Sonnet SF3 Dual-Slot AJA PAK Media to Thunderbolt Pro Card Reader

About: Sonnet SF3 Dual-Slot AJA PAK Media to Thunderbolt Pro Card Reader

When your multicam live event production, documentary, news or sports programming is captured to AJA Video System’s Ki Pro Ultra 12G 12G-SDI4K/UHD/HD recorder and player, your footage is recorded on ultra-reliable AJA PAK Media SSD cards. With the recorder’s ability to support four channels of simultaneous 1080p at 60 fps recording — or a 4K at 60 fps recording in single-channel mode — those cards fill up fast. The need for a tool that accelerates offloading media files from multiple cards is greater than ever, too. The Sonnet SF3 Series - AJA PAK Media Pro Card Reader is the perfect tool for the job.

Features

• Superior Ingest Performance - Ingests footage from all AJA PAK media cards at maximum supported speeds.
• Cuts Ingest Times In Half - Dual card slots enable simultaneous ingest of files from two cards for greater efficiency, up to 1030 MB/s aggregate.
• PCIe 3.0 x4 Thunderbolt Device - This Thunderbolt 3 device provides four lanes of PCIe 3.0. Thunderbolt 4 would be limited to one lane total. Learn more about Thunderbolt 3 performance benefits over Thunderbolt 4.
• Compact, Rugged, Stackable - Small and rugged aluminum enclosure for reliable operation; design enables multiple SF3 Series pro card readers to occupy same footprint.
• Rackable - Threaded mount points enable secure attachment of two readers side-by-side on a rack tray in just 1U of rackspace.
• Two Thunderbolt Ports - One port connects to computer; second port supports daisy chaining of up to five additional SF3 Series pro card readers.

Ingest Simultaneously from Two Cards - Dual Card Slots, Double Productivity

Certified by AJA, the SF3 Series - AJA PAK Media Pro Card Reader ingests media files from PAK Media memory cards at the fastest speeds the cards will support to any computer with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 ports. And, for even greater efficiency, it can ingest files simultaneously from two cards at high speed — up to 1030 MB/s — to cut your ingest times in half.

Ingest Six Cards Simultaneously - Daisy Chain Power

Because Sonnet’s PAK Media reader features a dual-port, 40Gbps Thunderbolt interface, you can daisy chain up to six of them together to a single port on your computer. Connecting three readers to your computer enables you to ingest six cards simultaneously at full speed to complete the process — without swapping cards — in about one sixth the time required using a single-slot reader!

Rack It Up - Ready for Racking

Sonnet’s SF3 Series pro card readers include threaded mount points that enable you to securely attach two readers side-by-side on a rack tray in just 1U of rack space.

Compact, Rugged, Stackable - The PAK Media Card Reader for Digital Imaging Technicians (DITs)

For DITs working multi-camera shoots or in a small space, equipment size and design features matter. The SF3 Series – AJA PAK Media Pro Card Reader measures just 5.8 inches wide by 6.1 inches deep by 1.4 inches tall, making it suitable for use in any workspace and workflow.

Sonnet SF3 Series Pro Card Readers - Designed to be Stacked and Daisy Chained

SF3 Series pro card readers feature rugged aluminum enclosures designed to be stacked and daisy chained, enabling multiple AJA PAK Media, CFast 2.0, CFexpress/XQD, RED MINI-MAG, and SxS PRO X readers to occupy the same footprint, while connecting to your computer through a single cable. You can take advantage of Thunderbolt’s up to 2800 MB/s of PCIe 3.0 x4 bandwidth to ingest four, six, or more cards simultaneously!

40Gbps Thunderbolt - Fastest External Interface Available

Featuring a dual-port 40Gbps Thunderbolt interface, this reader ingests footage from all PAK Media memory cards to Mac and Windows computers with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 ports — on location, in the studio, or in the edit suite — at up to the fastest speeds the cards will support.

• Dual 40Gbps Thunderbolt Ports - One port is reserved for the connection to your Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 computer; the second port enables expansion of up to five additional Thunderbolt peripheral devices in a daisy chain.
• 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 Support - 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 support allows you to connect a USB device to the second Thunderbolt port using the proper cable or adapter.
• Provides 15W of Power - For peripherals requiring extra power, 15 watts is provided to bus-powered devices.
• Supports Connecting One 5K 60Hz Display - Maximize the utilization of one computer Thunderbolt port.

All the Right Connections - 40Gbps Thunderbolt Cable and ThunderLok 3 Included

Sonnet includes a Thunderbolt cable that supports Thunderbolt’s full 40Gbps bandwidth, and is fully compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 computers. Sonnet also provides a ThunderLok 3 Thunderbolt connector retainer clip that prevents accidental cable disconnections — just slide it over one end of the cable, and then plug in the connector and secure it to the reader by turning a thumbscrew. Because of its unique design, ThunderLok remains on the cable so it won’t get lost when not in use.

Compatible with Thunderbolt 4 Computers and Apple M series Macs

SF3 Series professional card readers are fully compatible with Thunderbolt 4 computers, including Apple M series Macs. Sonnet’s media readers are purposely designed with a Thunderbolt 3 controller and its four lanes of PCIe (not available in a Thunderbolt 4 peripheral) to achieve maximum simultaneous ingest speeds.

Backward Compatible with Older Macs

No Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3? No problem — the SF3 Series - AJA PAK Media Pro Card Reader is also compatible with Macs with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt ports when used with the bi-directional Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter and a Thunderbolt cable (both sold separately).

Specifications

• Compatibility
  • Mac Compatibility
    • Mac (M series)
    • Mac (Intel) with Thunderbolt 3 ports
    • Mac (Intel) with a Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt 1 port with an Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter plus a Thunderbolt 2 cable (both sold separately).
    • macOS 10.12.6+
    • macOS Sonoma compatible
  • Windows Compatibility
    • Windows computer with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 ports
    • Windows 11 and 10
  • Supported Media
    • All AJA PAK Media cards including the PAK 2000, PAK 1000, PAK 512, and PAK 256
• Hardware
  • Form Factor - Portable card reader
  • Bus Interface - 40Gbps Thunderbolt
  • External Connectors
    • Two PAK Media card slots
    • Two Thunderbolt ports
    • Power port
  • Power Adapter - Universal 60W, 100-240V AC, 50–60 Hz
  • Operating Temperatures - 0˚C to 35˚C (32˚F to 95˚F)
  • Dimensions (WxDxH) - 5.8 x 6.1 x 1.4 in. (148 x 155 x 36 mm)
  • Weight (Reader and Power Adapter) - 2.6 lbs. (1.2 kg)
  • Compliance
    • RoHS 3 (Directive 2015/863)
    • IEC62368-1 and IEC62368-2 Safety

Package Contents

• Sonnet SF3 Series - AJA PAK Media Pro Card Reader
• Power adapter
• Region-specific power cable for US, Australia, Europe, Japan, Switzerland, or UK
• 0.5-meter Thunderbolt cable
• ThunderLok 3 Thunderbolt connector retainer clip
• Documentation