Another couple of weeks have passed and we have seen some new announcements of pro video and audio gear. Atomos has announced an update to its popular Ninja monitor lineup, including a major AtomOS 11 revision. DJI is finally adding a dedicated receiver unit to its Transmission system. Shure is making it super simple to convert your XLR mic to USB with the MVX2U MOTIV Adapter.
Atomos revises lineup with updated Ninja and Ninja Ultra
Atomos has dominated the monitor industry for quite a while and, this week, the brand is updating its extremely popular Ninja series. Atomos has simplified the nomenclature to a cleaner Ninja and Ninja Ultra (replacing the original Ninja V and Ninja V+), and these monitors feature AtomOS 11 and a slew of new software functions.
Besides the new colorway, the new Ninja and Ninja Ultra look identical to their predecessors. Both still use a 5.2" display with 1,000 nits of brightness and retain the same connections. They were solid monitors and it seems they will continue to be. The real update may be coming internally, with AtomOS 11.
Advanced processing on the new Ninja series helps unlock some new features and faster navigation. It now includes ProRes RAW, ProRes, DNx, and H.265 codecs all by default, adds EL Zone exposure and ARRI false color tools, and more features are promised to be coming soon.
Now, should you get the Ninja or Ninja Ultra? The easiest way to decide is whether or not you need 8K recording, since only the Ninja Ultra supports resolutions greater than 6K. When paired with the optional Atomos Connect unit, the Ultra will work with the more reliable Wi-Fi 6E versus the standard Ninja's Wi-Fi 6.
Since it is optimized for cloud workflows, the Ultra will even record ProRes RAW up to 4K while also recording an HD proxy in H.265. And, finally, the Ultra will capture original camera filename information over SDI from ARRI, Canon, and RED cameras.
You may not need to upgrade if you are happy with your current Ninja, but if you are in the market for your first monitor/recorder, then it is exciting to see that Atomos isn't just sitting around waiting.
DJI expands Transmission system with dedicated receiver unit
Around the time the Ronin 4D was launched, DJI released an interesting Transmission system that paired a bright monitor with integrated receiver with a video transmitter. Using the O3 Pro tech found in its drones, DJI was able to get incredible range and quality with the system. It was handy, but it meant you were limited to using DJI's own display. Now, you can use the same tech with your own monitor, with a dedicated Transmission Wireless Video Receiver.
This is a brilliant addition that, honestly, took a bit too long to hit the market considering all the competition in this space. The Transmission itself is superb, with ranges up to 20,000', minimal latency, AES 256-bit encryption, and tons of channels to choose from. The receiver and transmitter feature HDMI and SDI connections for wide compatibility. The transmitter will support an unlimited number of receivers.
This new combo comes with some great features. Cinema cameras like ARRI and RED will be able to transfer metadata when using the SDI connections. There is also a call function of the receiver that permits talkback between the Transmitter and Receiver using the USB-C ports and compatibility headsets. It's a great addition to the system and I'm sure many people have been waiting for this functionality.
Convert your XLR mic to USB with Shure's MVX2U adapter
Many creators have upgraded their at-home audio with pro-grade microphones and interfaces and now it is a lot easier to use those XLR mics for streaming and video conferencing with the MVX2U MOTIV Adapter from Shure.
This little adapter attaches to your mic's XLR jack and instantly turns it into a full USB-C mic. The XLR-to-USB interface even features 48V phantom power if you need it, and provides up to 60dB of gain—enough to work with the notoriously demanding SM7b. There is also a 3.5mm headphone output for monitoring directly from the mic itself.
To get your setup just right, you can use the MOTIV app. You'll be able to handle the interface's 24-bit 48 kHz audio and balance it with the computer's audio as you set up your stream to make sure one source isn't drowning out the other. An Auto Level Mode should keep things even and there are some preset EQ options, as well as a manual mode, to get things sounding just right.
This is a great way to get your high-quality XLR mics working directly with your computer.
In other news...
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Tamron is developing a new 70-180mm f/2.8 Di VC VXD G2 lens for Sony E-mount cameras. The big update is built-in stabilization.
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B&H is celebrating its 50th anniversary in a big way: we're hosting the Bild Expo, in September. It's free to attend and you should register right now.
Thanks for reading! See you next time.
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