Monitor-recorders are a versatile tools that support your shoot. You can use them to watch scenes in progress as colour-calibrated monitors in the field, and for backup recorders when you’re doing a studio production.
An Atomos Shogun monitor will accurately represent the colour balance of the cameras you’re using, and it will display images clearly, even in broad daylight.
There are various Atomos Shogun models available, so which one will be right for your shoot?
Atomos Shogun: A Monitor-recorder Hybrid
The first thing to note about all Atomos Shogun monitors is that they combine the functions of a monitor and a recorder.
They can help to unlock your full technical potential by giving you much greater visibility of what you’re shooting. But they’ll also streamline your post-production workflow.
Essentially, the Atomos Shogun merges what would once have been a separate set of features, incorporating recording, playback, monitoring and editing in one highly functional device.
Where there might be limitations with your camera’s recording capabilities, Atomos easily overcomes these. It combines this external recording function with a professional touchscreen monitor, to help you set up the perfect shot.
Using the Atomos Shogun, you can review and collaborate with your crew or clients on set instantly.
And you can edit on the fly, using your choice of non-linear editing (NLE).
How to Shoot and Record What You Really See
Using Atomos, you will see the images you’re shooting as the appear in the real world. This is because Atomos records directly from your camera’s sensor. This gives your recordings maximum sensor detail.
Atomos is partnered with various editing software brands, including Apple, so you can record to HDD or SDD. And you can create add-on camera touchscreens.
You also benefit from longer recording times, in HD and 4K, with built-in battery slots.
And in practical terms, Atomos monitors are built for in-the-field use, being both durable and lightweight.
Which Atomos Shogun Should You Choose?
There different models in the Atomos Shogun range, including:
- Atomos Shogun 7
- Atomos Shogun Inferno
- Atomos Shogun Flame.
These devices represent a step up from Atomos’s Ninja monitor-recorders because they feature integrated codec and audio options.
They have HDMI and SDI inputs and outputs, making them highly adaptable for different sets and shoots.
Of the Shogun range, the Shogun 7 is the latest model. It builds on the Inferno’s capabilities. Not only will it act as a monitor and recorder, but also as a live, multi-cam switcher.
It can record through four separate SDI inputs, and take a separate mixed-feed from the switcher.
You can then use it for live stream-out, or use it for further NLE.
On the other hand, with the Shogun Flame and Inferno, you can combine ease of use with excellent functionality. Flame is the more stripped-back model, with one standard HDMI and SDI input and output. The Inferno has three additional SDI ports, ideal for RAW input signals as they support higher bandwidth.
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The Shogun Atomos 7 is the most advanced of the three models, the Flame has the fewest options, and the Inferno sits somewhere in between.
With these different levels of functionality, choosing your Shogun Atomos monitor-recorder boils down to the features you’ll need during production.
All three are available to rent, so talk to Pro Motion Hire first about your production requirements.
