Blackmagic Design announces three new portable ATEM SDI live production switchers with professional 3G-SDI connections. Designed for broadcasters who need both power and portability, the new ATEM SDI family is designed to be fast to set up and easy to use.
Despite their small size, ATEM SDI switchers still have standards converters on all inputs, a built-in Fairlight audio mixer with 6 band parametric EQ, compressor, and limiter on all inputs, internal DVEs, chroma keyers, professional transitions, etc. The ATEM SDI was designed to make it fast to create professional live production for anyone using multiple cameras. ATEM SDI is ideal for broadcast quality live streaming to YouTube, Facebook and other live streaming platforms. The introduction of SDI opens them up to more professional cameras and cameras that are more commonly used for live productions.
ATEM SDI Switcher features
- Features miniaturized control panel-based design.
- Supports connecting up to 8 cameras or computers.
- Live stream via Ethernet on ATEM SDI Pro and Extreme models.
- Phone tethering for remote streaming via mobile data on ATEM SDI Pro and Extreme models.
- Records to USB disks in H.264 on ATEM SDI Pro and Extreme models.
- Automatically standards converts and re-syncs all SDI inputs.
- Includes free ATEM Software Control for Mac and Windows.
- 4 upstream ATEM Advanced Chroma keyers on ATEM SDI Extreme model.
- Up to 6 independent DVEs on ATEM SDI Extreme model.
- Customizable 16-way multiview on ATEM SDI Extreme model.
Users get 4x SDI inputs on the ATEM SDI and ATEM SDI Pro ISO models and 8x SDI inputs on the ATEM SDI Extreme ISO model. Plus all SDI inputs feature standards converters and re-sync. You also get DVEs for picture-in-picture effects and the USB works as a webcam for connecting video to computers, while the Pro and Extreme models feature built-in streaming.
The front panel includes easy-to-use buttons for selecting sources, video effects, and transitions. Along with dedicated buttons for audio mixing, the ATEM SDI Pro and Extreme models also have buttons for recording and streaming control, as well as output selection buttons that let customers change the video output between programs, direct camera feeds, and the multiview. On the rear panel, there are SDI connections for cameras, extra microphone inputs, USB for webcam, plus multiple SDI “aux” outputs for program video.
ATEM SDI Pro and ATEM SDI Extreme models have a built-in hardware streaming engine for live streaming via their ethernet connections. Just select the streaming service and enter the streaming key. There are palettes in ATEM Software Control for streaming setup, plus streaming status is also displayed in the multiview. Streaming status is easy to understand as the data rate indicator shows the internet speed required for the video format users are using.
If users are doing live production on location then the ATEM SDI Pro and Extreme models support connecting an Apple or Android phone to the USB port to use mobile data. It’s also a great backup for the main Ethernet connection.
The ATEM SDI Pro and Extreme models also support direct recording of their streaming data to USB flash disks. Customers can get very long recordings in the same H.264 video files with AAC audio that they streamed, so they can directly upload to any online video site, such as YouTube or Vimeo. Recording to multiple disks is also supported via a USB hub, so when a disk fills, recording can continue to a second disk, for non-stop recording.
The ATEM SDI Pro ISO and Extreme ISO models allow customers to edit their live events as they can record multiple video streams, including clean feeds of all inputs and programs, all at the same time. Media pool images used are also saved with the video files. The video files include metadata tags such as synced timecode and camera numbers. Imagine re-editing their show with new color grades, effects, and graphics. Even the audio sources are all recorded so customers can professionally remix their audio.
The ISO models also save a DaVinci Resolve project file, so with a single click you can open their live production as a video edit. All cuts, dissolves, and media pool graphics will be loaded. This means customers can fine-tune edit points or even completely replace shots. The DaVinci Resolve Sync Bin lets you edit shots via a multiview interface. All ISO files will be automatically aligned by timecode, so customers can scroll along and see all camera angles perfectly synced.
Each 3G-SDI video input features its own dedicated standards converter, which will automatically convert 1080p, 1080i, and 720p sources to the switcher video standard. The SDI outputs are true “aux” outputs so customers can independently customize the source video routed to each SDI output. All outputs can be connected to cameras as they include camera control and tally information. On the ATEM SDI Pro and ATEM SDI Extreme models, the SDI output can also be selected to display the built-in multiview.
The ATEM Software Control app gives you access to every feature in the switcher. ATEM Software Control features a visual switcher user interface with parameter palettes for making quick adjustments. Although customers can normally connect via USB, if customers connect using Ethernet it’s possible for multiple users to connect to ATEM SDI using separate copies of ATEM Software Control on different computers. Customers can even save the switcher state as an XML file. If customers need clip playback, customers can even control HyperDeck disk recorders via Ethernet.
The ATEM SDI Extreme model includes 4 upstream chroma keyers with 4 independent chroma keyers. With ATEM SDI Extreme, you have 8 inputs, 4 to use for cameras, and the other 4 can be connected to a virtual set computer for the rendered backgrounds. You can do fixed camera virtual sets by loading pre-rendered still image backgrounds from the media players and media pool. You can set up macros to change cameras and load the correct background into the media players.
In addition to 2 independent DVEs in the ATEM SDI Extreme model, there’s also a SuperSource multi-layer processor with 4 extra DVE layers plus a background layer that all appear to ATEM SDI Extreme as an additional input source. Any ATEM SDI Extreme video input can be used for each SuperSource DVE, then it’s all layered together over a media pool custom background.
The ATEM SDI Pro and ATEM SDI Extreme models include a professional multiview that lets customers see all video inputs, preview, and program on a single SDI monitor. Each camera view includes tally indicators, so you know when each source is on-air, and each view also has custom labels and audio meters. The ATEM SDI Extreme model also allows customers to select up to 16 custom views. Multiview includes a status for recording, streaming, and the audio mixer.
ATEM SDI Switchers are available now from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide starting at $345 USD.
ATEM SDI Switcher retails for $345.00 USD
ATEM SDI Pro ISO Switcher retails for $795 USD
ATEM SDI Extreme ISO Switcher retails for $1,495.00 USD
