feed. The current Corvid 88 adds a separate one-source Windows OBS plan, while four current Corvid 44 models use distinct SDI routes: 3G DIN 1.0/2.3, 3G full-size BNC, 12G HD-BNC and 12G full-size BNC. Find this same earlier-inclusive Windows SDI/1080p60/PCIe request.
macOS SDI at 1080p60 on PCIe
Twenty-three earlier-inclusive products match SDI capture at 1080p60 on PCIe with macOS. The relevant earlier AJA matches are KONA 3G and KONA LHi, alongside separate Corvid 3G, Corvid 22 and Corvid 24 plans. Standalone KONA 5 is a distinct current card with required 6-pin ATX power and separate Control Room/OBS format plans. Current Corvid 88 also has a one-source OBS 1080p60 Mac plan; four current Corvid 44 models have separate paths: DIN 1.0/2.3 3G, full-size-BNC 3G, HD-BNC 12G and full-size-BNC 12G. AJA's current v18 macOS route is Apple silicon/macOS 14+, not an Intel compatibility promise. Find this same earlier-inclusive Mac SDI/1080p60/PCIe request.
macOS SDI/PCIe without a minimum capture rate
Thirty-five earlier-inclusive assessments match SDI on a macOS PCIe host when no minimum capture rate is selected. Older AJA routes include Io Express (1080p30 maximum), KONA 3G and KONA LHi; standalone KONA 5 is a separate current SDI/PCIe route with distinct Control Room and OBS limits. Current Corvid 88 has separate 1080p60 OBS and grouped-link 4K developer plans, while Corvid 44, Corvid 44 BNC, Corvid 44 12G and Corvid 44 12G BNC provide other current SDI paths. An open-rate request is not itself a 1080p60 OBS promise. Find this same earlier-inclusive Mac SDI/PCIe request with no capture minimum.
Analog video on a PCIe/AJA Control Room workstation
Two earlier-inclusive Windows/PCIe AJA Control Room matches accept analog video: earlier KONA LHi and current KONA LHe Plus. Their analog inputs use model-specific paths: LHe Plus documents component HD/SD and composite/S-Video SD through its breakout cable, but neither assessment assigns an unverified analog-specific 1080p60 limit. Check the exact source format and cable before relying on a rate claim. Find this same earlier-inclusive analog/PCIe/Windows/AJA Control Room request.
Earlier AJA comparisons by host and signal path
For an earlier-inclusive Windows PC with SDI input, PCIe and 1080p60 capture, KONA XM has a one-source AJA Control Room route. It is distinct from older KONA 3G/LHi and KONA X. KONA 4 is another current PCIe card, but its 4K routing needs four linked inputs. Read the KONA XM review and KONA 4 assessment, then find this same earlier-inclusive Windows SDI/1080p60 PCIe request.
For the same Mac SDI/PCIe/1080p60 request, KONA X has a separate current-reference Control Room route. The v18 Mac installer requires Apple silicon with macOS 14 or later; Intel Macs need the supported v17.6 branch. KONA 4 remains a distinct current PCIe configuration with its own source and routing limits. Read the KONA X review and KONA 4 assessment, then find this same earlier-inclusive Mac SDI/1080p60 PCIe request.
For earlier-inclusive Mac SDI/PCIe setups without a capture-rate minimum, KONA LHe Plus has a one-SDI-source Control Room route. AJA's v18 LH manual covers Intel and Apple silicon, but the exact operating rate still needs verification. KONA X is another current PCIe card, while KONA XM is not listed for Mac. The KONA 4 review covers a distinct PCIe arrangement. Read the KONA LHe Plus review and KONA 4 assessment, then find this same earlier-inclusive Mac SDI/PCIe request.
One 1080p60 source: SDI versus HDMI
For a Windows PCIe/OBS job at 1080p60 with an SDI source, KONA 1 is one single-channel option and KONA X is another current card with a conservative one-source OBS plan; their separate SDI outputs are monitoring, not additional capture inputs. Read the KONA 1 assessment and KONA X assessment. Find this exact current-only SDI/1080p60/PCIe/Windows/OBS request.
Changing only the input choice to HDMI excludes KONA 1 and includes both KONA HDMI and KONA X, which use different port layouts: KONA HDMI has four inputs with its own mode limits, while KONA X has one HDMI 2.0 input and a separate output that is not direct passthrough. Find the same current-only Windows/PCIe/OBS request with HDMI input.
Software and lifecycle are part of the mode
AJA Control Room is a maker-documented capture/playback route for the listed Io/KONA devices. AJA’s OBS Quick Start Guide v17.1 explicitly excludes Io IP, KONA IP and KONA LHi from OBS support even if OBS recognizes them; AJA's current KONA compatibility matrix has no OBS entry for KONA IP25 either. The matrix absence is not evidence that no third-party method exists, but this review assigns no OBS plan. Avoid carrying OBS compatibility from a nearby model or later device. AJA’s Control Room documentation is versioned; EOL hardware may not be qualified by the latest installer. Verify the precise driver, OS, firmware, software and source standard as a single system.
The Io 4K and KONA 3G have firmware modes that change available channels or direction; Io Express has laptop/desktop host adapters; KONA IP has R0 and R0-S02 variants; KONA LHi’s macOS software notice requires v17.6. These details are not solved by a generic “AJA compatible” claim. For a used offer, ask for the model/revision label, connector photos, correct bracket and power/accessory package, software version and return terms. Manufacturer documentation does not establish condition, seller stock, warranty or a successful system test.
Manufacturer references: Io 4K, Io Express, Io IP, Io XT, KONA 1, KONA 3G, KONA IP, KONA LHi and the AJA NTV2 device reference.