GEAR MINI TESTS
ATOMOS ZATO CONNECT £311/$299 atomos.com
If you have thought of Atomos devices largely as superpowered monitors which are packed with useful tools like false colour – plus the ability to record ProRes Raw and other high- quality codecs – it’s time to think again. The Atomos Zato Connect is a very different sort of device, aimed at making live streaming and camera-to- cloud workflows easier than ever. At a mere £311/$299, it provides a streamlined set of functions compared to high-end Atomos Connect devices, but is aimed squarely at making wireless streaming and sharing of content as fast and simple as possible. It will record on board, but this is to an SD card at lower resolution rather than a massive SSD in glorious ProRes. You should think of it as a backup, not as the main event. Said main event is to either livestream content or upload it to the Atomos cloud, where it can be accessed and edited immediately by anyone with browser access. There’s no downloading needed, as Atomos Edit is a new feature in the Atomos Cloud Service. This allows fast editing, all done in the cloud using the Atomos Edit software. It can be done by a browser on a computer or even a smart device, and for anyone used to a more complex NLE, it’s simple. You are not going to be doing advanced graphics and speed ramps with cutting-edge grades, but it does allow you to edit together clips and add logos, lower thirds titles and
music. It’s all very fast, and then it can be published directly from the cloud to any live service you like. It’s the quickest way to get edited content online, which is what so many clients want nowadays. The Zato gives access to camera- to-cloud platforms such as Adobe Frame.io and Sony Ci Media, acting as a gateway for digital cameras that don’t have network connectivity built in. You can also use it as a gateway for video from your computer, webcam or video camera. As long as you have an internet connection via Wi-Fi, or Ethernet through a USB-C connector or a cellular hotspot, the Zato Connect is ideal for live streaming directly from location. A 3.5mm audio jack allows for mic inputs and there’s a headphone socket for monitoring. The Zato has an audio mixer, so you can combine analogue microphone sources with digital audio via HDMI or USB-C. There are simple picture-in-picture options and the Zato also works well alongside a switcher as a super-portable programme monitor. If all this sounds like a brave new world to you, it’s time to make the leap into live content – as audiences and your clients are calling for it. PRO MOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 Small and inexpensive streaming monitor Pros: A simple all-in-one solution Cons: No high-res recording option
AERIAL AUTOMATIC The antennae on the Atomos monitor make connecting to Wi-Fi easy
SPECIFICATIONS IP video formats: H.264, 1280x720 to 1920x1080 IP audio: AAC-LC Transport protocols: RTMP, RTMPS Screen: 13.2cm/5.2in IPS LCD touchscreen Media: SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-I card slot Brightness: 1000 nits Colour gamut: Rec. 709 Controls: Picture-in-picture, graphic overlays Interface: HDMI 1.4 input up to 1080/60p, HDMI 1.4 output up to 1080/60p, USB-C input, USB-C output, 3.5mm headphone jack, audio line in, remote control Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 Resolution: 1920x1080, 427ppi Battery: 1x NP-F/ L-series Dimensions (wxhxd): 151x91.5x29.5mm/5.9x3.6x1.2in Weight: 245g/0.5lb without battery
PIP, PIP The touchscreen makes it easy to navigate menus, such as picture-in- picture position
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PRO MOVIEMAKER
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