Atomos today announced a move to standardize HDMI for the professional video industry by focusing on ease of use and customer experience. One of the big advantages of SDI over HDMI has been auto triggering and timecode communication between cameras and external devices like monitors and recorders. Atomos has now made HDMI more usable and one step closer to the SDI standard by implementing auto start/stop trigger and timecode over HDMI. With this standard, users can connect using HDMI and automatically trigger functions on external devices from the camera itself, just as they have for years with SDI.

Atomos was the first company to engineer auto HDMI start/stop and timecode communication with cameras, initially with Sony in 2011 for the FS100 followed up with Canon in 2013, for the 5D Mark III, 1DC and C100. Currently almost all professional Sony and Canon HDMI Cameras including the A7S employ this protocol. As the popularity of Atomos external monitor/recorders has grown, demand for this connection has spread to all camera manufacturers. Now with an open, free and available standard, this transition can happen quickly and easily.

Atomos has developed its own range of HDMI cables with tight fitting connections and coiled cable lengths that allow for less clutter on the tripod and less force pulling at the HDMI connection. The range of HDMI cables includes a right angle HDMI micro to micro/mini and full coiled cables in lengths of 30 centimeters. HDMI mini to full and full HDMI to full HDMI connections in lengths of 30 to 50 centimeters. Available starting this month, prices range from $19.95 to $29.95. See the full list of options here.