PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIVITY
Aion’s rear panel delivers broadcast-grade connectivity across video, audio, timecode, network, and control protocols—all clearly labeled and logically organized for fast installation and reliable operation.
VIDEO OVERLAY SECTION
Three BNC Connectors for Professional Video Integration:
Aion ships standard with 6G-SDI connectivity for broadcast-grade video integration, with HDMI as an available option selected at time of order. Choose SDI for professional broadcast facilities requiring long cable runs, embedded audio channels, and immunity to HDCP copy protection issues. Choose HDMI for corporate, worship, education, or prosumer environments where HDMI infrastructure is already deployed. Both options support formats from SD through 4K60 with identical overlay capabilities—the choice is purely about matching your existing video infrastructure.
REF (Reference Input) – Genlock/black burst reference input for frame-locked video synchronization. Connect your facility’s house sync to ensure Aion’s video processing stays perfectly aligned with your broadcast infrastructure. Essential for multi-camera productions and switcher integration where frame-accurate timing across all video sources is critical. Available with SDI configuration only—HDMI workflows typically rely on software-based synchronization rather than hardware genlock.
IN (Video Input) – Accept incoming video for pass-through with overlay. SDI configuration supports 6G-SDI input up to 4K30 with automatic format detection from SD through UHD. HDMI configuration supports HDMI 2.0 input up to 4K30 with HDCP compliance for protected content sources. Feed PowerPoint Presenter View, camera confidence feeds, or any video source requiring timecode burn-in. Automatic format detection adapts to your incoming signal with zero manual configuration.
OUT (Video Output) – Loop-through output with real-time timecode overlay and optional LTC audio embedding. Minimal-frame delay pass-through maintains perfect lip-sync and timing integrity. SDI configuration delivers 6G-SDI output with professional embedded audio support (select any one of 16 audio channels for LTC striping). HDMI configuration delivers HDMI 2.0 output with 8 channel audio embedding. Output feeds speaker monitors, confidence displays, recording devices, or downstream production switchers. Overlay can be disabled for clean pass-through when needed.
Configuration Selection: Specify SDI or HDMI when ordering—Aion is configured at the factory with the appropriate video hardware for your chosen format. Both configurations deliver identical overlay performance, positioning control, font selection, and graphics quality. The only difference is the physical connector type and cable ecosystem. Professional broadcast facilities typically choose SDI for its robustness and long cable run capability (300+ feet). Corporate, education, worship, and prosumer installations often choose HDMI for seamless integration with existing presentation systems and projector infrastructure. Cannot be field-converted after purchase—choose the configuration that matches your primary video infrastructure.
AUDIO SECTION
Audio Interface – 3.5mm TRS audio connectivity for metronome (Midi Beat Clock) tones.
NETWORK CONNECTIVITY
NIC 1 & NIC 2 (Dual 2.5GB Ethernet) – Two independent RJ45 Ethernet ports rated at 2.5 Gigabit for traffic separation and redundancy. Configure each port with independent IP addressing (DHCP or static), subnet masks, and gateways. Segregate PTP Grandmaster traffic from web interface control or create failover redundancy for mission-critical installations. Professional network engineers can optimize traffic lanes: dedicate NIC 1 to precision timing protocols (PTP/NTP) while NIC 2 handles ArtNet, TSL-UMD, web control, and remote terminal access—preventing timing-critical packets from competing with bulk data transfers.
CONTROL & EXPANSION
USB 3.0 (Dual Ports) – Two high-speed USB 3.0 ports for firmware updates, diagnostic access, external storage, and peripheral connectivity. Support Stream Deck hardware when Aion operates as the control workstation or connect USB drives for offline firmware update packages when internet access is unavailable.
GPS (USB Antenna Connection) – Dedicated USB port for GPS receiver/antenna connectivity. Aion includes a professional USB GPS receiver with active antenna designed for mounting anywhere, providing the satellite visibility needed for atomic-grade timing accuracy. The USB interface also supports any standard USB-compatible GPS receiver/antenna, giving you flexibility to use customer-supplied GPS hardware if preferred.
MIDI SECTION
MIDI IN – Receive MIDI Time Code or MIDI Clock from sequencers, DAWs, or external controllers for synchronization to music production workflows.
MIDI OUT – Transmit MIDI Time Code, MIDI Clock, or MIDI Beat Clock to drum machines, synthesizers, samplers, and digital audio workstations. Supports 24-PPQN clock mode and note-on beat triggers with configurable velocity.
LTC (LINEAR TIMECODE) SECTION
LTC OUT (XLR) – XLR output delivering SMPTE standard Linear Timecode at professional line level. Drives camera inputs, audio recorders, multi-camera synchronizers, and legacy broadcast equipment expecting LTC audio timecode.
LTC IN (XLR with Gain Control) – XLR input with front-panel accessible rotary gain control for incoming LTC signals. Gain adjustment compensates for varying LTC output levels from different manufacturers—some devices output hot signals requiring attenuation, others output weak signals needing amplification. Rotate the gain knob while monitoring Aion’s built-in Scope View (signal analyzer) to optimize incoming LTC amplitude for reliable frame-accurate decoding. Proper gain adjustment ensures clean timecode reading even from noisy or marginal LTC sources, eliminating the frustration of intermittent sync caused by signal level mismatch.
IRIG (PRECISION TIMING) SECTION
IRIG OUT (BNC) – Transmit IRIG-A or IRIG-B timecode with day-of-year encoding for absolute date/time correlation. Binary and ASCII packet support ensures compatibility with military, aviation, government, and scientific timing infrastructure requiring precise time stamping.
IRIG IN (BNC with Gain Control & Termination) – Accept incoming IRIG-A or IRIG-B signals with front-panel accessible rotary gain control for signal level optimization. Like LTC, different IRIG equipment outputs varying signal amplitudes—adjust gain while monitoring signal quality to ensure reliable decoding. TERM 50Ω switch provides proper impedance termination for IRIG cable installations. Enable termination when Aion is the last device in the IRIG distribution chain, preventing signal reflections that can corrupt timing accuracy. Essential for long cable runs and multi-device IRIG networks common in government and aerospace facilities.
POWER
Filtered IEC Power Inlet with Medical-Grade PSU – Standard IEC C14 power connector with integrated EMI/RFI filtering feeds a robust 300-watt medical-grade internal power supply. Medical-grade certification ensures ultra-clean power delivery, superior voltage regulation, and enhanced reliability for mission-critical 24/7 operation. The oversized 300W capacity provides substantial headroom beyond Aion’s typical power consumption, ensuring stable operation under all load conditions while maintaining efficiency and minimal heat generation. EMI/RFI filtering at the inlet prevents power line noise from contaminating sensitive timing circuits, critical for maintaining nanosecond-level GPS synchronization accuracy and preventing ground loop interference in complex AV installations. Medical-grade power delivery means the reliability broadcast engineers demand for installations where downtime isn’t an option.