Blackmagic Design ATEM Camera Converter Installation Guide
Installation and Operation Manual
ATEM Camera Converter
ATEM Studio Converter
Mac OS X
Windows
August 2013
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™
Welcome
Welcome to ATEM Live Production!
Thank you for purchasing a Blackmagic Design converter for your live
production work!
ATEM Camera Converter and ATEM Studio Converter allows you to extend your
broadcast SDI and consumer HDMI cameras using low cost optical fiber! Imagine
connecting to cameras at remote locations on racing tracks, live sporting venues
or even massive golf courses! With ATEM Camera Converter you can have more
cameras closer to the action for the most amazing shots in live production! ATEM
Camera Converter not only converts your camera to optical fiber, but it also includes
talkback, external microphone input, program return feed, tally and built in battery
power source! You can place cameras in multiple locations miles away from your
switcher while keeping full broadcast HD video quality!
ATEM Studio Converter is the perfect partner for your ATEM Camera Converters for
internally distributed program output and talkback support. Multiple ATEM Studio
Converters can be looped to allow talkback support to more than 4 cameras.
Blackmagic Converter Utility is used to change settings and update the internal
software in your ATEM converter. The latest version of Converter Utility can always
be downloaded from our website at www.blackmagicdesign.com/support. We
think it should take you approximately 5 minutes to complete installation. Before
you install Converter Utility, please check our website and click the support page to
download the latest updates to this manual and Converter Utility software. Lastly,
please register your ATEM Camera Converter or ATEM Studio Converter when
downloading software updates.
We would love to keep you updated on new software updates and new features
for your ATEM converters. Perhaps you can even send us any suggestions for
improvements to the converters. We are constantly working on new features and
improvements, so we would love to hear from you!
Grant Petty
CEO Blackmagic Design
Contents
ATEM Converters
4
10
Getting Started
Introducing ATEM Converters 4
Getting Started with ATEM Camera Converter 5
Plugging in your Power 5
Plugging in your Camera 5
Plugging in your Headset 5
Plugging in your Monitor 5
Plugging in your Audio 6
Connecting ATEM Converters via Optical Fiber Cables 6
Confirming Your Video Signal 6
Getting Started with ATEM Studio Converter 7
Plugging in Power 7
Plugging in your Headset 7
Plugging in your External Microphone 7
Outputting Camera Audio 7
Monitoring your Audio 7
Connecting to a Switcher 8
Confirming your ATEM Converter Set Up 9
Using ATEM Camera Converter
Using ATEM Camera Converter 10
Status Indicators 10
Control Panel Buttons 11
Setting the Camera Number 12
Mounting ATEM Camera Converter 12
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14
17
18
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20
Using ATEM Studio Converter
Using ATEM Studio Converter 13
Using Blackmagic Converter Utility
Blackmagic Converter Utility 14
Installing Blackmagic Converter Utility on Mac OS X 14
Installing Blackmagic Converter Utility on Windows 14
Updating the Converters Software 14
Setting Tally Border and Camera Number Using Blackmagic
Converter Utility 15
Connecting Up to 4 Cameras to a Switcher 16
Connecting to an ATEM Switcher
Connecting More than 4 Cameras to a Switcher 17
Help
Warnings
Warranty
4
Getting Started
ATEM Camera Converter
ATEM Studio Converter
Getting Started
Introducing ATEM Converters
ATEM Camera and Studio Converters connect to switchers, such as ATEM production switchers, and allow
cameras to be connected over long distances using low cost, fiber optic cable.
ATEM Camera Converter
ATEM Camera Converter connects to any camera with HDMI or SDI output in SD, HD and 3Gb/s HD-SDI
formats. It is used to send video, audio, tally and talkback signals via optical fiber between the camera unit
and a remote unit, for connection to a switcher. It can be battery operated or run on mains power.
When only one camera is being used, a pair of ATEM Camera Converters are required to extend the camera
over a long distance and provide talkback between the camera operator and the switcher operator.
ATEM Studio Converter
When multiple cameras are being used, ATEM Camera Converters can be partnered with an ATEM Studio
Converter. Each ATEM Studio Converter supports connections to 4 ATEM Camera Converters. If the
switcher operator needs to communicate with more than 4 cameras, additional ATEM Studio Converters
can be looped together and connected to more ATEM Camera Converters.
Single mode optical fiber cable with LC connectors are used to connect ATEM Camera Converter, ATEM
Studio Converter and other optical fiber SDI products from Blackmagic Design.
ATEM Camera and Studio Converters are connected to a switcher via SDI cables.
5
PTTPGM
PTTPGM
PTTPGM
VIDEOOPTICAL
PTTPGM
Getting Started
Plug in your power source and charge the internal battery via the
12V to 31V power connector.
Connect your camera via the SDI or HDMI input, and your
monitor via the SDI or HDMI output. By default, ATEM Camera
Converter uses embedded SDI or HDMI audio from your camera.
Getting Started with ATEM Camera Converter
The first thing you’ll want to do is power your ATEM Camera Converter, plug in your camera, headset and a
monitor. You can also plug in an external audio source, such as a mixing desk or microphone.
Plugging in your Power
ATEM Camera Converter features both an internal rechargeable battery which gives you mobility in the
field, and a connector for plugging in the power adaptor supplied with ATEM Camera Converter. ATEM
Camera Converter’s power connector supports an input range of 12V to 31V so you can even use an external
camera battery. The internal battery will charge when a power source is connected.
Plugging in your Camera
You can plug in your camera using ATEM Camera Converter’s SDI or HDMI connectors. SDI connections are
robust, industrial standard and reliably used with long cables up to 300 feet or 100 meters in length. If your
camera has a HDMI output, plug in via a HDMI type A connector and cable.
Make sure your camera output is set to a format supported by your live production switcher.
1080p cameras will usually need to be adjusted to output 1080i or 720p for broadcast. If you’re
connecting to an ATEM switcher, check the switcher video standard and then set the camera to the same
video standard, e.g., 1080i59.94.
Plugging in your Headset
Plug your talkback headset into ATEM Camera Converter’s standard 3.5mm stereo analog microphone
and headphone inputs. An iPhone-compatible headset can be connected using only the headphone jack.
However, if both an iPhone-compatible headset and external microphone are connected at the same time,
only the external microphone will be used.
Connect your headset to ATEM Camera Converter via standard
3.5mm TRS phone inputs.
Plugging in your Monitor
Plug your monitor into ATEM Camera Converter's SDI or HDMI output. Using a monitor lets you view the
camera output or the program output from a switcher. ATEM switchers send tally via the SDI signal. When
the camera is switched to the program output, the tally signal will activate a red border on your attached
monitor to show the camera is on air.
6
PTTPGM
VIDEOOPTICAL
PTTPGM
VIDEOOPTICAL
PTTPGM
PTTPGM
PTT
Getting Started
Connect external audio equipment to ATEM Camera Converter
via TRS phone connectors.
Optical fiber patch cord with two LC connectors.
Plugging in your Audio
ATEM Camera Converter supports 2 channels of camera audio, which are carried on audio channels 1 & 2
of the optical fiber SDI connection. By default, ATEM Camera Converter uses the embedded audio from
your camera's microphone. However, if you want to plug in an external audio source, connect your audio
equipment to ATEM Camera Converter’s two balanced 1/4" TRS inputs. When external audio is connected
it will be used instead of the embedded camera audio.
The 1/4" TRS connectors accept stereo analog audio at microphone level and are carried on audio channels
1 & 2 of the optical fiber SDI connection.
Connecting ATEM Converters via Optical Fiber Cables
You’ll now want to connect your ATEM Camera Converter to a second Camera Converter or an ATEM
Studio Converter via duplex single mode optical fiber cables with LC connectors. A pair of optical fiber
cables are typically known as a patch cord and have the connectors' positions swapped on one end so
optical out is connected to optical in on each unit.
Plugging in Optical Fiber LC Connectors
To plug optical fiber connectors into your ATEM Converters:
Step 1. Plug one end of the patch cord to your ATEM Camera Converter’s SFP module.
Step 2. Plug the other end of your patch cord to the SFP module on the second ATEM Camera Converter.
If you are connecting multiple cameras to an ATEM Studio Converter, choose an SFP module appropriate
for each camera. For example, when connecting camera 1, connect to ATEM Studio Converter’s camera 1
module.
ATEM Camera Converter's optical fiber SFP module.
VIDEOOPTICAL
When a valid SDI or HDMI signal is present, you’ll see ATEM
Camera Converter's Video status indicator illuminated.
PGM
When your ATEM Camera Converter is powered, a camera is plugged in, and a valid SDI or HDMI signal is
present, you’ll see the control panel Video status indicator illuminated. Additionally, if you have your monitor
connected and the PGM button set for camera video, your camera output will be displayed and you’ll know
your ATEM Camera Converter is working.
Confirming Your Video Signal
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