Monitoring Modes & LUTs

To select a monitoring mode, or upload a LUT, open the Bottom Shelf menu via the settings wheel icon in the Bottom Row menu at the far-right side of the screen. Once it’s open, you’ll notice the Monitor and LUTs tabs on the far-left side. Let’s start with the Monitor tab first.

Monitoring Modes

By default, the Shinobi II will be in the SDR Native monitor mode. This mode simply displays the incoming HDMI signal “as is”.

Next to it is the HDR HLG mode. This mode uses tone mapping to transform an incoming Log input to what the final image would look like in an HDR workflow using the HLG standard.

One position further to the right, you’ll find the HDR PQ mode. This mode also uses tone mapping to transform an incoming Log input to what the final image would look like in an HDR workflow using the PQ standard.

Then, there’s the 709 LUT mode. This mode is primarily meant for comparison purposes, as it simulates the limited dynamic range of an SDR image in an HDR preview, which often leads to clipped highlights and crushed shadows.

In the fifth spot of the list is the USER LUT mode. To use it, you have to upload a LUT first, so we’ll get back to this later after going through the LUT workflow.

Note: The HDR HLG, HDR PQ and 709 LUT modes are unavailable to select if the Log/HDR function in the input mode is disabled. Enabling it, and specifying what kind of Log signal your camera is outputting to the Shinobi II is required, for the device to apply the correct tone mapping for these HDR modes.

At the far-right end of the Monitor tab, you’ll also find options to vertically or horizontally flip the image display of the Shinobi II.

LUTs

To access the LUT features of your Shinobi II, navigate to the LUTs tab of the Bottom Shelf menu. Once opened, you’ll immediately notice the folder icon on the left, and the 8 slots for LUTs right next to it.

Here’s how to upload a LUT into any of the 8 available preset slots:

1. Select either of the available 8 LUT slots (Slot 1 will be selected by default)
2. Insert an SD Card (FAT32 (MS-DOS) and NTFS formatted) with your LUTs on it into the SD Card slot
3. Press the folder icon at the left of the LUT menu, and notice how a file browser opens.
4. Within the file browser, navigate to where you placed the LUTs you want to load.
5. Select the LUT you want to upload and confirm.
6. Wait for the upload to complete and close the dialog.
7. Now, your LUT is loaded into the slot you’ve previously selected.

To use the LUT for monitoring on your Shinobi II, simply return to the Monitor tab of the Bottom Shelf menu and select USER LUT as the monitoring mode.

Note: The Shinobi II is compatible with LUTs in the .Cube format (17 & 33 points supported).

At the far-right side of the LUTs tab, you’ll find the compare option. Tapping it will display the image split into two. The left side of the screen shows the image without the LUT, while the right side of the screen shows it with the LUT applied.

Next to it is the Blue-only mode. This mode is helpful to monitor the image only using the Blue channel in Black/White, which highlights Noise/Grain particularly well.