AJA Io XT Fuels Broadcast Workflow for Action Sports Productions

Action Sports Productions (ASP) has specialized in live broadcast and postproduction services for action sports, music and entertainment for over twelve years. Based in Orange County, CA, ASP delivers live HD webcasts for the world’s biggest events in surfing, skateboarding, motocross and much more.

After experiencing repeated failures and frustrations with its old workflow, ASP turned to ToolsOnAir, a workflow provider offering efficient and low-cost Mac-based broadcast production suites, including tools for video, audio, graphics, automation, and asset management. ToolsOnAir features AJA’s Io XT in its workflow packages to take advantage of Apple’s powerful Thunderbolt technology, swiftly passing video between Macs and external devices.

ASP’s workflow setup includes 3 Mac Minis and 2 Io XTs. One Io XT passes video from the first Mac Mini running just:live, ToolsOnAir’s live production management tool, to the second Mac Mini, equipped with a recording device. Then a second Io XT takes data from that Mac Mini to a third, where ASP uses Apple Final Cut and Adobe Premiere Pro to edit.

“I work in very challenging environments, so to have stability in my workflow is key,” said ASP Founder Jay Johnson. “I’m not in a studio, I’m out hanging from scaffolding 2 miles over the ocean – but my mobile units still need to deliver the highest quality content. These surfing competitions are a major production along the lines of an NFL game – very high-end edits, multiple camera shoots, HD coverage – and I need reliable tools. AJA’s Io XT is absolutely a key component to having a successful workflow.”

ASP’s most recent surfing project was broadcasting Nike’s NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association) Championships in Huntington Beach, CA. “With the new workflow we were able to successfully produce multiple webcasts for the event, with absolutely no issues,” said Johnson. “The incredible throughput of Thunderbolt paired with these reliable tools is really the only way this could all be possible.”

AJA’s Io XT is a compact, portable solution for video capture and playback, made lightning-fast by Thunderbolt technology. Its many features include 3G/Dual Link/HD/SD-SDI, component analog and HDMI connectivity, and uncompressed HD and SD 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 capable video and audio connectivity.