Blackmagicdesign ATEM Television Studio, ATEM Production Studio 4K, ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K, ATEM 2 M/E Production Switcher Chassis Installation And Operation Manual

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Installation and Operation Manual

ATEM Production Switchers

Mac OS X

Windows

November 2013

™

Welcome

Welcome to ATEM Live Production!

Thank you for purchasing an ATEM switcher for your live production work!

If you’re new to live production switchers, then you’re about to become involved in the most exciting part of the television industry and that’s live production! There is nothing like live production and it’s so easy to become addicted to the adrenaline rush of editing in real time while the live event unfolds before your eyes. It’s real television the way it should be!

Previously broadcast quality live production has always been way too high in cost for most people to afford, while affordable switchers lacked broadcast features and quality. The new ATEM switchers change this, and you can use them for the most amazing professional live production results. We hope you get years of use from them and have lots of fun with your live production!

Not only do ATEM switchers include all the features and SDI connections that broadcasters demand, but you also get HDMI connections so you can start with low cost HDMI HD cameras and televisions. ATEM Production Studio 4K models even give you Ultra HD 4K using HDMI and 6G-SDI connectors!

This instruction manual should contain all the information you’ll need for installing your ATEM Production Switcher. The ATEM switcher includes a software control panel which you can run on your computer or you can purchase a hardware based broadcast control panel separately. The computer and control panels connect to your ATEM switcher via a network cable and you can directly connect them together without any extra equipment!

Please check the support page on our web site at www.blackmagicdesign.com for the latest version of software for your ATEM switcher. Simply connect your computer to the ATEM switcher and the ATEM broadcast control panel via USB to update software so you get all the latest features! When downloading software, please register with your information so we can keep you updated when new software is released. We are constantly working on new features and improvements, so we would love to hear from you!

Grant Petty

CEO Blackmagic Design

Contents

ATEM Production Switchers

Getting Started

Introducing ATEM 6

What is an M/E Switcher? 6

What is an A/B Direct Switcher? 9

Understanding the ATEM Processor Chassis 10

Plugging in Multi View Monitoring 11

Plugging in a Control Panel 12

Installing Blackmagic ATEM Software on Mac OS X 13

Installing Blackmagic ATEM Software on Windows 14

Plugging in your Computer 15

Switcher Settings 16

Plugging in Cameras and Other Video Sources 17

Plugging in Audio and Other Audio Sources 18

Connecting to a Network 19

Changing the Switcher Network Settings 20

Understanding the Broadcast Panel Network Settings 20

Setting the Broadcast Panel to Find the Switcher IP Location 21

Changing the Broadcast Panel Network Settings 22

Updating the Software

How to update the ATEM Software! 23

Updating the Switcher Chassis Software 23

Updating the Broadcast Control Panel Software 24

25 27

Connecting Video Outputs

Using ATEM Software Control

Interface Overview 27

Switcher Control Panel 27 Audio Mixer 28 Media Manager 29 Switcher Settings 30

Using the Software Control Panel 30

Mix Effects 30 Program Bus Source Select Buttons 31 Preview Bus Source Select Buttons 31 Transition Control and Upstream Keyers 31 Downstream Keyers 33 Fade to Black (FTB) 33 Processing Palettes 33 Capture Palette 35 Using the Media Manager and Media Pool 37 Navigating the Browse Window 38 Changing Switcher Settings 39 Controlling Auxiliary Outputs 43

Button Mapping 44

Transition Control 44

Saving and Restoring Switcher Settings 44

Saving your Startup State 45

Contents

ATEM Production Switchers

Using the ATEM 1 M/E Broadcast Panel

Control Panel Overview 46

Using the Control Panel 46

Mix Effects 46 Source Names Display 46 Program Bus 46 Preview Bus 47 SHIFT 47 Destination Display and Select Bus 47 Transition Control and Upstream Keyers 48 Downstream Keyers 49 Fade to Black 49 System Status 50 System Control 50 Menu Buttons 50 Joystick and Numeric Keypad 50

Button Mapping 51

Using the ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Panel

Control Panel Overview 52

Using the Control Panel 52

Mix Effects 52 Source Names Display 52 Program Bus 52 Preview Bus 53 SHIFT 53 Destination Bus and Select Bus 53 Auxiliary Outputs 54 Transition Control and Upstream Keyers 54

Downstream Keyers 55 Fade to Black 56 System Status 56 System Control 56 Menu Buttons 57 Joystick and M/E Pattern and Key Buttons 57 Joystick and Numeric Keypad 57

Button Mapping 58

Controlling Two ATEM Switchers 58

Operating your ATEM Switcher

Internal Video Sources 60

Black 60 Color Bars 60 Color Generators 60 Media Players 60

Cut Transitions 62

Auto Transitions 64

Manual Transitions 79

Preview Transition 79

Keying on ATEM Switchers 80

Understanding Keying 80

DVE Key 89

Adding DVE Borders 90

Using Adobe Photoshop with ATEM 96

Setting up Plug-in Switcher Location 96 Preparing Graphics for Download 96

Using Auxiliary Outputs 97

Using SuperSource (Picture in Picture) 100

Contents

ATEM Production Switchers

103

105

111

112

120

Using Tally

Sending Tally Signals via a GPI and Tally Interface 103

Using Audio

Plugging in Audio and Other Audio Sources 105

Making Your Own Audio Breakout Cable 106

Using Embedded SDI and HDMI Audio Sources 108

Using a Third Party Audio Mixer Control Surface 109

Working with USB 3.0

Using Blackmagic Media Express

What is Media Express? 112

Capturing Video and Audio Files 113

Playing Back Video and Audio Files 117

Browsing Media 118

Using Blackmagic UltraScope

What is Blackmagic UltraScope? 120

Blackmagic UltraScope Interface 121

Understanding Blackmagic UltraScope Views 122

131 133 134 135 136

USB 3.0 Frequently Asked Questions

ATEM Television Studio Power Supply

Help

Warnings

Warranty

Getting Started

Introducing ATEM

ATEM Production Switchers are professional broadcast grade digital production switchers capable of switching and processing a variety of video sources in live video production and broadcast environments. The switcher uses a current and familiar M/E (Mix Effects) based design with software and hardware control options that provides a familiar, fast and easy to use workﬂow for program/preview switching! If you're used to the older A/B direct switcher style, ATEM switchers also support A/B direct switching which makes it easy to get started!

An ATEM production switcher only requires an ATEM production switcher chassis and the included software control panel to get started. Then you can optionally add one or more hardware control panels if you need a more advanced solution.

Multiple control panels can be connected to control the same switcher chassis by simple ethernet connections. The ATEM software control panel can be installed on as many computers as you like at no extra cost.

What is an M/E Switcher?

If you have used low cost switchers before, then these might not have used the mix effects style of operation that’s commonly called an M/E style of operation. If you have used an M/E style switcher, then you might want to skip ahead to install and get working with your new ATEM switcher!

When you’re starting out with a switcher for the ﬁrst time, the ATEM can look a little intimidating with all its buttons and knobs, however it's all very logically laid out so it's very simple to use!

ATEM is a true high-end broadcast switcher that operates using the M/E workﬂow standards used in the broadcast industry. This means once you get familiar with how it works, you will feel instantly at home on virtually any switcher used in broadcast today.

The M/E style of operation has been developed over decades to help eliminate errors when switching live events and is a broadcast standard. It's extremely easy to see what's going on at any time so you don't get confused and make mistakes. The M/E style of operation lets you check the sources you are about to switch on air, as well as try effects before using them on air. You can see buttons for each keyer and transition, so you instantly know what's going on and what's about to happen.

The best way to learn about how your ATEM works is to grab your switcher and play with it while referencing this manual! You might want to jump ahead and install your switcher before reading the rest of this section!

To start, the most visible part of an M/E based control panel is the fader bar, and the program and preview rows of source buttons!

Getting Started

The program bus source select buttons are used to hot switch sources to the program output. The source currently on air is indicated by a button that is illuminated red. Be careful when selecting sources on this row, as they will instantly be switched on air!

A better and more orderly way to do transitions is to select them on the preview row, and then use a transition to cut or transition them on air.

The bottom row of buttons is the preview bus source selection. This is where you will spend most of your time selecting sources about to go on air. This selected source is sent to the program output when the next transition occurs. The next transition can be triggered by pushing the cut button, the auto button, or by toggling the fader bar. You can select between a mix, dip, wipe, DVE or other transition depending what you have selected in the transition control section.

This is a very powerful way to use a switcher, because you can select your source on the preview row, and see it on the preview video output to conﬁrm that you have the correct source before you select the transition you want. You can see what's happening at all stages so it’s hard to make mistakes. Only the M/E style of operation allows you to keep track of what's going on.

You also might notice that once your transition is complete, the sources selected on the preview and program rows swap over. This is because the source you selected on the preview row is now the new on air source, so it becomes selected on the program row once the transition is complete. Remember the program row always shows what's on air.

You will also see both the program and preview buttons illuminate red when doing an auto transition, as for a short time, they are both on air while the transition occurs.

There are multiple types of transitions available, and they can be selected in the transition control. On the ATEM 1 M/E Broadcast Panel there are two transition type buttons. One is labeled mix/dip and the other is labeled DVE/wipe. Selecting these buttons selects mix and wipe transitions, however pressing shift and then selecting mix or wipe allows more types of transitions, dip and DVE. You can also select both buttons for a stinger transition. On the ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Panel there are four transition type buttons. One is labeled mix/dip and the others are labeled wipe, stng and DVE. Selecting these buttons selects mix, wipe, stinger and DVE transitions. However pressing shift and then selecting mix allows for dip transitions. If you are using the ATEM software control panel on your computer, all transition types have their own button, and no shifting is necessary to select any of them. Extra details on how all these transitions work are provided later in this instruction manual.

Getting Started

The other concept that is important to know about M/E style switchers, including ATEM, is the video on the program and preview rows is technically called the background video. This is because the upstream (effects) keyers and downstream keyers will overlay on top of this source. So you can load graphics into the keyers and see them with the preview video and when keys are turned on, you will see the overlay on top of the program video. This is very powerful and allows multiple layers to be built up.

Another great advantage of the ATEM M/E style of operation is you can tie keyers to the transition. This means when you do a mix transition, you can also fade on or off keyers at the same time. This allows you to build up a composition, and then bring the whole lot on air at the same time. This is what the next transition buttons do, and you can select background for normal transitions, or select one or more keyers to transition them on air.

You can even press multiple buttons on the hardware control panel to tie multiple keys and the background at the same time. There are also dedicated downstream key tie buttons to tie downstream keyers to the transition. Downstream keys also have dedicated cut and mix buttons and so are very ﬂexible. Downstream keyers are always layered over the top of everything including the transition, so are a great place to key bugs and logos!

Finally, when your live production is ﬁnishing, it's nice to have a dedicated fade to black (FTB) control to fade everything to black! You can see the dedicated fade to black control on the right side of the keyboard. This lets you fade everything to black, and helps make sure you don't miss a layer. Fade to black is at the extreme end of the processing chain so you get a clean fade of all sources.

The last part of an M/E style switcher is the select bus. This is above the program row, and simply allows sources to be selected for effects processing and other purposes, and there is a label above this to show what you’re switching. The select bus is commonly used to select key inputs, and aux outputs. It's a clean switch, so when used to select aux outputs, you get a clean cut.

As you can see by this quick overview, M/E style of operation allows conﬁdent live production with good feedback on what's going on and the state of your switcher and programming at any point in your production. Once you learn the M/E style of operation, you can move between models of production switchers with little retraining as they all work the same!

Getting Started

What is an A/B Direct Switcher?

If you have been using video switchers for a long time, then you might be used to older-style A/B direct switchers and you can easily set your ATEM switcher to A/B direct switching in the ATEM software preferences. See the Transition Control section of this instruction manual for details about where to change this setting.

A/B direct switchers have an A bus and a B bus. One bus is the program bus which shows a red button for the current program output. The other is the preview bus which has a green button for the preview video. As you move the fader bar up and down, the buses switch so that the red program button follows the fader handle. This is where A/B direct switching is really easy to use as the buttons stay lit in the same positions and just switch color between green and red.

A/B direct switching becomes a little more confusing when the fader bar is not used to make the switch. If you use a cut or auto transition button to bring your preview source on air, or if you use more than one control panel connected to your switcher, the fader bar won't have moved on the control panel that you are using. The red program output always follows the fader bar handle and, as you haven't moved it, the red program light has to move to another button on the same row and the green preview light has to move to another button in its row.

This can become quite confusing when sometimes using the fader bar to make switches, and sometimes not, as the rows containing your preview and program buttons will sometimes switch and sometimes stay where they are which has the potential to lead to mistakes.

This is why modern M/E style switching is preferable because you'll always ﬁnd your green preview button in the row labelled Preview, and the red program button in the row labelled Program. It's always consistent and there are no surprises with M/E style switching.

Getting Started

ATEM Production Studio 4K

ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K

ATEM Television Studio

Understanding the ATEM Processor Chassis

The ATEM processor chassis provides all the video processing as well as all video input and output connectors, connection for control panels and power connections. You use the ATEM switcher by connecting and using various types of control panels. This allows the switcher to be located remotely, such as in machine rooms where it's closer to the connected video devices, while the control panel can be placed in a location from where it is easier to run production.

ATEM Production Studio 4K supports SD, HD and Ultra HD 4K video and is capable of switching 8 external inputs from its SDI and HDMI connectors. The front panel keypad lets you select instantly between auxiliary output sources and the small LCD gives you instant feedback on the status of the auxiliary output.

ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K supports SD, HD and Ultra HD 4K video and is capable of switching 10 external inputs from its SDI and HDMI connectors. Input 1 is selectable between the HDMI Input 1 and SDI Input 1 connector. The front panel keypad lets you select instantly between 3 auxiliary output sources and the small LCD gives you instant feedback on the status of the auxiliary outputs.

ATEM Television Studio supports SD and HD video and is capable of switching 6 external inputs from its SDI and HDMI input connectors. Inputs 3 and 4 are selectable between HDMI and SDI, which can be set in the ATEM software control panel settings tab.

ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher supports SD and HD video and is capable of switching 8 external inputs from its analog, SDI and HDMI input connectors. Input 1 is selectable between the HDMI Input 1 connector and the analog component Input 1 connector and is set in the ATEM software control panel settings tab.

ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher Chassis

ATEM 2 M/E Production Switcher Chassis

ATEM 2 M/E Production Switcher supports SD and HD video and is capable of switching 16 external inputs from its SDI and HDMI input connectors. Input 1 is selectable between the HDMI Input 1 connector and the SDI Input 1 connector and is set in the ATEM software control panel settings tab.

The ATEM chassis mounts in a standard 19" rack. The Television Studio and Production Studio 4K model switchers are only 1 rack unit high, while the 1 M/E and 2 M/E Production Switchers are 2 rack units and 3 rack units high respectively. The ATEM chassis is very thin and ideal for either ﬁxed installation or portable use. Production Switcher models can mount to the front or back of a rack to save space.

When running an ATEM model with an external heat sink, you might notice the ATEM processor chassis feels warm to the touch. This is because the internal microprocessors are connected to the rear mounted heat sink via the metal chassis. This causes heat to spread out over the metal chassis, however your ATEM chassis is not overheating. The Production Studio 4K models have a deeper chassis with internal cooling fans rather than an external heat sink.

Getting Started

Plugging in Multi View Monitoring

The ATEM switcher chassis can be a little intimidating when ﬁrst seen, because most models have no controls to access, just lots of connectors! So the ﬁrst step is to plug in the power, and a monitor, to see it working! The ATEM Production Studio 4K models have a front control panel with a built in LCD so you only need to connect power to see them working!

A fantastic way to check that your ATEM is powered on and working correctly is to plug an HDMI television into the Multi View output on the right side of the rear panel. You should see 8 video boxes at the bottom, and two larger boxes at the top, all bound by white borders. Each box will have a label.

If you see this video output, then your ATEM switcher is powered on and running ﬁne! All you need to do now is plug in some control panels and video sources so you can start using your switcher!

If you don't see the Multi View output on your television, check the connections and cables are correct. You need to plug into the Multi View connector on the rear of the ATEM chassis. Next check your television is compatible with 1080 59.94i video, as your ATEM switcher defaults to that video standard when new. If your television is not compatible with 1080 59.94i, then don't worry, it's easy to change once we connect your computer to the ATEM chassis.

If you still don't see the Multi View on your television, then double check your power connection to make sure your ATEM is powered on.

MAIN 12V POWERBACKUP 12V POWER

USB 2.0

ETHERNET 2 ETHERNET 1

MAIN 12V POWERBACKUP 12V POWER

USB 2.0

ETHERNET 2 ETHERNET 1

Getting Started

Plugging in a Control Panel

If you have purchased an ATEM Broadcast Panel, then you won't want to wait to plug in your computer, as it's much more fun to plug in the hardware panel ﬁrst!

USB 2.0

MAIN 12V POWERBACKUP 12V POWER

ETHERNET 2 ETHERNET 1

ATEM 1 M/E Broadcast Panel rear connectors

MAIN 12V POWERBACKUP 12V POWER

USB 2.0

ETHERNET 2 ETHERNET 1

ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Panel rear connectors

Plugging in the ATEM Broadcast Panel is simple, because it's already set to the correct network settings to plug into your ATEM processor chassis without any changes required.

Step 1. Plug in the power to the ATEM Broadcast Panel. If you want redundant power supplies, then you

can purchase a second power supply and plug that into the second power connector.

Step 2. Plug one end of an ethernet cable into one of the control panel’s ethernet ports. Either of the

ports will do, as there is an ethernet switch inside the panel, so both ports work the same.

Step 3. Plug the other end of the same cable into the ethernet port on the ATEM processor chassis

labeled switcher control.

If everything is working ﬁne, you should see the lights on the ethernet port start to ﬂicker, and the panel should come alive with buttons illuminated, and the main display on the panel should say ATEM Production Switcher.

If you don't see this appear, then check the ATEM processor chassis and the control panel are powered correctly and the cables are screwed in tight.

If things are still not working, then you should make sure you are not plugged into a network, and that your panel is connected directly to your ATEM switcher processor chassis. If this is correct, then the most likely cause of the problem is the switcher and the chassis have IP addresses in different ranges to each other. In this case, you will need to check and set these as described later in this manual.

If you need to manually set the network settings, then you might need to get the assistance of a technically minded friend who understands how to set IP addresses. By default, the ATEM processor chassis is set to a ﬁxed IP address of 192.168.10.240, and the ATEM Broadcast Panel is set to ﬁxed IP of 192.168.10.10, so when connected directly they should communicate without any problems. Go to the connecting to the network section in this manual to see how to check and set your switcher to these addresses. Then it should work OK with a direct connection between the panel and the switcher processor chassis.

Getting Started

Follow install prompts.

Installing Blackmagic ATEM Software on Mac OS X

Before installing any software you will need administrator privileges.

Step 1. Ensure you have the very latest driver. Visit www.blackmagicdesign.com/support

Step 2. Open the “Blackmagic ATEM Switchers” folder from the disc or downloaded disk image and

launch the “Blackmagic ATEM Switchers Installer”.

Step 3. Click Continue, Agree and Install buttons and the software will be installed on your system.

Step 4. Now restart your computer to enable the new software drivers.

Plugins and Applications that are Installed

The ATEM Switchers software installs the following components which are used by ATEM Switchers:

 ATEM Software Control  ATEM Setup Utility  Blackmagic Desktop Video drivers  Blackmagic Media Express

The ATEM Switchers software also installs additional Blackmagic Desktop Video components which are used by other Blackmagic Design capture products when installed on the same computer:

On Mac OS X, all the ﬁles needed to run your ATEM switcher will be installed into a folder called Blackmagic ATEM Switchers in the Applications folder.

In this Blackmagic ATEM Switchers folder, you will see ATEM Software Control, which is the software control panel for your switcher, and also allows loading graphics into the switcher media pool and changing settings. The ATEM Setup Utility allows you to change the switcher IP address, or update the switcher and panel software via USB. Also included in this folder is this instruction manual and some example graphics. Use the example graphics to explore the internal media pool and keying functionality.

In the Applications folder, you will see Blackmagic Media Express which allows you to capture the Program Output of ATEM Television Studio to H.264 ﬁles.

Getting Started

Installing Blackmagic ATEM Software on Windows

Step 1. Ensure you have the very latest driver. Visit www.blackmagicdesign.com/support

Step 2. Open the “Blackmagic ATEM Switchers” folder and launch the “Blackmagic ATEM Switchers

Installer”.

Step 3. The software will now be installed on your system. An alert will appear: “Do you want to allow the

following program to install software on this computer?” Click Yes to continue.

Step 4. You will see a dialog bubble saying “found new hardware” and the hardware wizard will appear.

Select “install automatically” and the system will ﬁnd the required Desktop Video drivers. You will then receive another dialog bubble saying “your new hardware is ready for use.”

Step 5. Now restart your computer to enable the new software drivers.

Follow install prompts.

Plugins and Applications that are Installed

The ATEM Switchers software installs the following components which are used by ATEM Switchers:

 ATEM Software Control  ATEM Setup Utility  Blackmagic Desktop Video drivers  Blackmagic Media Express  Blackmagic UltraScope

The ATEM Switchers software also installs additional Blackmagic Desktop Video components which are used by other Blackmagic Design capture products when installed on the same computer:

Once the computer has restarted, all the ATEM software applications will be installed and can be accessed from Start > Programs > Blackmagic Design.

In the ATEM Switchers folder, you will see the ATEM Software Control, which is the software control panel for your switcher, which also allows loading graphics into the switcher media pool and changing settings. The ATEM Setup Utility allows you to change the switcher IP address, or update the switcher and panel software via USB. Also included in this folder is this instruction manual and some example graphics. Use the example graphics to explore the internal media pool and keying functionality.

In the Media Express folder, you will see Blackmagic Media Express which allows you to capture the Program Output of ATEM Television Studio to H.264 ﬁles. Media Express also allows you to capture the uncompressed Aux 1 output of ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Production Switchers via USB 3.0, which is perfect for post production. In the UltraScope folder, you will see Blackmagic UltraScope which allows you to perform live waveform monitoring of the Aux 1 output of ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Production Switchers via USB 3.0.

Getting Started

Plugging in your Computer

You can plug your computer directly into the ATEM switcher so you can control the switcher, load the media pool with graphics and clips, and change switcher settings.

You will need to connect a computer otherwise you cannot change settings such as the switcher video standard, as well as downconversion modes, input video connections and labels, as well as customizing the Multi View.

Connecting your computer is easy and after installing the ATEM Switcher Software simply follow the directions below:

Step 1. Connect an Ethernet cable from the chassis ethernet port labeled Switcher Control to the Ethernet

port of your computer.

If you have a hardware panel installed, and already have this connected to your ATEM, then plug

your computer into the second ethernet port on your hardware panel instead. Now the computer will talk via your panel to the switcher, and both the hardware panel and this software control panel can be operated in parallel.

Step 2. Ensure your ATEM switcher is powered on.

Step 3. In the network settings on your computer, enable ethernet, and set the IP address setting to

manual. Then enter the IP address 192.168.10.50.

Set IP Address for your Computer

Now when you run your ATEM Software Control you should see the buttons on the control tab light up and show the switcher state after a slight pause.

If you’re more technically minded and want to connect your ATEM switcher to your existing network, then you will need to change the network settings on your ATEM switcher and control panel. Information on how to do this is available in the next section. You will need to manually set the IP address for the switcher chassis as well as all control panels to match your network IP address range. Your ATEM switcher defaults to a ﬁxed IP address of 192.168.10.240 when shipped and, by using the ATEM Setup Utility, you can customize the IP address for your custom network conﬁguration.

Getting Started

Set Video Standard

Set Video Inputs and Labels

Switcher Settings

Now you have the software control working, you'll need to apply your switcher settings. Settings are made in the settings tab of the ATEM Software Control and the most critical settings are listed below.

Set the switcher video standard

ATEM defaults to 1080 59.94i when purchased, however you might want to select another video standard if you’re working in Europe or Asia. 1080 59.94i, 720 59.94p and NTSC is common in the US and Japan, while in Europe and Asia, 1080 50i, 720 50p, or PAL is more common.

If you're working with standard deﬁnition video equipment in the widescreen anamorphic 16:9 video format, select 525 59.94i 16:9 for anamorphic NTSC or 625 50i 16:9 for anamorphic PAL.

Make sure all your cameras and any connected HDMI devices are also set to the same video standard, or they won't be visible on the switcher video inputs. This is generally quite easy, as countries have standards for their HD broadcasts and all equipment sold in these countries matches this standard or at the very least can be switched between standards. When all video standards are matched, you should see connected devices show up in the multi view video input windows.

Set and label the video input settings

Different models of ATEM switchers allow some inputs to share connections on the rear panel. For example on the ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K model, input 1 can be switched between HDMI and SDI.

While you’re setting inputs, you might also want to change the input labels. These labels appear on the Multi View and the hardware panel. There are two labels to change: a long label used in software, and the short label that's limited to 4 digits and used in the hardware control panel.

Customize the Multi View

Customize the multi view

There are 8 input views in the multi view, and you can select from a range of external and internal sources to display on these views. Simply click the menus to select what you want on each view. If you don't have 8 cameras on your job, then you can even select media players, color generators, or aux outputs on these views. It's extremely ﬂexible, and you can also change the multi view layout to suit your preference.

Select the Control Panel

You can use the M/E 1 Control Panel with any ATEM switcher. The panel is compact enough to ﬁt on smaller displays including on notebooks. If you have an ATEM 2 M/E Production Switcher and a 1920 x 1080 or larger computer display, you can use the full size M/E 2 Control Panel to see the full set of buttons at once. Simply select your preferred panel from the Window menu.

Getting Started

Plugging in Cameras and Other Video Sources

Now you’re ready to plug in cameras! All you need to do is connect a cable from the camera video output, either HDMI or SDI, and then connect it to an input on the ATEM switcher chassis.

Each connector on the rear chassis has an input label so you can see what camera is what input when viewed on the Multi View and the control panel. If all your cameras are using the same video standard as set in your switcher, you will see each camera appear as you plug them in.

You don't need to worry about genlock for cameras, because each input of your ATEM switcher has a full frame resynchronizer. If the ATEM switcher detects that a video source is out of sync, it will automatically enable the frame sync so the input is clean for use. The frame sync function also allows consumer cameras to be connected to your ATEM, and using consumer cameras is a great way to get started because the latest HDMI based consumer HD cameras are now very affordable, and give quite nice HD. This lets you spend your money on more cameras, and then as you grow, you can start adding professional SDI based cameras.

If you’re plugging a computer with HDMI compatibility into the HDMI inputs of the ATEM switcher, then be sure that the monitor settings on the computer are set to the correct resolution and frame rate. If you’re using 1080i video, then your monitor needs to be 1920 x 1080 resolution. If you’re running 720p on your switcher, then your monitor needs to be set to 1280 x 720 resolution. If you are using NTSC then your monitor needs to be 720 x 486. If you are using PAL then your monitor needs to be set to 720 x 576. The frame rates also need to match.

It's important to know that HDMI cable quality can vary, so we recommend buying good quality cables, and high end video resellers will stock a range of high quality cables. Good quality cables will help eliminate unwanted sparkle or glitches in HDMI video inputs.

If you don't see video on a HDMI video input, even though you have a device connected, then you might want to check if the HDMI device you have connected uses HDCP content protection. This content protection actually encrypts the video data in the HDMI video cable, so the manufacturer does not allow the content to be seen on anything other than a television. You won't be able to see images from these devices. Devices with HDCP content protection include DVD payers, and set top boxes.

In general, cameras and computers don't have content protection, so you should not have any problems connecting these devices. Some gaming consoles don't include HDCP content protection, however generally these are only the developer versions of these gaming consoles. Using the analog component input of a Mini Converter Analog to SDI or the analog component input on an ATEM 1 M/E Production switcher to connect devices is a good work around in these situations.

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BACKUP POWER 12V

MAIN POWER 12V

AUDIO IN/OUT

RS-422 SERIAL OUT

SWITCHER CONTROL

AES/EBU IN

12V POWER

Getting Started

Note: All SDI and HDMI video connections are SD/HD switchable.

IN 3 SDI IN 5 SDI

IN 1 HDMI

IN 2 HDMI

IN 3 HDMI

IN 4 HDMI

IN 4 SDI IN 6 SDI

REF IN

ATEM Television Studio has an AES/EBU digital audio input

PROG USB 2.0

MULTI-VIEW SDI

PROG HDMI

MULTI-VIEW 1

SWITCHER CONTROL

PROG SDI

Plugging in Audio and Other Audio Sources

All ATEM switchers include a built in audio mixer which allows any switcher to use embedded HDMI and SDI audio from your cameras as well as external audio from the dedicated audio input. The audio input can be used for audio sources which might not have been embedded in a video signal, such as camera microphones and pre-recorded audio.

ATEM Production Studio 4K models feature standard balanced XLR audio inputs and outputs, and unbalanced RCA audio inputs so you can connect your external audio source directly. RCA audio

AES/EBU IN

12V POWER

connectors are useful when using audio from consumer equipment such as a HiFi system or iPod. XLR audio connectors are balanced and provide the best quality. Balanced connectors are designed to reduce any potential interference and noise, and are also important when long cable lengths are required.

If you're using an ATEM Television Studio with an external digital audio source, such as a digital microphone or mixer, you can connect the AES/EBU audio output of the source directly to the AES/EBU IN port on the switcher. Otherwise use an inexpensive A/D converter, such as the Behringer SRC2496, to take the analog audio output of your audio source and convert it to AES/EBU audio for your switcher.

If you have an ATEM 1 M/E or 2 M/E Production Switcher, you can use the included breakout cable or make your own custom breakout cable to connect your external audio source's professional, balanced, analog audio output to the switcher.

AUX 1 SDI

IN 1 HDMI

IN 1 SDI

IN 2 SDI IN 3 SDI IN 4 SDI

IN 5 SDI IN 6 SDI IN 7 SDI

IN 8 SDI IN 9 SDI IN 10 SDI

IN 13 SDIIN 12 SDIIN 11 SDI

IN 16 SDI REF ININ 15 SDIIN 14 SDI

All SDI and HDMI connections are SD/HD switchable.

ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Production Switchers have an audio

AUX 2 SDI

AUX 3 SDI M/E 2 PROG SDI

AUX 4 SDI

AUX 5 SDI

AUX 6 SDI

AUX 1 USB 3.0

PREV SDI

MULTI-VIEW 1 MULTI-VIEW 2

MULTI-VIEW 1

in/out port which connects to an analog audio breakout cable.

PROG SDI

PROG SD-SDI

PROG NTSC/PAL

MULTI-VIEW 2

PROG SDI

SWITCHER CONTROL

RS-422 SERIAL OUT

PROG HDMI

AUDIO IN/OUT

MAIN POWER 12V

BACKUP POWER 12V

The audio breakout cable included with ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Production Switchers connects to the AUDIO IN/OUT port.

Getting Started

Connecting to a Network

If you want to connect your ATEM switcher to a larger ethernet network, then you will most likely need to change the network settings on your ATEM switcher. Most people simply plug their computer and control panel direct to the ATEM chassis, however in some situations it can be very powerful to connect via your network!

Your ATEM ships from the factory with settings to allow hardware control panels to simply be connected directly with an ethernet cable. However your ATEM supports full ethernet IP protocols so you can place your switcher and panel on your network or anywhere on the planet using the internet.

However it's worth noting that if you use your ATEM on a network, then you’re also increasing the complexity of the connection between your control panel and the switcher, so there is possibly a greater chance of something going wrong. However ATEM can be used when plugged into a switch, and even via most VPNs and over the internet.

To allow communication over ethernet, the IP addresses of the switcher chassis, broadcast panel and any computer's running the ATEM Software Control Panel need to be conﬁgured correctly. The IP address used for each device will depend on the IP address range of the network you’re plugging into.

The ATEM switcher chassis always needs a ﬁxed IP address so control panels have a stable location to connect to. This means you need to ﬁnd a free ﬁxed IP address in the range of your network that you can use.

The control panels can be set to DHCP or ﬁxed IP addresses. Generally when used on a network, the control panel would be selected to DHCP, so it is automatically assigned an IP address when connected to the network.

For all devices to communicate, they must share the same IP address subnet, which typically means the ﬁrst 3 ﬁelds in the IP address need to be the same. Each device must also use a unique IP address.

Please remember to set all devices to the correct IP address so they can all communicate. You will need to set the IP address of the ATEM Production Switcher via USB using the ATEM Setup Utility. You will need to set the DHCP or ﬁxed IP mode on the ATEM Broadcast Panel and if using a ﬁxed IP address on the panel, set the IP address on the panel. You will also need to set the panel, switcher address to the new IP address you have just set for the switcher.

Lastly, you need to ensure your computer is connected and working on your network. Then when you launch the ATEM Software Control application, you will be prompted automatically to enter in an IP address for the switcher if ATEM Software Control cannot communicate with the ATEM processor chassis. Use the IP address you just entered in for the switcher processor chassis. Then the ATEM Software Control can ﬁnd the switcher and communicate.

Getting Started

Changing the Switcher Network Settings

The switcher network settings are changed using the ATEM Setup Utility via USB. Please follow the steps below:

Step 1. Connect the switcher chassis via USB, to the computer running the ATEM Setup Utility software.

Step 2. Launch the ATEM Setup Utility software.

Step 3. The switcher's current IP address and other settings will be displayed in the window. If you only

want to check the IP address and not change it, you can simply quit ATEM Setup Utility.

Step 4. To change the IP address or any other settings, simply edit the numbers and then select apply.

ATEM Setup Utility Connects via USB

Step 5. A dialog box will prompt you to please power cycle your ATEM switcher. Turn off and on the

power on the switcher and then press OK.

Understanding the Broadcast Panel Network Settings

A broadcast panel's network settings are conﬁgured from the network setup menu in the broadcast panel's system control. Along with its own IP address, the broadcast panel also needs to be conﬁgured with the network location of the switcher, so that communication between the two devices can be established over the ethernet connection. If the broadcast panel's network settings are correctly conﬁgured, you will see the panel light up and buttons turn on so you can control the switcher.

If the broadcast panel is displaying a message looking for the switcher, then you will need to set the broadcast panel's network settings so that the broadcast panel and switcher share the same subnet, and the network location to which the broadcast panel is trying to connect, matches the switcher's IP address.

Getting Started

Setting the Broadcast Panel to Find the Switcher IP Location

To set the network location of the switcher on the broadcast panel, so the panel can ﬁnd the switcher and communicate, simply follow these steps:

Home Menu

ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher

Control Panel Connected OK

Panel IP Address: 192.168.10.10

Connecting to 192.168.10.240...

Control Panel Not Connected

Step 1. When there is no communication with the switcher, the NETWRK SETUP menu will appear on the

broadcast panel system control. Select the NETWRK SETUP menu button.

Step 2. Select the SWITCHR IP menu button and use the knobs or the numeric keypad to edit each ﬁeld

as required.

Step 3. When a ﬁeld is changed, SAVE and REVERT menu buttons become available. Select SAVE to save

the changed IP address, or REVERT to ignore the changes and revert to the currently stored IP address.

Step 4. If the switcher IP address setting is changed, selecting SAVE will apply the changes and the

broadcast panel will attempt to establish communication with the switcher using the new IP address.

This does not change the IP address of the switcher itself. It just changes where the control panel is looking to ﬁnd the switcher. If the control panel cannot ﬁnd the switcher, then you might need to check the switcher processor to see if it's been set correctly. To change the IP address of the switcher, connect the switcher via USB to a computer and run the ATEM Setup Utility software as described previously in this manual.

Camera1Camera2Camera3Camera4Camera5Camera6Camera7Camera

Media Player

Color Bars

Media Player 1 Key

Media Player 2 Key

Color1Color

Black

Camera1Camera2Camera3Camera4Camera5Camera

Media Player

Color Bars

Media Player 1 Key

Media Player 2 Key

Color1Color

Black

Getting Started

CUT

AUX 7

AUX 8

AUX 9

AUX 10

AUX 11

DIP

CUT

KEY 1

KEY 2

STNG

DVE

BORD

KEY 3

KEY 4

CUT

DIP

CUT

KEY 1

BORD

STNG

DVE

KEY 2

KEY 3

KEY 4

Change Network Settings from the System Control

AUX 12

AUX 1

AUX 2

AUX 3

AUX 4

AUX 5

AUX 6

CUT

BOX 1

BOX 3BOX 2 BOX 4

DSK 2

SSRC

DSK 1

DEST SHIFT

SHIFT

EFFECTS

TRANS

KEYS

MEDIA PLAYER

SHIFT

PANEL SETUP

DEST

ON ON ON ON

SHIFT

BKGD KEY 1 KEY 2 KEY 3 KEY 4

SHIFT

DIP

WIPE STNG DVE

MIX

PREV TRANS

SHIFT

ON ON ON ON

BKGD KEY 1 KEY 2 KEY 3 KEY 4

DIP

WIPE STNG DVE

MIX

DSK

COLOR

KEYS

TRANS

AUTOCUT

FTB

AUTOCUT

FTB

BOX 4

M/E 2

PATT

KEY

BOX 2

BOX 4

M/E 1

PATT

KEY

BOX 2

2 3

4 5 6

8 9

0 CLRCAM

DSK 1

DSK 2

TIE

DSK

EFFECTS

TRANS

COLOR

KEYS

MEDIA

AUX

PLAYER

PANEL SETUP

DSK 1

DSK 2

CUT

DSK 1

DSK 2

AUTO

Changing the Broadcast Panel Network Settings

Because the broadcast panel is also on the network and communicating with the switcher processor chassis, it also has network settings so it can connect to the network. These settings are different to the switcher IP address, which is just where the panel is looking to ﬁnd the switcher. The panel network settings can be changed by following the steps below:

Step 1. On the broadcast panel system control menus, select the NETWRK SETUP menu button.

If the broadcast panel has already established connection to the switcher, you can access the

NETWRK SETUP menu from the HOME menu by pressing the SHIFT and CUT/FILL buttons simultaneously on the ATEM 1 M/E Broadcast Panel, or the SHIFT and DEST SHIFT buttons in the M/E 1 block of the ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Panel. This will reveal the NETWRK SETUP menu button so you can select the network settings.

Step 2. The broadcast panel's current IP address, net mask and gateway information is displayed.

Step 3. The next step is to decide if you want the panel to use a ﬁxed IP address or to be automatically

assigned an IP address from a DHCP server. Select PANEL DHCP to set this using the soft keys on the main display.

If you’re connecting direct to a switcher without a network, then you won't have a DHCP server

to assign an IP address automatically, so you will want to select ﬁxed. ATEM Broadcast Panels are delivered with a ﬁxed IP address set to 192.168.10.10, for a direct connection.

However if your network has lots of computers that automatically assign IP addresses via DHCP,

then you can also select DHCP on the panel so the panel can get its network information automatically. This is possible on the panel, and it's only the switcher chassis itself that always requires a ﬁxed IP, as the switcher needs to be found by the control panels at a known ﬁxed address on your network.

If you select DHCP, your network settings will be complete because the panel network settings

will be obtained from the network automatically.

Step 4. If you have elected to use a ﬁxed IP address, you now need to set this IP address by selecting the

PANEL IP menu button and use the knobs or the numeric keypad to edit each ﬁeld as required. Changing this IP address may cause the panel to lose communication.

Step 5. If the subnet mask and gateway address need to be set, then select the relevant buttons on the

system control buttons to set and use knobs or the numeric keypad to edit.

Step 6. When any settings have been changed, SAVE and REVERT menu buttons will become available.

Select SAVE to save the changes to the new network settings, or REVERT to ignore the changes and revert to the current network settings.

Updating the Software

How to update the ATEM Software!

From time to time Blackmagic Design will release new software for your ATEM switcher, with new features, bug ﬁxes, and increased compatibility with third party software and video devices.

To update your ATEM switcher with new software, you need to use the ATEM Setup Utility to connect to the ATEM processor chassis and panels via USB. This utility always checks the switcher software and lets you know if there is new software.

Always update all your equipment at the same time so it's all running the same version of software.

First, download the latest Blackmagic ATEM Switcher software and install it on your Mac or PC using the instructions listed previously in the Installing Software section of this manual. Once installed, the new software for your ATEM processor chassis and broadcast panel will be included in the ATEM Setup Utility.

ATEM Setup Utility

Updating the Switcher Chassis Software

Step 1. Connect the switcher chassis via USB to your computer. The switcher chassis is equipped with

a USB connector which can be connected to a computer's USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port using a USB cable.

When upgrading software, make sure the switcher is the only ATEM device connected via USB to

the computer running the setup utility software. If more than one ATEM device is connected, the switcher may not be recognized.

Step 2. Launch the ATEM Setup Utility software.

Step 3. If the switcher software requires updating, you will be prompted by a window asking if you would

like to update the software. Select Update Now to initiate the update process. The update process may take a few minutes. Do not unplug power from the switcher during the software update.

Step 4. Once the software update is complete, a window will prompt you to cycle power on the switcher.

Select OK and cycle power on the switcher.

Updating the Software

Updating the Broadcast Control Panel Software

Step 1. Connect the broadcast panel via USB to your computer. The broadcast panel is equipped with

a USB connector which can be connected to a computer's USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port using a USB cable.

When upgrading software, make sure the broadcast panel is the only ATEM device connected

via USB to the computer running the setup utility software. If more than one ATEM device is connected, the panel may not be recognized.

Step 2. Launch the ATEM Setup Utility software.

Step 3. If the broadcast panel software requires updating, you will be prompted by a window asking

if you would like to update the software. Select Update Now to initiate the update process. The update process may take a few minutes. Do not unplug power from the panel during the software update.

Step 4. Once the software update is complete, a window will prompt you to cycle power on the broadcast

panel. Select OK and cycle power on the broadcast panel.

Connecting Video Outputs

Production Switcher Outputs

There are multiple video outputs on your ATEM switcher which can be used to connect to a wide range of video equipment. ATEM Production Studio 4K models include Ultra HD, HD and SD via SDI and HDMI. ATEM Production Switcher models, excluding ATEM Television Studio, include analog component and composite video outputs, so you should be able to connect to equipment at any location. Descriptions of each output connection are listed below.

SDI Program Output

This SDI output switches between Ultra HD, HD and SD. It outputs the main program video output of your ATEM switcher and can be connected to any SDI based video device. The audio on this output can use embedded HDMI and SDI audio from your cameras as well as external audio via the switcher chassis' XLR inputs. ATEM Production Switcher models include a breakout cable for external audio.

HDMI Program Output

Similar to the SDI program output, this output switches between Ultra HD, HD and SD. It outputs the main program video output of the switcher and can be connected to televisions, video projectors or even Blackmagic Design's H.264 Encoder or HyperDeck Shuttle. The audio on this output can use embedded HDMI and SDI audio from your cameras as well as external audio via the switcher chassis' XLR inputs. ATEM Production Switcher models include a breakout cable for external audio.

Multi View SDI and HDMI Output

This SDI and HDMI output is always high deﬁnition and includes 8 video input views, with preview and program views. Tally is included with red for sources on air, and green for preview. You can connect this output to televisions and computer monitors with SDI or HDMI connections.

Component Video Program Output

ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Production Switchers feature three BNC component connectors that switch between SD and HD from the main program output. Component lets you to connect to equipment such as encoders and video projectors, and provides greater compatibility with older analog equipment.

Standard Deﬁnition SDI Program Output

This SDI output always feeds the program video as standard deﬁnition on ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E production switchers. It is perfect for connecting to older SD equipment or even generating simultaneous SD and HD streams. This output can use embedded HDMI and SDI audio from your cameras as well as external audio via the switcher chassis or breakout cable.

Connecting Video Outputs

Composite NTSC/PAL Program Output

This output always feeds the program video as standard deﬁnition NTSC or PAL composite video on ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Production Switchers. This composite output lets you connect to old video equipment.

Auxiliary SDI Outputs

All ATEM switchers, excluding ATEM Television Studio, have auxiliary SDI connections that output the same video format in use. Production Studio 4K models are SD/HD/Ultra HD switchable and Production Switcher models are SD/HD switchable. The number of auxiliary outputs vary between models:

 ATEM Production Studio 4K has 1 auxiliary output.  ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K has 3 auxiliary outputs.  ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher has 3 auxiliary outputs.  ATEM 2 M/E Production Switcher has 6 auxiliary outputs.

Auxiliary outputs can use any internal and external video sources. For example, program feeds if you need more program outputs, or clean feeds without down stream keying, or even speciﬁc video inputs. Aux outputs are perfect for driving video screens on stage, or feeds where you can independently control what the viewers see. Aux outputs switch cleanly and can be used as cut only switchers independent of the main program outputs. The audio on these outputs is embedded SDI program audio.

USB 3.0 Output

The ATEM 1 M/E and ATEM 2 M/E Production Switchers have a USB 3.0 output that can be used to capture video direct to a Windows PC for real time mastering or waveform monitoring. You can also stream over the internet using encoding software. Blackmagic Media Express software is included for recording from this output, as well as Blackmagic UltraScope for waveform monitoring. The USB 3.0 output uses the Aux 1 output so you can customize your output feed. The audio on this output is embedded program audio.

USB 2.0 Output

ATEM Television Studio has a USB 2.0 output which can be used to capture an H.264 compressed master ﬁle of your program. ATEM switchers include Media Express software for recording from this output. The audio on this output is embedded program audio.

Preview SDI Output

This output shows the source selected on the preview bus on the switcher, as well as preview transitions. This output is perfect when you want to use a full resolution preview monitor. The audio on this output is embedded SDI program audio.

Using ATEM Software Control

Interface Overview

The ATEM Software Control is included with your ATEM switcher, and allows you to control your switcher in a similar way to a full hardware control panel. However instead of menu buttons, it uses a range of pallets on the right side that shows you all processing features of your production switcher, and allows settings to be easily made.

You can also use the ATEM Software Control to conﬁgure your switcher settings as well as upload graphics and manage the media pool.

Switcher Control Panel

The software control panel has four tabs: Switcher, Audio, Media and Settings. You can select a tab from the bottom of the window or by pressing the Shift and left/right arrow hot keys. The media, audio and settings tabs contain unique settings for the switcher, which can only be made from the software control panel.

When ﬁrst launched, the switcher screen is selected, which is the main control interface for the switcher. The software control panel must be connected to a switcher chassis to run.

Mouse or Trackpad Operation

The virtual buttons, sliders and fader bar on the Software Control Panel are operated using your computer mouse or a trackpad if you’re using a laptop.

To activate a button, click once with the left mouse button. To activate a slider, click and hold down the left mouse button while dragging. Similarly, to control the fader bar, click and hold down the left mouse button on the fader bar handle and drag up or down.

Using ATEM Software Control

Using Keyboard Hot Keys

Hot keys can be used allowing convenient control of some switcher functions using a standard QWERTY keyboard as shown in the following table:

Hot Keys Function

<1> - <8> Previews source on switcher Inputs 1 - 8

<Shift> <1> - <8> Previews source on switcher Inputs 9 - 16

<Control> <1> - <8> Hot switches source on switcher Inputs 1 - 8 to Program output

Press and release <Control>, then <1> - <8>

<Control> <Shift> <1> - <8> Hot switches source on switcher Inputs 9 - 16 to Program output

Press and release <Control>, then <Shift> <1> - <8>

<Control> Turns off hot switching if currently on. The CUT button is lit white.

<Space> CUT

<Return> or <Enter> AUTO

More information on how to use the switcher control panel is included in the next sections.

Hot switches source on switcher Inputs 1 - 8 to Program output. Hot switching remains on and the CUT button is lit red.

Hot switches source on switcher Inputs 9 - 16 to Program output. Hot switching remains on and the CUT button is lit red.

Audio Mixer

The Audio tab in ATEM Software Control contains an audio mixer interface which becomes active when controlling any ATEM switcher.

Using ATEM Software Control

ATEM switchers include a built-in audio mixer that lets you use the embedded HDMI and SDI audio from your cameras, media servers and other inputs without the need for an external audio mixer. This is perfect when using an ATEM switcher on location or in small spaces within modern OB vehicles as you don't have to ﬁnd room for an external audio mixer. The audio is mixed in the Audio tab of ATEM Software Control and output via the SDI and HDMI program outputs.

On the ATEM Television Studio, the audio mixer also mixes external audio from the AES/EBU input.

ATEM Production Studio 4K models include XLR and RCA inputs for mixing external audio. Mixed audio can also be output via the XLR outputs and the audio mixer contains independent controls for setting the audio level and also for selecting solo audio monitoring.

ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Production Switchers include a breakout cable for mixing external audio via XLR inputs and outputs. The audio mixer contains independent controls for setting the audio level and for selecting solo audio monitoring.

ATEM 1 M/E, 2 M/E and 1 M/E Production Studio 4K also mixes audio from the switcher's built in media players.

If you prefer to use an external audio mixer, it's easy to disable the audio for all inputs and you only need to leave the external audio active in the audio mixer interface.

More information on how to use the audio mixer is included in the next sections.

Media Manager

The media manager allows you to upload graphics and image sequences to the media pool in the ATEM switcher. Each ATEM switcher model has memory for graphics that’s called the media pool. This memory varies in size between different ATEM models, and holds images with alpha channel that can be assigned to a media player for use in the production. ATEM holds 32 still graphics and 2 video clips. ATEM Production Studio 4K and Television Studio holds 20 still graphics with alpha channel.

So for example you could have the maximum 32 still graphics and 2 clips loaded that will be used on your live production and then assign each of the 2 media players to various stills as you work. As you take a graphic off air, you can change the media player graphic to the next graphic you want, and then you can put that media player back on air with the new graphic.

When a still or clip is loaded into the media pool, the alpha channel is loaded automatically if one is included in the image. When a still or clip is loaded into a media player, the output of the media player will include both key and ﬁll outputs. If you select a media player as a key source, for example Media Player 1, both the ﬁll and the key are automatically selected so you don't have to select them separately. However the key can still be routed separately so you can use a different key source if you wish.

Using ATEM Software Control

Switcher Settings

The last tab in the ATEM Software Control allows you to change the video input selections and labels. Setting labels is important, and they are visible in the Multi View output as on-screen labels and on the broadcast control panel in the source names row.

In the settings tab, you can also set the switcher video standard. This is the master video standard that the whole switcher operates at, and it's very important you set this to the same video standard as your video inputs. More details on setting the video standards are included later in this manual.

The switcher settings also let you customize your Multi View. The arrangement of the Multi View screen can be changed by clicking on the presets at the bottom right of the M/E 1 Control Panel, or the right side of the Settings tab on the M/E 2 Control Panel. On all ATEM switchers excluding Television Studio, the arrangement for the 8 smaller video views are fully routable allowing you to view any source in the switcher. This lets you monitor cameras, internal sources, media players and even aux outputs on a single monitor. Multi View saves space when doing portable location based events because you only need a single monitor.

Using the Software Control Panel

The switcher tab is the main control interface for the switcher. During live production, the switcher tab can be used to select sources and take them to air.

ATEM Mix Effects

You can select the transition style, manage upstream/downstream keyers and turn on/off the master fade to black. The palettes on the right hand side of the interface are where you adjust transition settings including transition rates, adjust color generators, control media players, and adjust the upstream and downstream keyers as well as control fade to black rate.

Mix Effects

The mix effects block of the switcher tab contains all the source select buttons for the program and preview buses, allowing external inputs or internal sources to be selected for next transition previewing or switching to air. On multiple M/E switcher models, this part of the interface controls M/E 1.

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