Powering ELEMENTS Workflows with ATTO ThunderLink Thunderbolt 5 Adapters and ATTO360 Software
In today’s production environments, shared storage is the heartbeat of the creative process. When editors, colorists, and VFX artists are all pulling from the same ELEMENTS system, every connection between workstation and storage has to deliver—every time. ATTO Technology’s goal is simple: make sure those connections are never the weak link.
For decades, ATTO has focused on the in‑between layer—how your workstations actually talk to your storage and network. ATTO ThunderLink® Thunderbolt™ 5 adapters provide workstations a direct on‑ramp to the ELEMENTS hardware and software ecosystem, with dual‑port 100Gb Ethernet or dual‑port 64Gb Fibre Channel models to match both IP and SAN‑centric workflows. Thunderbolt 5 has double the bandwidth of prior generations and features ultra‑low‑latency links, which maintains smooth playback of real‑time 4K and 8K, even when multiple users are hitting ELEMENTS storage at once. For teams embracing hybrid and cloud‑assisted pipelines, 100GbE connectivity and advanced transport options make it easier to move large projects between ELEMENTS and other environments without long waits.
ATTO Thunderbolt 5 and ELEMENTS in Real Workflows
The real test isn’t a spec sheet—it’s how systems behave under pressure. ELEMENTS has already put this configuration through its paces, combining an M‑series Mac Studio, an ELEMENTS BOLT system running BLINK, and an ATTO ThunderLink NS 5102 Thunderbolt 5 to 100GbE adapter. In their 8K workflow test, that setup delivered smooth, real‑time playback of 8K 16‑bit DPX directly from ELEMENTS storage—no proxy round‑trips, no local shuttling. For ELEMENTS users, it’s a clear signal that ATTO ThunderLink gives Thunderbolt workstations enough bandwidth and low latency to treat ELEMENTS as true online storage, even at the very high end.
For creative teams, that kind of performance equals a no-compromises workflow. Media can stay online on ELEMENTS instead of being shuffled to local drives, and high‑resolution workflows can remain high‑resolution all the way through delivery. ATTO ThunderLink becomes the bridge that lets Thunderbolt workstations fully tap into what ELEMENTS systems are capable of, whether the task is finishing, fast‑turn episodic work, or heavy VFX sessions.
ATTO360: Performance at the Click of a Button
Like a Formula One car, the ultimate in high-performance is achieved by tuning what’s under the hood. ATTO360™ Storage and ATTO360 Networking smart software helps you get that performance every day. These software tools are designed to help creative teams get the most out of their ATTO connections to ELEMENTS storage without needing to be network experts.
Instead of digging through obscure settings, users can lean on workflow‑aware tuning profiles that optimize links for online editing, color, multicam, and more. One click of the profile you need and you’re off to the races.
ATTO360 gives clear visibility into how the connections to ELEMENTS are performing, offers quick diagnostics when something feels off, and provides tools to fine‑tune as workloads change. The aim is straightforward: if playback stutters, teams have both insight and control to fix it quickly, instead of losing time to trial and error.
See it Live at NAB 2026
In the end, ELEMENTS provides the smart, flexible media storage platform, and ATTO makes it easier for Thunderbolt workstations to connect to that power with confidence. With ATTO ThunderLink handling high‑speed connectivity and ATTO360 helping teams keep performance predictable, creatives can spend less time tuning their setup and more time actually creating.
Heading to NAB? Stop by ATTO Technology booth N1720 to see Thunderbolt 5 connectivity and ATTO360 in action with modern media workflows, and learn how to get even more out of your ELEMENTS storage.