Atomos has announced the release of the Ninja and Samurai touchscreen HD recorder, monitor and playback devices. These capture video direct from the camera in an Apple Pro Res format onto 2.5” hard disks. The Ninja can capture from any camera with an HDMI output, whereas the Samurai can capture from cameras with a HD/SD SDI stream as well. Video can be imported from the devices via FireWire 800 or USB 2 and 3 into a computer for editing.

The Ninja is available now at $995 and the Samurai will be available in the summer at $1495.

Enter the Ninja: Your 10bit HDMI Production Weapon That Combines Recording, Monitoring, and Playback for Apple ProRes.

Transforms video production by bypassing image-degrading camera compression, utilizing limitless affordable storage and continuous power.

Melbourne, Australia – March 22, 2011: Atomos is thrilled to announce the worldwide release of its revolutionary Ninja: a portable touchscreen HD recorder, monitor and playback device that captures video direct to Apple ProRes from any camera with an HDMI output onto low-cost, removable 2 ½ inch hard disks. Ninja is available immediately worldwide for only $995 USD. Ninja will be demonstrated at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Convention from April 11-14, 2011, at the Atomos Booth (SL9105).

Ninja transforms video production by:

• Eliminating the need for capture cards and wasted time logging and capturing by avoiding the lossy, time consuming capture to edit process.
• Bypassing the image-degrading compression needed to squeeze HD onto in-camera flash storage like P2, SxS, SDHC etc..
• Providing limitless and cheap storage through the use of abundant removable 2 ½ inch laptop hard disks.
• Including all accessories in one rugged case - Batteries, Chargers, Disk Caddies and a PC/Mac docking station.
• Recording to a high quality editing codec at the camera, in the field - simple.
• Recycling older cameras with obsolete tape and compression technology and updates them with a modern, high-quality file-based workflow.
• Banishing worries about battery life with “looping”, hot-swappable batteries Hidden inside Ninja’s compact design is a hardware implementation of the Apples ProRes codec: a bit-perfect rendition of Apple’s professional compression system that’s designed to leave your final images looking as good as when they first hit your camera’s sensor.

Atomos’ unique battery-looping technology means that you never have to interrupt a Ninja recording to swap power cells. Just unplug the old battery and replace it with a fully charged one.

Ninja makes it easy to get video off your camera and onto your computer, with FireWire 800,USB 2 and 3 and e-SATA interfaces built in. Apple ProRes works natively with Final Cut Pro and on any computer with the ProRes codec installed (including suitably configured PCs). Ninja is simple to use as well, with a no-nonsense, intuitive touchscreen that doubles as a viewfinder and playback monitor.

“It’s hard to overstate the significance of the Ninja for anyone that makes video,” said Jeromy Young, CEO, Atomos. “We’ve worked with Apple to perfect our implementation of Apple ProRes, and using it is like storing a fine painting by gently rolling it up, instead of screwing it into a ball and throwing good data away, which is what the in-camera codecs do”.

Better quality from your camcorder. Infinite cheap storage. No worries about battery life. Ideal for everything from low-cost DSLRs to professional camcorders, Ninja transforms the way you work with video.

Pricing and Availability.

Atomos Ninja is available now for $995 USD. For information about regional Ninja dealers, please email atomos. To contact dealers in EMEA regions, please contact: David Shapton, President, Atomos EMEA.

Atomos Samurai: A portable 10-bit HD-SDI production weapon for all professional video cameras.

New features make video production easier with bigger touchscreens and multi-camera support

Melbourne, Australia – March 22, 2011: Atomos is excited to announce the second of its industry-transforming external Apple ProRes video recorders, the HD-SDI-equipped Samurai. Samurai packs masses of power into a rugged, portable device that records, monitors, and instantly plays back ready-to-edit, visually-lossless Apple Pro Res files: all for only $1,500 USD. Samurai, as well as Atomos’ original Ninja, will be demonstrated at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Convention from April 11-14, 2011, at the Atomos Booth (SL9105).

Samurai builds on all the strengths of Atomos’ groundbreaking HDMI Ninja, namely:

• Records, monitors and has instant on-board playback of ready-to-edit, visually-lossless Apple ProRes files - all in one portable, self-contained unit.
• Bypasses the image-degrading compression needed to squeeze HD onto in-camera flash storage.
• Eliminates capture cards and the time-wasting capture process by recording to a highquality editing codec direct from the camera.
• Uses limitless and cheap removable 2 ½ inch hard disks for the lowest cost storage in an external recorder.
• Records to SSDs (Solid State Drives).
• Very low power consumption.
• Banishes worries about battery life with “Dual Looping”, hot-swappable battery operation.
• Recycles older cameras with obsolete tape and compression technology, and updates them with a modern, high-quality file-based workflow.

Samurai adds:

• HD/SD SDI inputs and pass-through.
• A bigger, 5” touchscreen/monitor with double the Ninja’s linear resolution (800x480).
• Real-time hardware-based 3:2 pulldown for extracting 24p from 60i PsF recordings.
• Timecode and Genlock.
• Screen Flipping.
• Multi-camera support (with multiple Samurais).
• 3D support (with 2 genlocked Samurais).
• 14.4 V compatibility.

Hidden inside Samurai’s compact design is a hardware implementation of the Apples ProRes codec; a bit-perfect rendition of Apple’s professional compression system that’s designed to leave your final images looking as good as when they first hit your camera’s sensor.

Atomos’ unique battery-looping technology means that you never have to interrupt a Samurai recording to swap power cells. Just unplug the old battery and replace it with a fully charged one.

Samurai makes it easy to get video off your camera and onto your computer, with FireWire 800, USB 2 and 3 interfaces built in. Apple ProRes works natively with Final Cut Pro and on any computer with the Apple ProRes codec installed (including suitably configured PCs).

Samurai is simple to use as well, with a no-nonsense, intuitive, high-resolution touchscreen that doubles as a viewfinder and playback monitor.

“Samurai is a truly revolutionary new weapon for the video production professional. With visually-lossless recording to inexpensive removable media at the camera and a long battery life, you can think of it as a new “back end” to every SDI and HD-SDI camera, new and old,” said Jeromy Young, Atomos CEO . “We’re starting to see video cameras that compete with 35mm film technology at affordable prices, and yet they’re crippled by the harsh compression necessary to squeeze HD video onto miniaturised on-camera storage. Samurai releases the potential of these incredible new cameras as well as older obsolete cameras, and brings cinema-quality video production to everyone at amazing prices.”

Better quality from your camcorder. Infinite cheap storage. No worries about battery life. Ideal for everything from older HD-SDI camcorders to large-sensor digital cinematography cameras, Samurai transforms the way you work with video.

Pricing and Availability:

Samurai will be available Summer 2011 at $1495 USD. For information about regional Ninja dealers, please email atomos. To contact dealers in EMEA regions, please contact: David Shapton, President, Atomos EMEA.