Atomos NINJA STAR User manual

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 1
ATOMOS NINJA STAR
USER MANUAL
Have you registered your Ninja Star yet?
Register now to receive communication on all future updates
Web: www.atomos.com Sales: [email protected] Support: [email protected]

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 2
Contents 2
Safety Instructions 2
Warranty & Conditions 3
Introduction 4
What’s Included 5
What you also need 6
Powering up the Ninja Star 7
Ninja Star Connections 8
CFast Slots 9
Using the Ninja Star 10
Record 10
Playback 12
Connecting & Editing 13
Using Ninja Star with external power supplies 16
Software Updates 17
Ninja Star tech specs 18
Contents
Have you registered your Ninja Star yet?
Register now to receive communication on all future updates
Web: www.atomos.com Sales: [email protected]
Support: [email protected]
The Ninja Star is designed to a high standard but there are some things you
should be aware of to prolong the life of the unit and for your own safety.
Batteries and power supplies
The battery supplied with the Ninja Star is a powerful professional device,
designed to retain enough energy to supply the Ninja Star for hours. You
should avoid short-circuiting the battery connections because this can
cause a high current to ow which can damage the cells and even pose a
re hazard. For example, you should not carry batteries in a bag or pocket
where they may contact other metal objects such as coins.
The power supply and battery charger included are intended for use with
the Ninja Star only. Keep the power supply, plug and cable away from water
and unplug from the mains electricity socket when not in use.
Disconnect power supplies before cleaning the Ninja Star or its
components.
Using the Ninja Star safely
Although the Ninja Star is very lightweight compared to all the devices it
replaces, it is still a solid object that could cause injury if misused.
• Always make sure that the Ninja Star is mounted securely and is
unable to fall onto anyone nearby. This is especially important when
there are children present who might be tempted to pull on cables.
• Always ensure that cable runs to the Ninja Star are clearly visible
and do not present a trip hazard.
• Do not place on uneven or unstable surfaces.
• Use only Atomos approved 1.0 & 2.0 CFast Cards in the slot on the
side of the Ninja Star (see www.atomos.com/discovery-what-drives
for complete list).
• The Ninja Star can become warm or hot with prolonged use. Do not
place it in contact with any part of your body where such warming
could cause discomfort or injury.
• Do not expose to strong electrical or magnetic elds.
• Do not expose to or use near liquids, rain or moisture.
• Do not dispose of the Ninja Star or its batteries in municipal waste and
do not incinerate it or its batteries, but follow local regulations for safe
disposal
User Manual Conventions
Whenever you see a red ag it will indicate a helpful tip,
suggestion or something to note.
Safety Instructions

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 3
Notice
Copyright © 2014 ATOMOS Global Pty Ltd (‘referred to as ATOMOS’).
All rights reserved. All information in this document is subject to
change without notice. No part of the document may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying or recording, without the express written
permission of ATOMOS. A reference to ATOMOS includes its related
entities, subsidiaries and parent company.
Trademarks
Ninja Star and ATOMOS are registered trademarks of ATOMOS, Apple,
the Apple logo, AppleShare, AppleTalk, FireWire, iPod, iPod Touch, Mac,
and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Final Cut Pro,
QuickTime and the QuickTime Logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
International Hardware Limited Warranty
ATOMOS warrants that:
• The main product or any external accessories, will be free from defects
in materials and workmanship for a period of 1 years from the date of
purchase.
• Batteries, battery charger, CFast card reader and carry case will be
free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 1 year
from the date of purchase.
This warranty is exclusively for the benet of the original purchaser and is
not assignable or transferable.
If during the warranty period the product is shown to be defective
ATOMOS may at its option:
a) replace the goods or supply equivalent ones, b) repair the goods, c)
pay the cost of replacing the goods or of acquiring equivalent ones and d)
paying the cost of having the goods repaired;
The customer must notify ATOMOS of any defect in the goods in writing
prior to the expiry of the warranty periods set out above. The customer
will be solely responsible for returning the goods to ATOMOS or its
authorized distributor. Upon acceptance of a warranty claim by ATOMOS,
where ATOMOS repairs or replaces the goods, it will be responsible for
reasonable shipping costs incurred in sending the goods to the Customer,
provided that customer is located in a country in which ATOMOS has an
authorized distributor or repair centre or agent.
Warranty Exclusions
This warranty applies only to defects in workmanship and does not cover
defects caused by:
• Neglect;
• Improper or negligent acts or omissions;
• Unauthorised repairs or attempted repairs;
• Tampering with or modication of the goods;
• Connection to incompatible equipment or power sources;
• Exposure to water or weather;
• Exposure to magnetic elds or corrosive liquids or substances;
• Physical damage
EXCEPT AS STATED IN THIS WARRANTY, ATOMOS, IT’S VENDORS,
AGENTS, RESELLERS AND DISTRIBUTORS DISCLAIM IN THEIR ENTIRETY
ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR
A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE REMEDIES OUTLINED IN THIS WARRANTY
ARE THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY A CUSTOMER HAS ARISING FROM
DEFECTIVE GOODS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO THE WARRANTY.
ATOMOS DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE GOODS WILL OPERATE IN A
MANNER WHICH IS ERROR FREE, OR UNINTERRUPTED. THE GOODS ARE
NOT INTENDED TO BE THE PRIMARY OR ONLY DATA STORAGE DEVICE
FOR DATA – CUSTOMERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR BACK UP AND
PROTECTION OF DATA.
Software License Agreement
IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THIS IS A LICENSE
AGREEMENT.
This ATOMOS software, related documentation, any included sample
images and other les (the “Software”), is protected by copyright laws and
international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws
and treaties. The Software is licensed, not sold.
This End User License Agreement (“EULA”) is a legal agreement between
you (either an individual or a single entity) and ATOMOS with regard to
the copyrighted Software provided with this EULA. Use of the Software
provided to you by ATOMOS in whatever form or media, will constitute your
acceptance of these terms, unless separate terms are provided by the
software supplier, in which case certain additional or different terms may
apply. If you do not agree with the terms of this EULA, do not download,
install copy or use the Software. By installing, copying or otherwise using
the Software, you agree to be bound to the terms of this EULA. If you do
not agree to the terms of this EULA, ATOMOS is unwilling to license the
Software to you.
1.Eligible licensees. This Software is available for license solely to
purchasers of the ATOMOS Ninja Star, who have purchased a unit
manufactured by ATOMOS Ninja Star and purchased through an
ATOMOS authorized reseller, with no right of duplication or further
distribution, licensing or sub-licensing.
2.License Grant. ATOMOS grants you a personal, non-transferable and
non-exclusive right to use the copy of the Software provided with this
EULA. You agree you will not copy the Software except as necessary
to use it with the ATOMOS Ninja Star. You agree that you may not
copy the written materials accompanying the Software. Modifying,
reverse engineering, translating, renting, copying, transferring or
assigning all or part of the Software or any rights granted hereunder, to
any other persons or reverse engineering the hardware on which the
Software runs, is strictly prohibited. The software is license, not sold.
You acknowledge that no title to intellectual property in the Software
is transferable to you. You further acknowledge that title and full
ownership rights to the Software will remain the exclusive property of
ATOMOS and/or its suppliers, and you will not acquire any rights to the
Software, except as expressly set forth above. All copies of the software
will contain the same proprietary notices as contained in or on the
Software. All title and copyrights in and to the Software (including but not
limited to any images, animations, video, audio, text incorporated), the
accompanying printed materials, and any copies of the Software are owned
by ATOMOS or its suppliers.
3.Reverse engineering. You agree that you will not attempt, and if you are a
corporation, you will use your best efforts to prevent your employees and
contractors from attempting to reverse compile, derive circuits, modify,
translate or disassemble the Software and/or the ATOMOS Ninja Star in
whole or in part. Any failure to comply with the above or any other terms
and conditions contained herein will result in the automatic termination
of this license and the reversion of the rights granted hereunder by
ATOMOS.
ATOMOS reserves the right to terminate this license without prejudice to
any additional recourse ATOMOS may have against you if you violate any
of its terms and conditions.
Warranty & Conditions

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 4
Your Ninja Star comes with a standard 1 year warranty on all parts and
accessories.
Register now to receive communication on all future updates at
www.atomos.com/registration
This will enable us to let you know about updates to the product and other
important information surrounding your purchase.
MICRO
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Atomos Ninja
Star: your 10-bit HDMI Recorder/Player.
It’s the most compact portable recorder
available, with extremely long battery life.
Ninja Star preserves the pristine uncompressed video
quality from your camera’s sensor by directly encoding
it into Apple ProRes as it records to CFast, making it
instantly compatible with your NLE time line. The Ninja
Star’s revolutionary ‘Sensor-to-NLE’ workow is the
fastest and best quality available today!
Buying a CFast for the Ninja Star is just like buying
a tape – except that with a card you will have instant
“non-linear” access to your video.
The Ninja Star’s interface is intuitive and simple to
use. There are no complicated menus or difcult
to nd functions – everything you need is instantly
accessible. Refer to ‘Using your Ninja Star’ for more
information.
Software updates for your Ninja Star will be issued
regularly. Registering your Ninja Star now will ensure
you are kept abreast of any updates.
Have you registered your Ninja Star yet?
Register now to receive communication on all future updates
Web: www.atomos.com Sales: [email protected]
Support: [email protected]

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 5
Contents may differ from those shown here.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
We try to provide you with as complete a package as possible: you don’t
have to add anything except a media card (you can buy media cards from
your Atomos Reseller) and some accessories to suit your set-up, like HDMI
cables and tripod screws. All other parts necessary to use the Ninja Star are
included.
Here’s the complete list
1. Ninja Star recorder
2. USB 3.0 CFast card reader
3. Single battery charger including AC power adaptor
4. Atomos 7.4 V 2600mAh Battery
5. Mounting plate with screws
6. Carry case
7. Car charger adaptor
* Ninja Star Quick Start Guide (not pictured)
We recommend many CFast cards, for the most up-to-date information
please visit:
http://www.atomos.com/discovery-what-drives/
Your package will not contain any CFast cards. You can buy
media cards from your Atomos Reseller.
What’s Included

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 6
CFast Cards
These are the storage medium for Ninja Star. You can use either
CFast 1.0 or CFast 2.0 cards.
Which CFast cards should you use?
There are many CFast cards available, and newer models appear all
the time. We are not able to test all CFast cards but here are some
guidelines.
Speed and reliability are the main factors. Here are a few things to
bear in mind:
•We recommend a write speed of a minimum 80 MB/s.
Atomos regularly test CFast cards – please check this link before
purchasing drives: http://www.atomos.com/discovery-what-drives/
Backing up and archiving
Remember that no storage medium, including tape, optical disks, spinning
disks and ash memory, is completely immune from failure. You should
bear this in mind when deciding how to manage your recorded content.
At the very least, you should consider the consequences for you and your
business if your storage medium were to suffer from a sudden failure, and
you should back up your content accordingly. Hard drives that you can
use for archiving are becoming increasingly affordable. You may nd that
it is completely feasible for your to keep your master Ninja Star cards on a
shelf (just like tapes!), and, as a backup, store copies on large hard drives,
RAID arrays or Network Attached Storage (NAS).
HDMI Cables (not included)
Atomos manufactures Pro Video HDMI cables made for the Ninja Star.
We have a range of options, including Micro to Micro, Micro to Mini, Full
HDMI to Full HDMI and angled Micro Connectors, all with the convenient
coiled cable design. For more information on our HDMI cables, go to:
http://www.atomos.com/hdmi-cables/
What you also need
When locked, CFast Card cannot
format or record.
Mount plate adaptor
Standard 1/4” and 3/8” Mount plate adaptor
Mount plate is included and can be attached to the Ninja Star
with the provided 4 PH1 screws. This system provides many
exible mounting options to standard 1/4” and 3/8” camera
mounts and accessories.

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 7
Battery
The Ninja Star is a battery powered device. Like all batteries, you will need
to take care of them. Make sure that you don’t short circuit the connections
because this can result in very high currents that can damage the cells
and could pose a re hazard.
Charge new batteries before using them, using the battery charger
supplied. To attach the battery, gently slide it down into the slot until it locks
into position. To remove a battery, push the latch to release it.
Batteries do not charge in a linear way. At rst they charge very
quickly, and then the rate slows down to a trickle. While charging, the
Charge light will be red. Eventually, when trickle charging is complete
and the batteries are at 100% charged, the Charge light will go green.
The charge can take a long time to fully complete, but the battery will
be almost fully charged after 3 hours. (2600mAh Capacity)
Before any type of disposal the battery should be discharged
completely. Tape the contacts with electrical tape and package so
as to prevent contacts accidentally coming together at any time.
Incineration must be performed by an approved and permitted waste
treatment facility that handles lithium ion batteries. If you are not sure
if your waste facility can handle lithium ion batteries, contact them and
verify if they are permitted or not.
Ninja Star batteries and modular accessories (Connect Converters,
etc) are held in place very tightly because they are on the outside of
the device and there has to be no possibility whatsoever that they
could work loose, so you will have to be quite rm with the battery
latches. We suggest that you familiarise yourself with the force
required to remove the batteries and accessories so that you can
do this quickly in the eld. Make sure that you hold the top and the
bottom of the battery or accessory module when sliding it off to avoid
dropping it when it is released from the main unit.
The Ninja Star may be powered using our D-Tap adaptor which is
available separately.
IMPORTANT: Make sure DC Power range applied to the Ninja Star is
between 6.2V to 16.8V.
Powering up the Ninja Star
Push latch to release baery

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 8
Turning ON power to the Ninja Star
To power up the unit, press the Record button located on the front left
hand side. The power LED should light up green immediately. The
indicator LEDs will turn on moments later when the device starts up.
Turning OFF power to the Ninja Star
To turn the unit off press the red Rec button for 4 seconds. The unit will
then power off.
Four seconds can seem like a long time! We’ve made it this way
to make absolutely certain that the Ninja Star can’t be turned off
accidentally.
Powering up the Ninja Star
Power buon
HDMI in: The video input to the Ninja Star is micro HDMI. This is the
connection that is used to record to the Ninja Star’s storage media.
HDMI out: This is for connection to an external monitor or other device with
an HDMI input. It carries a delay-free loop-through of the incoming signal
in record and standby mode, and the playout signal when the Ninja Star is
in playout mode.
Audio: The Ninja Star can record 2 (left and right) channels of digital audio
embedded in the HDMI signal. There is a 3.5mm Stereo Line-in socket for
recording an additional 2 audio in sync with incoming video. Depending
on your set-up, you may nd that this gives you better results than the
microphone on the camera.
Some cameras have a delay on their video output so the analogue
audio channels will not be in sync. This can be easily xed in post
using your NLE.
We now make Atomos Pro Video HDMI Cables. You can nd out more
by visiting http://www.atomos.com/hdmi-cables/
IMPORTANT: The audio input is designed for line level sources.
Do not exceed the 2V pk-pk or your audio will be distorted.
Ninja Star Connections
Audio
Stereo Line In
(Max input 2Vpk-pk)
Video Input
Connect video source here
Video Output
Connect external monitor
device here
CFast Slot

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 9
CFast Slot
On the left hand side of the unit is a slot for CFast cards. To insert a CFast
card, slide in card rmly in position.
Formatting card - See page 11
Hot swappable
The CFast cards are hot-swappable, so you can do this at any time – even
while the unit is turned on. But don’t do it while recording or you will get a
corrupted le that may be unplayable.
CFast Slots
Mounting options
The Ninja Star comes with a mounting plate which features standard tripod
1/4” and 3/8” screw mounts. This can be attached to the top or bottom of
the Ninja Star with the 4 included screws, allowing you to congure your
recording setup various ways.
If mounting the Ninja Star on aerial videography platforms or a quad
copter, check that the total weight does not exceed the payload limit
of the aircraft.
Ninja Star = 130g
Atomos battery = 100g
Ninja Star mounting plate with screws = 55g
Mounng Plate
Ninja Star Modularity
The Ninja Star was designed to be a exible and modular system. It will
work with a variety of battery systems. Canon and Nikon battery adapters,
as well as a D-Tap Adaptor are available.
The Ninja Star’s battery slot is the key to its modularity. They provide a
secure attachment point for modular add-ons such as the Atomos Connect
converters (pictured).
Available Atomos adapters:
H2S - Add SDI output to your Ninja Star
S2H - Add SDI input to your Ninja Star
D-tap adapter - Power the Ninja Star from your rig
Canon Battery Plate Adapter
Nikon Battery Plate Adapter

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 10
The Ninja Star is controlled by a simple
user-friendly interface. Pictured right are the
main controls seen when the Ninja Star is
rst powered up and there is a video input
connection.
Note: HDMI TRIGGER + Timecode will be auto
detected on the Ninja Star.
Record
• CODEC and Pulldown mode can be selected
by holding the previous and next buttons for
two seconds.
• The Record button can be used to start and
stop the recordings.
• The LEDs indicate the status of battery levels,
audio levels, time remaining on card, as well
as video options.
Using the Ninja Star
Record
OR
Record: Press to start/stop
recording (requires video lock)
Auto Record Trigger: Supported on
some Sony and Canon cameras
Play: Press to enter playback mode.
Hold for 2 seconds to select audio channel levels between HDMI and Analogue.
Change CODEC: Hold for 2 seconds to change CODEC
Change mode: Hold for 2 seconds to change pulldown removal setting
Hold both Rec + Play for 3 seconds to format CFast Card
Hold both Prev + Next for 2 seconds to Lock/Unlock the Ninja Star
panel buttons
Indicator LED light turns red
when recording
Record from:
Action Cam DSLR Mirrorless Video Camera
Record / Play / Prev / Next Playback
Indicator
Recording
Indicator
Baery Indicator
Time Remaining
Audio Levels
Recording Quality
Pulldown Status
Video Lock

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 11
Requirements
Before recording commences, you need a valid incoming signal locked
and a formatted CFast card with space remaining in the CFast slot.
How to format your CFast card
To format the CFast card, hold
down both Rec + Play for 3
seconds.
The ‘time remaining’ lights will
ash, indicating that the CFast
card has been formatted.
CODECs
The Apple ProRes CODEC can
be set at one of three quality
levels, HQ, 422 or LT. These are
set by holding down the ‘prev’
button for 2 seconds and allow
you to trade off quality vs storage
space.
Camera setup
Set up your camera to output a HDMI signal in the desired video mode
and connect to the Ninja Star with a suitable HDMI cable. You may need to
refer to your camera user manual for information on the relevant settings.
Alternatively look on our website at http://www.atomos.com/discovery-
what-cameras/ for setup guides with various cameras. Once you have
your camera setup properly and connected to the Ninja Star the Lock light
should turn green.
The light must be lit green for a valid lock.
Check for clean HDMI output on a monitor
You can also check that your camera is set-up properly by connecting it
to a HDMI monitor or Atomos Recorder/Monitor. This way can verify the
signal format you want to use as well as checking that the signal is clean of
any on screen display or menus.
If your camera supports Timecode or commands over HDMI you should
turn these features on. The Timecode sent from the camera will be
embedded in the recorded clip.
Audio Setup
Not all HDMI cameras send audio over HDMI, or perhaps you would prefer
to use an external mic. In this case analogue audio can be recorded
through the stereo 3.5mm input. Please note that some cameras have a
delay on their HDMI output so analogue sound may need to be synced in
post. You can change which signal is monitored on the audio level meters
by holding down the ‘Play’ button for 2 seconds. Make sure any analogue
input is not too high or the recorded sound will be distorted.
Pulldown Removal
Many cameras do not output progressive signals natively over HDMI.
Instead they will embed at progressive signal such as 1080p24 inside of a
1080i60 signal. This is known as 3:2 pulldown.
The Ninja Star is able to recover
the 1080p24 signal using
pulldown removal and record a
progressive ProRes movie clip to
the CFast card.
Pull down removal can be
turned on by holding down the
‘Next’ button for two seconds.
When recording 1080p30,
1080p25 and 1080p24 from
some cameras you may need to
use pulldown removal. See the
table below.
Camera Setting Pulldown Ninja Star Receives
1080p23.98 3:2 1080i59.94
1080p24 3:2 1080i60
1080p25 2:2 1080i50
1080p29.97 2:2 1080i59.94
1080p30 2:2 1080i60
Triggering
Recordings can be triggered by pressing the ‘Rec’ button. Whilst the unit
is recording you will see the tally light blink red. To stop a recording simply
press the ‘Rec’ button again. Recordings can also be triggered to start/
stop by the camera if HDMI stop/start commands are sent by the camera.
Recording Time onto CFast 64GB 128Gb
(I-Frame Only, 422, 10-bit) Time Time
ProRes HQ (10-bit, 220Mbps) 39min 1hr 17min
ProRes 422 (10 bit, 150Mbps) 57min 1hr 53min
ProRes LT (10 bit, 100Mbps) 1hr 25min 2hr 50min
Record

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 12
Record: Press to return to capture mode Play: Press to play/pause clip
Frame by frame
RWD / FWD
When paused:
Hold to Super RWD / Super FFWD
Click to skip to Previous / Next
When playing:
Playback & Review on monitors:
Recorded footage can also be played from
the Ninja Star’s HDMI Out. This is ideal for
large screen client viewing, feedback and
editing on location.
The Ninja Star has a powerful playback function that allows you to
playback pristine Apple ProRes recordings in real-time with controls to
navigate quickly to any part of a clip, the ability to play recorded content
faster than normal playback speed or step through the clip frame-by-
frame to check your footage very accurately.
Playback makes the Ninja Star a fully-functional portable HD Deck with
quality visually identical to uncompressed!
Whenever playback mode is entered, it will send a HDMI signal through
the Ninja Star’s HDMI output of the last clip recorded in loop mode. You
can view this on an HDMI monitor, or, using an optional Atomos S2H
Connect Converter, on a SDI monitor.
The clip playing can be changed by pressing the previous and next
buttons.
Note that not all displays and TVs will accept all formats output by the
Ninja Star. For example many TVs will not display 1080p25 video clips.
If the monitor or TV is displaying a ‘no input’ message, check that video
mode is supported by the display.
Also, the Ninja Star will only output the audio recorded from the HDMI
signal.
The Ninja Star is only able to monitor the rst two audio channels
in a ProRes clip as there is no physical screen to toggle between
audio channels.
Using the Playback and Playout features
Playback: One touch review

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 13
Connect
To access and edit your recorded material, connect the included CFast
Card reader to a Mac®or Windows®editing workstation via USB 2.0 or
USB 3.0.
Remove the CFast card from your Ninja Star and insert it into the CFast
Card reader. After a short wait, the recorded video will be accessible to the
target computer via a standard disk (exFAT) le system.
ExFAT compatibility
The Ninja Star formats your disk as exFAT. We have chosen this le system
to overcome the 4GB le limitation of FAT32 and keep compatibility on both
Windows and MAC OS.
The Operating Systems that support exFAT are:
• Windows XP - install the following update :
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=19364
• Windows Vista - install SP1 or higher
• Windows 7 (32/64bit)
• Mac OSX 10.6.5 or higher
Transferring Files
Now your CFast Card reader is connected and your card is recognised by
your operating system, you can edit directly from the drive or copy the les
to your own storage.
Windows
Open the card in My Computer > Select all the les or just the ones you
wish to transfer, copy and paste them to your desired location.
Mac OS
Your Ninja Star disk will show in Finder. Select the les you wish to
transfer, drag the les to your desired location or use the copy and paste
commands.(Apple + C copy, CTRL + V paste).
NLE supported
We have chosen the Apple ProRes CODECs as they are both not only
visually lossless, but also edit-ready formats. All major NLEs support ProRes.
• Final Cut Pro (version 7)
• Final Cut X
• Adobe CS5 (with 5.51 update)
• EDIUS 6
• Sony Vegas 10
• Lightworks
• Avid Media Composer 6
• Autodesk Smoke
Connecting & Editing

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 14
Importing
Final Cut Pro (version 7), Final Cut X , Adobe CS5 (with 5.51 update),
EDIUS 6, Sony Vegas 10, Lightworks and Avid Media Composer 6
support imported les from your Ninja Star disk.
Note: Quicktime Player on must be installed on Windows machines.
Importing Ninja Star footage into Final Cut Pro
You can import Ninja Star footage into Final Cut Pro (FCP) in just a few
simple steps.
First, connect the Atomos CFast Card Reader to your Apple Mac using the
USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port. Insert the CFast card with your footage into the
Reader and you will see the drive appear in your Finder window.
Start FCP and open your project (or start a new one).
The screen will look like this:
Go to the File menu and select Import > folder:
FCP will show you a “browse” window. Look for the Ninja Star drive,
and click on it.
You’ll see the folders in the Ninja Star drive. Select the folder containing
the footage you want to import:
Click on Choose and go back to your FCP project window:
Your Scene, Shot and Take folders now appear in the project window,
ready for use in your FCP project.
Connecting & Editing

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 15
Connecting & Editing
Final Cut Pro X
Final Cut Pro 7
Motion 5
Premiere Pro
After Effects
Speed Grade
Edius Pro 7
Edius Elite 7
Smoke Lightworks

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 16
AC Adaptor (sold separately)
This connects on the battery slot on the back of the Ninja Star.
The end of the adaptor will connect to a mains plug.
Alternatively you can use any NP-Compatible Charger or power supply,
as long as they use a “Dummy Battery”.
D-Tap Adaptor (sold separately)
This adaptor allows you to take the power supply from any source that has
a D-Tap connection such as external battery packs.
The D-Tap also connects to the battery slot of the Ninja Star. You will need a
D-Tap to D-Tap cable (sold separately). Voltages 7.2 to 16.8 volts.
Please refer to Atomos D-Tap document on the Atomos Knowledge Base.
CONNECT
You can think of Atomos Connect Converters as stand-alone devices
or as specially designed modules to give the Ninja Star additional
capabilities. With them you can:
• Add an SDI input to the Ninja Star for connection to
non-HDMI devices using Connect S2H
• Add an SDI output to the Ninja Star for playout to
SDI monitors using Connect H2S
There is nothing to set up when you use a Connect Converter. Just
secure the device in the battery slot and place the battery that previously
occupied that slot in the battery slot on the converter.
Using Ninja Star with external power supplies
Using Ninja Star with Atomos Connect Converters

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 17
Updating AtomOS (Firmware)
From time to time we will issue software updates for your Ninja Star.
To update the rmware (that’s the software that runs inside your Ninja Star),
there is a simple procedure you have to follow.
• Go to http://www.atomos.com/ninja-star-rmware/
• Locate and download the rmware upgrade
1. Extract the le ATOMNJS_4SXX.FW from the rmware zip le.
2. Copy ATOMNJS_4SXX.FW onto a CFast card
a. Atomos recommends you use a freshly formatted CFast card.
b. Always format your drives in the Ninja Star. The Ninja Star formats
the drive for optimal performance for Video.
c. Ensure that the rmware update le is on the root of the drive, and
not in a folder on the drive.
3. Put a freshly charged battery on your Ninja Star. It is very important that
your Ninja Star does not lose power during a rmware upgrade.
4. Power down your Ninja Star.
5. Insert the CFast card with the NINJABLD.FW le.
6. Power up your Ninja Star with a short press of the Power Button.
7. 4x green lights ashing will indicate the Ninja Star is mounting the
CFast Card.
8. 3x green + 1x red lights ashing will indicate the Ninja Star is updating
the rmware.
9. The rmware upgrade will take up to a few minutes.
10. When the rmware upgrade is nished, the Ninja Star will:
a. Delete NINJASTR.FW from the CFast card.
b. Power itself down.
Checking rmware has been updated
To check if the rmware has been successfully updated, you must record a
quick clip with the Ninja Star. You can then look at the le name to check if
the clip has been recorded with the new update.
If your le name has the rmware update number (see below), you have
successfully updated your Ninja Star, Congratulations!
Please ensure your batteries have plenty of charge and that you do
not interrupt your Ninja Star while its rmware is upgrading. When it
is nished, the Ninja Star will restart and you will be able to use the
device as normal.
Problems when installing AtomOS
Very occasionally, the rmware update process can go wrong. This might
be because of an incomplete or corrupted download.
In the unlikely event of your Ninja Star becoming unresponsive, there is a
built-in recovery mechanism.
All you have to do is press and hold the on/off button for 10 seconds.
If you do this your Ninja Star will revert to its factory condition,
and you will be able to retry the rmware update later (taking due
precautions to identify and remove possible reasons for the failure of
the previous attempt).
Finding your Device ID (DID)
Your unique device ID is located within the le name on your recorded
media.
Software updates
Name NJS_ANJSR0GF3_4S.02_00012.MOV
Device ID
Name NJS_ANJSR0GF3_4S.02_00012.MOV
Firmware Update Number

Atomos Ninja Star – User Manual Edition 1: October 2014 18
Ninja Star tech specs
NINJA STAR SPECIFICATIONS
Weight
Without batteries & HDD 130g/4.6oz
With batteries & HDD 230g/8.1oz
Dimensions (W x H x D mm) 95 x 60 x 25mm
Construction Advanced rubberised paint
Power
Operating power 3.5W / 4.5W (Rec,Play)
Compatible batteries NP series, D-Tap and supporting accessories
(Nikon ENL6, Canon EL6)
Input voltage (battery) 6.2V to 16.8V
Battery time (based on 7.4V) 2600mAh - up to 5hrs
5200mAh - up to 9hrs
7800mAh - up to 14hrs
Continuous power
* Patent pending via optional Power station
Powerstation continuous power dual
supply Optional
Video input/loop out
HDMI 1 x HDMI Micro (1.4)
Signal Uncompressed 10/8bit 4:2:2
Video output (play out)
HDMI 1 x HDMI Micro (1.4)
Signal Uncompressed 10/8bit 4:2:2
Supported formats (in/out)
HD
1080i60, 1080i59.94, 1080i50, 1080p30,
1080p25, 1080p24, 1080p23.98, 1080pSF23.98,
1080pSF24, 1080pSF25, 1080pSF30,
SD 720p60, 720p59.94, 720p50, SD 480i, 576i
NINJA STAR SPECIFICATIONS
Realtime hardware encoding
1920x1080 8/10-bit 4:2:2 & SD to
Apple
HQ
422
LT
Onboard processing
25pSF > 25P (2:2 Pulldown)
30pSF > 30P (2:2 Pulldown)
60i > 24P (3:2 Pulldown)
59.94i > 23.98P (3:2 Pulldown)
Audio input (48kHz PCM audio)
Analog Line 2ch 48KHz (no gain control)
HDMI 2ch 48kHz
Audio output (48kHz PCM audio)
Analog line / Headphone 2ch 48kHz
HDMI 2ch 48kHz
Remote start/stop
HDMI
Auto HDMI Trigger
Supported Protocols - Canon, Sony, Atomos Open
Standard
Recording
Supported media
(Approved List Only) Atomos CFast
Dock USB 2.0/3.0 CFast card reader
Supported applications
Supported Applications FCPX/FCP7+ / Media
Composer 5.0+ / Premiere 5.5+
EDIUS 6.0+ / Vegas Pro 10+ / Lightworks /
Autodesk Smoke 2015
Accessories included
Main unit, Universal battery charger 110-240V,
AC adapter & car charger, CFast card reader, 1
x Atomos 2600mAh battery, Rugged carry case,
Cheese plate mounting adapter
Optional extras
D-Tap adapter, Canon & Nikon adapter plates,
Connect H2S converter, Connect S2H converter,
CFast cards, Atomos specialty HDMI cables
Construction note:
Your Ninja Star is designed to operate in ambient temperatures up to
40°C/105°F. It features a fanless design which dissipates internal heat
through the aluminium chassis.
The top and bottom aluminium surfaces next to the tripod screws are the
heat sinks. Under warm or extended operating conditions, these surfaces
may get hot to the touch. This is normal part of the design, and shows that
your Ninja Star is dissipating heat successfully.
Have you registered your Ninja Star yet?
Register now to receive communication on all future updates
Web: www.atomos.com Sales: [email protected] Support: [email protected]