Product Breakthroughs 2017: Atomos Sumo19

The Atomos Sumo19 production monitor/recorder is the first in a brand-new category of products that aims to simplify productions large and small.

Not only is it a solidly built professional grade high brightness monitor with HDR capabilities, it is also a swiss army knife of production and recording with powerful image and management tools. It has quad SDI and a single HDMI 2.0 input, plus HDMI and SDI outputs. The Sumo19 essentially replaces several existing devices with one highly affordable solution.

The Sumo19 has a 1200nit daylight viewable HDR display capable of showing ten stops of dynamic range. The IPS display has a 1920x1080 resolution and the recently introduced dynamic backlight control ensures deep black levels. The display can also be properly calibrated over time using X-Rite's i1DisplayPro for accurate and consistent Rec.709 and HDR.

To ensure the monitor/recorder is ready for field use, it comes in a durable aluminium alloy chassis and multiple mounting points for accessories such as wireless transmitters. It has flexible powering options and when using broadcast batteries, the unit can be run continuously with a dual battery hot swap option. It has a VESA hole pattern on the rear for flexible mounting, plus feet are included for desktop use.

On the audio side, the Sumo19 has a built-in loudspeaker and the ability to input and output XLR audio, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Sumo19 can also be used as a grading monitor in the studio. It can accept Log, HLG or PQ signals from your NLE of grading software and display it in HDR. The Sumo19 is able to record directly to drives from cameras, for either primary or proxy capture, in production ready 10-bit Apple ProRes or Avid DNxHR formats at up to 4K resolution.

In addition, it can record the 12-bit Raw output of certain cameras including the Panasonic Varicam LT and Sony FS5 for optimum quality. Raw output can be recorded either as CinemaDNG files, or converted to Apple ProRes. With selected cine cameras, users can benefit from the ability to record high speed at up to 240fps in HD from this Raw feed.

Atomos' Sumo19 also acts as a LUT box, with the ability to convert Log footage from almost any camera for correct display as Rec.709, or in HDR. It can also apply creative LUTs or 'looks' to the image for easy visualisation on-set. Importantly the Sumo19 can apply these conversions downstream to other connected monitors on-set, as well as the image viewed on the Sumo19 itself. For instance, users can feed Log footage into the Sumo19, then passing the signal out in HDR10 to a consumer HDR TV on-set.

Up to eight creative LUTs can be stored in the Sumo19's memory for immediate recall, but countless more can be stored on the SSD drive and loaded at will. If the unit is used for proxy recording, the creative LUTs can also be 'burned in' to the recorded footage for quick turnaround or when a director or client wants to see footage with a preferred look applied.

In a future update, Atomos will also bring multi HD input live switching and recording to the Sumo19. For more details of the Sumo19 visit the Atomos website.

www.atomos.com

This article also features in the December edition of Broadcast Film & Video as part of our 'Product Breakthroughs: 2017' feature.

(JP)