Blackmagic Design ATEM 4 M/E Constellation HD

The massive 4 M/E model doubles the features of the 2 M/E model with 40 x 3G-SDI inputs, 24 x 3G-SDI outputs, 4 DVEs, 16 ATEM Advanced Keyers, 4 multiviews and 2 SuperSource for 12 x DVEs in total.

ATEM Constellation HD switchers feature a compact rack mount design with a built in control panel. This allows operation of the switcher, critical during setup or for emergency use. Also included is a large LCD so you can see program output and change switcher settings via on screen menus. The compact design is perfect for portable live production, with the rear of the switcher including the connections for 3G-SDI inputs, 3G-SDI aux outputs, balanced audio and Ethernet for control. The top 4 M/E model even includes RS-422 for serial control and MADI digital audio connections. Even with all this power, ATEM Constellation is extremely quiet with its innovative high efficiency thermal system.

ATEM Constellation HD uses a professional “program/preview” style operation, which is the exact same way large broadcasters use live production switchers. This means you are using the same type of switcher used by the television industry. Both the free ATEM Software Control and the optional hardware ATEM Advanced Panels will allow program/preview style switching. This means you can select a source on the preview bus to ensure it’s correct before pushing the CUT or AUTO button to switch it on air. This 2 step program/preview process means far fewer mistakes! Program/preview operation means ATEM Constellation is the best solution for training students for a career in broadcast television!

The ATEM Constellation HD family features models that have up to 40 independent 3G-SDI inputs, with each input featuring its own dedicated up and cross converter. That means it’s possible to convert any 1080p input source to the video standard of the switcher! That means you could have each switcher SDI input running a different television standard and all the inputs will just work! On the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation HD model, you can even loop out audio channels 1, 2, 3 and 4 from SDI inputs 1 to 30 to the two MADI digital audio outputs, so you can hand off the switcher input audio to an external audio engineer for mixing.

The ATEM Constellation HD family have a massive number of fully independent 3G-SDI outputs. The 4 M/E model has a massive 24 x 3G-SDI outputs. These SDI outputs are very powerful because you can independently route any SDI input or any internal source to each SDI output. That’s perfect for running independent feeds to stage screens, master recorders and streaming processors. Or use the SDI outputs for ISO recorders, where each deck will get a resynchronized switcher input with matching timecode. All SDI outputs contain program audio, RP-188 timecode, SDI camera control, tally and talkback.

In addition to the DVEs in the M/E rows, the 2 M/E and 4 M/E models include powerful SuperSource multi layer processors with 4 extra DVE layers plus a background layer, that all appear to ATEM Constellation HD as an additional input source. Any switcher video input can be used for each SuperSource DVE, then it’s all layered together over a media pool custom background. SuperSource is just like having an extra multi-layer VFX switcher built in! SuperSource is perfect for doing picture in picture displays for interviews because you can set up the effect while keeping the main DVEs free for other tasks. The ATEM 4 M/E Constellation even has 2 completely independent SuperSource processors.

ATEM Constellation HD is the world’s first live production switcher that fully embraces live professional audio production! All SDI inputs are connected to a built in Fairlight audio mixer that features 6 band parametric EQ, compressor, limiter, noise gate and expander on each input. On the ATEM 4 M/E Constellation HD model there are 2 MADI outputs for breaking out channels 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the first 30 SDI inputs out to an external audio engineer, plus a MADI input for allowing an extra 32 external audio channels in to the audio mixer. The Fairlight audio mixer even has additional inputs for mixing audio from analog inputs, talkback microphones for voice over and more! With a built in Fairlight audio mixer, the ATEM Constellation makes it possible to do extremely complex live sound mixing. The 4 M/E model has extra audio mixer input channels for the MADI audio inputs.