In the fast-evolving world of broadcast and post-production, achieving consistent and high-quality color across both HDR and SDR deliverables is more critical than ever. That’s why AJA is proud to introduce the ORION-CONVERT Color Pipeline, now available in both the AJA ColorBox and openGear OG-ColorBox.

In a recent product deep-dive, Senior Product Manager Tim Walker walks us through how ORION-CONVERT brings the power of Cromorama color science—the same technology behind NBCUniversal’s Emmy-nominated HDR-to-SDR workflows—into real-time, hardware-based color conversion and management.

One Master Workflow, Dual Outputs

ORION-CONVERT is designed to give broadcasters and content creators the tools they need to streamline production by working from a single HDR master to deliver both HDR and SDR content. With the flexibility to set HDR and SDR reference anchor points, teams can confidently target SDR outputs that align with their specific market deliverables.

Whether you're aiming for a 200 nits SDR output for a richer viewer experience and improved monitoring, or a perceptual match at 100 nits, ORION-CONVERT gives you the precision and flexibility to fine-tune your look.

Advanced Conversion Controls for Creative and Technical Precision

The HDR-to-SDR conversion includes a two-stage knee, allowing for pre-conversion compression in HDR and post-conversion compression in SDR. This feature gives you advanced roll-off management, ensuring that highlights are handled gracefully and details are preserved—regardless of the display format.

Additionally, the Gamma Compensation tool supports the optional OOTF (Opto-Optical Transfer Function), as defined in section 5.1 of ITU-R BT.2408-5, to address the subjective appearance shift between HDR and SDR content. This ensures a more seamless translation between formats, regardless of your preferred color conversion philosophy.

Unlocking the ORION-CONVERT Pipeline

The ORION-CONVERT color processing pipeline is available as an optional license, making it easy for users to scale their capabilities based on production needs.

If you're looking to enhance your color workflow with real-time, hardware-based precision, the ORION-CONVERT pipeline in AJA ColorBox and OG-ColorBox is a game-changer—bringing world-class color science directly into your broadcast environment.

AJA ColorBox In-line HDR/SDR Algorithmic and LUT Color Transforms for 4K/UltraHD/HD Workflows A compact, high-performance converter designed for color-managed workflows in broadcast, live events, and on-set production. Shop Now