AJA Corvid 24 review

Corvid 24 is a four-connector, earlier AJA SDI I/O card with a feature that materially changes installation planning: the four connectors can be configured in software as inputs or outputs, and each has bypass-relay support. It is not the same layout as Corvid 22’s two fixed inputs and two fixed outputs, and it is not a 12G-SDI product. AJA’s NTV2 reference records the board end-of-life in 2021 and names Corvid 44 as its successor.

Four SDI links, several distinct uses

The manufacturer lists four 3G-SDI connectors, one reference input and two RS-422 serial ports. The timing table includes 1080p up to 60 fps and separate UHD/4K formats only through 25p. AJA describes up to four independent capture or output channels, or says all four connectors can be used for 4K; those are different assignments, not four simultaneous 4K feeds. The public matcher therefore treats it as a documented 1080p60 SDI option and does not assign a 4K60 capture or passthrough match.

Each connector’s direction is software-configurable, so physical port labels and application configuration matter. The board also includes bypass relays. AJA documents firmware control through a watchdog timer or software, with jumpers selecting whether relay control is enabled. A hardware bypass can be useful when a facility wants a signal path to survive a board failure, but it is not an image-processing effect or a guarantee that an entire installation stays live. Confirm how the relay jumpers are set and which two-connector pairs they route.

For UHD/4K, the four connectors are occupied by the corresponding multi-link workflow; AJA’s spec sheet lists those modes only through 25p. Do not use the product name or four-connector count as evidence for 4K60. The exact card is built around 3G-SDI, not 12G-SDI. It does not have HDMI input, so HDMI sources need a separate compatible conversion path. The optional 102953 breakout cable exposes additional I/O and is not assumed included.

Host, software and physical fit

Corvid 24 uses four-lane Gen 2 PCIe. Its SDK history specifically records both Windows and Mac OS support, but the board is feature-complete in the AJA SDK rather than a current plug-and-play USB capture peripheral. Users should verify the supported OS/driver combination, SDK release and target editing or ingest application. There is no exact OBS configuration, HDR-recording mode or consumer passthrough feature identified by the reviewed sources. The correct assessment is about professional I/O routing, not a promise that a modern streaming app exposes every connector automatically.

AJA gives a physical footprint and power requirement, while a bare card listing may not include a bracket or the optional breakout. A bypass relay’s behavior also depends on the jumper/firmware setup. Those details belong in the pre-purchase checklist: check the exact PCIe slot and chassis, card revision and bracket, source/destination connector cabling, breakout accessories, and required AJA SDK. The sources establish the board’s documented capability, not the condition of a used offer.

When to compare something else

Choose Corvid 24 only if the ability to route four 3G-SDI connectors as capture/output channels or use a four-link 4K workflow fits a specific legacy facility. For two fixed inputs and two outputs, compare Corvid 22; for a single channel with a mixer/keyer module, see Corvid 3G. The newer Corvid 44 may be a successor reference, but its exact generation, connectors and host setup need their own review. A current consumer HDMI card is a better starting point for a simple console-to-OBS chain.

Check the exact signal timing, intended connector directions, relay jumper state, software release, PCIe resources and package contents before considering a specific board. “Four-channel” and “4K” do not describe every mode simultaneously; frame rate and link topology determine which workflow is documented.