April 07, 2014

Atomos Shogun 4K recorder launched


Atomos has announced a new 4K AppleProRes and RAW capable recorder, the Shogun, which uses new 12G-SDI and 4K HDMI connections.

The Shogun is the first 12G-SDI and 4K HDMI I/O monitor recorder, and features a 1920x1200 SuperAtom IPS 7-inch touchscreen (with 325 pixels per inch), 179º viewing angle and 400nit brightness. The monitor can also automatically switch frequency (48/50/60Hz) depending on video input, to give smoother monitoring and playback. [UPDATE: It also won an award from the IABM at NAB as one of five Game Changers - see end for details].


Like the existing Samurai and Ninja Blade, Shogun allows users to set up a shot with waveform and monitor assist tools (including: RGB parade display, luma overlay, vectorscope with zoom and test pattern generator for signal calibration, focus peaking with multiple levels and colours for ease of use, false colour in two modes, zebra 0-100% fully adjustable and blue-only quick exposure checks).

The monitor comes calibrated to SMPTE Rec.709 with 100% gamut and D65 white point, but can also be customized (particularly simple using the Atomos Spyder Calibration Tool), or set to Canon C-Log calibration. Users can also apply standard or custom 3D look-up tables.


It will record 10-bit 4:2:2 images straight from the camera sensor to two inexpensiveRAIDed HDDs (or SSDs) captured using 4K/HD Apple ProRes, uncompressed RAW Cinema DNG or Avid DNxHD codecs. A 2TB RAIDed drive will give 2+ hours of continuous 4K recording. Users can create FCPX XML projects on the fly, making it easier to edit straight away, and Favourites or Reject flags can be set in the meta-data for quick parsing of media directly into FCPX or Adobe Premiere.

"Shogun is the culmination of everything we stand for, amazing edit codecs from the sensor, like 4K Apple ProRes and RAW Cinema DNG. Affordable 4K recording through Raided HDDs and SSDs and unbelievable custom panels for monitoring,” stated Atomos CEO Jeromy Young. He claimed that the Shogun will be “super light and slim” and promised that it will cost less than $2,000. “We offer a faster, more affordable camera-to-timeline workflow, with revolutionary 4K cameras from Sony, Panasonic and Canon.”


The Shogun can take both 4K and HD clean output from HDMI cameras such as the new Sony A7S, PanasonicGH4, 4K SDI Canon C500, and can record 24, 25 or 30p from the camera and up to 120 frames per second HD (if the camera is capable of this). It can also trigger record start/stop and record frame-accurate timecode straight from the camera with Atomos’ proprietary HDMI timecode and trigger protocols which work with Sony, Canon and many other cameras.

It also has genlock in to sync recording to other cameras/recorders and features optional WiFi for remote control from iOS or Android devices. It also boasts improved audio handling with the included Lemo breakout cable for XLR audio, which gives balanced audio (in and out), line/mic and phantom power. The on-screen audio monitoring gives simple control over recording multiple audio channels (eight digital and two analogue).

The Atomos Shogun is slated for shipping in the Autumn.

UPDATE: The Atomos Shogun was one of five winners of the IABM (International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers) Game Changer Awards announced at NAB.

According to the IABM: winners were selected based on the innovation of their products and services, the benefits they bring to customers and the industry as a whole, as well as influence on the industry, impact potential over the next 12 months, and economic factors like return on investment, cost of ownership and expected user savings.


“These awards are about recognising companies that challenge the status quo, by going beyond the accepted rules and conventions to deliver products and services that are, truly game changing,” said Peter White, chief executive, IABM.

By David Fox

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