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A switcher, a reside streaming gadget, a monitor and a recorder in a single – right here is our Atomos AtomX CAST Overview.The AtomX CAST for the Ninja V and Ninja V+ is an fascinating gadget – it’s a bit arduous to check to the competitors, as a result of it gives loads of features in a single physique which can be often unfold out over varied gadgets.So excuse me if I’m leaping between varied performance units on this hands-on CAST evaluate, there merely is sort of a little bit of performance to cowl – I’m simply skipping all of the Ninja V & V+ digital camera recorder capabilities which we’re all acquainted of already.Atomos AtomX CAST. Picture credit score: CineDWhat precisely is the Atomos AtomX CAST?To start with it’s a switcher for as much as 4 video sources through HDMI, but it surely additionally has reside streaming capabilities straight out of the field. And naturally as a result of it really works with the Ninja V and V+, it’s additionally a monitor with a 1080p display with recording functionality in ProRes and DNX codecs.Plus other than that after all, if you are going to buy the Ninja CAST package deal that features each the AtomX Forged and the Ninja V, you might be additionally getting a really highly effective exterior recorder and monitor on your cameras for everytime you don’t want to make use of the switching performance.picture credit score: CineDAnd since a current firmware improve the Ninjas may even file ProRes RAW from the Sony FS5 and FS7 – a really good replace for some legacy cameras!{Hardware}: AtomX CAST building as a dockLet’s begin our CAST evaluate by looking on the {hardware} first. The AtomX CAST is a docking station for the Ninja V and V+. The best way it’s constructed may be very good as a result of the Ninja simply docks into the CAST and is hooked up with a thumbscrew on high.Backside of the AtomX CAST – picture credit score: CineDThere can also be 1 / 4 inch thread on the backside of the CAST that permits you to connect the whole unit to a light-weight stand, for instance, if you end up switching on set and don’t have a desk. In the event you do have a desk, the sticky toes on the backside of the gadget be certain that it stays rock regular on flat surfaces. Inputs & outputs, switches, built-in fanThere are 4 full-size HDMI inputs, every supporting as much as 1080p or 1080i, there may be one HDMI Program out, additionally with as much as Full HD decision, and there’s a USB-C “CAST Out” with the identical decision. The CAST has no separate on/off swap because it solely activates when hooked up to a Ninja V or V+, and the CAST needs to be set because the supply on the recorder. Ninja V hooked up to the AtomX CAST – picture credit score: CineDThe unit does have a built-in fan that appears to be all the time on – however it’s quiet sufficient that this shouldn’t be a difficulty even throughout recording. AtomX CAST interface & buttonsNext up is after all the interface – as you’ll be able to see, there are 4 outstanding buttons on the CAST for switching, plus one other 4 f-buttons. On the underside of the display of the Ninja you’ve gotten a proof of what the F1 trough F4 buttons on the CAST really do. If F1 is lively, the {hardware} buttons 1-4 let you choose which enter is the picture-in-picture, and if F4 is lively, the 1-4 buttons allow you to swap between the digital camera inputs. F2 switches audio supply, and F3 the overlays. For me, that is the largest problem when working with the CAST – it takes some getting used to the a number of features of the large buttons, relying on which F button is lively. And naturally, errors can occur. On competing merchandise like a Blackmagic ATEM Mini, you’ve gotten devoted buttons for the whole lot, however alternatively, you might be lacking the built-in monitor and recording functionality regardless of the next value for the gadget.Arguably, Atomos comes extra from the digital camera operator aspect of issues whereas Blackmagic has a “broadcast hat” on, however nonetheless – the performance overlaps. Multi-switching in motion with the AtomX CASTWhat’s good on the CAST with the double performance on the buttons is that there’s a preview program mode as a substitute of simply utilizing a direct minimize: whenever you use this, the primary faucet on a button switches it to inexperienced, you will notice a preview of your supposed swap, overlay or impact, however solely a second faucet on the button will flip it pink and it will likely be utilized and reside. This can undoubtedly assist to forestall errors – which after all are significantly painful in reside streaming situations the place there’s no room for error. Overview of the AtomX CAST with the hooked up Ninja V in motion – picture credit score: CineDHaving the built-in display with the Ninja may be very good, nonetheless you’ll be able to solely both see the total display program/preview, or the multiview interface. However you’ll be able to join two HDMI screens utilizing this system out connector on the AtomX CAST and the HDMI Output on the Ninja V. This allows you to, for instance, output this system or preview on an exterior monitor and show the multiview on the Ninja V. Or you’ll be able to put the preview on one monitor, this system on a second monitor and nonetheless have the multiview on the Ninja V. If you end up viewing the inputs on the Ninja by means of the preview or program view within the Switcher mode, you even have all of the AtomOS normal options to show, focus and test your digital camera footage.What’s good is that the USB-C port on the gadget is all the time out there for webcam use and isn’t blocked whenever you need to file and stream concurrently. On a Blackmagic ATEM Mini, it’s a must to selected if you wish to file to an SSD from that USB-C port, or output the webcam feed to a pc. One other plus for the AtomX CAST. Audio inputs and outputs, switchingWhat about audio? Effectively, there may be an built-in headphone out with the Ninja V. For audio enter, you need to use the audio from the cameras by means of the HDMI inputs or use the Mic/Line enter on the aspect of the ninja for exterior audio.Headphone and Mic/Line connectors on the Ninja V, hooked up to the AtomX CAST – picture credit score: CineDThe audio menu provides you choices to designate which audio supply to make use of – both lock it to at least one HDMI enter or the Mic/Line port, or just have the audio comply with the at the moment lively digital camera enter. In the event you do this, the audio will merely minimize with the digital camera picture. Image-in-picture functionalityFor picture-in-picture performance, you’ve gotten choices to vary the dimensions, place, opacity and supply of the window in a chosen menu on the Ninja V. Atomos didn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel and we’re blissful about that. This performance is primary however sufficient for what most of us will count on from picture-in-picture. Overlay graphicsWhen it involves overlaying graphics, the CAST permits you to merely use 1080p PNG graphics with alpha channel to be overlaid on high of your video feed. It can save you graphics out of your pc to the SSD that goes into the Ninja and swap out the 8 inside slots of the Ninja on the fly. After programming all of the slots, you’ll be able to merely brief press the overlay buttons 1-4 to preview your overlay and long-press to activate it on this system out (which can also be your reside stream feed).A sneaky MZed overlay. Picture credit score: CineDYou don’t want a pc and upstream- or downstream-keying with the intention to get this to work, like it’s a must to on the ATEM switchers, which is basically nice. The ATEMs additionally don’t perceive transparencies in PNGs, so that’s actually an enormous plus of this Atomos gadget. The place the Ninja CAST falls brief although, is the limitation to solely working with still-images as overlays for now. We hope that this will probably be added sooner or later.What options are we lacking?What else would we prefer to see sooner or later for the Atomos Ninja CAST?For the time being, there may be solely black and white out there because the dip-to-color transition. We’d love to have the ability to select customized colours for the transition. Additionally we wish to see extra transitions than simply having the dip-to-color and arduous minimize.For now, the overlays are on an input-to-input foundation, which suggests it’s a must to program an overlay to an enter and when switching to a different enter, the overlays disappear. That is particularly annoying whenever you need to have a world channel brand that’s completely on high of all inputs.Overlays menu of the AtomX CAST – picture credit score: CineDAnother small function we wish to see applied in a future replace could be the flexibility to dim the backlight of the {hardware} buttons on the AtomX CAST as they’re a bit of vibrant in darker environments. Talking in regards to the {hardware} buttons – they’re method softer and extra silent when urgent in comparison with the buttons on ATEM switchers, which is nice – we should see in the event that they maintain up as effectively over time because the ATEM buttons have.Conclusion of the AtomX CAST evaluate: highly effective multi-purpose gadget with a fantastic worth propositionAll in all, getting the Ninja CAST package deal is a superb worth proposition in comparison with another choices in the marketplace, and I feel it will change into the go-to switcher and streaming gadget for small digital camera groups who want this performance every so often, however usually are not full-time multicam groups. Giving the Ninja V and V+ extra performance than simply being a recorder and monitor makes the CAST a straightforward purchase suggestion from the CineD staff. Shout out for this CAST evaluate really goes to Florian Milz from the CineD staff – he’s the one who’s the multicam knowledgeable within the staff and he did a lot of the testing with me.Hyperlinks: Atomos | MZedWhat do you consider our Atomos AtomX CAST evaluate? Is that this the multiswitcher gadget you’ve gotten been ready for? Tell us within the feedback under.
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