Blackmagic Design ATEM SDI

Blackmagic Design ATEM SDI Live Production Switcher includes 4 standards converted SDI inputs, USB webcam, 2 SDI outputs, green screen chroma key, and more.

ATEM SDI is fast to set up and easy to use. It gives you the portable design of ATEM Mini, but its SDI connections means you can connect advanced broadcast quality cameras and recorders. This opens up a whole new world of ultra portable live production. The incredibly portable design means you can fit a whole broadcast quality live production system in a small bag or even a backpack!You can use multiple cameras on location and live stream direct to YouTube, or create a broadcast quality link back to a studio with ATEM Streaming Bridge. Unlike single camera remote shoots, ATEM SDI lets you connect multiple cameras so you can create interesting remote interviews with multiple camera angles.

ATEM SDI’s compact all in one design includes both a control panel as well as connections. The front panel includes easy to use buttons for selecting sources, video effects and transitions. The source buttons are large so it’s possible to use it by feel, letting the presenter do the switching! You even get buttons for audio mixing!

ATEM SDI lets you connect multiple cameras for different views of the performance. Video cameras with SDI outputs such as Blackmagic Studio Camera or Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 are much better quality as they have better low light performance and they use professional lenses. All videosources will re-sync to the switcher, even if they operate at different video standards. Everything just works so setup on location is easy and you don’t have to worry about technical problems. Imagine taking advantage of the creative freedom of multi camera live production for interviews, advertorials, theater production, music performances, sports and more!

To ensure maximum compatibility, all ATEM SDI models feature USB that operates as a simple webcam source. That means you can plug into a computer and get working with any video software! The software is tricked into thinking the ATEM SDI is a common webcam, but it’s really a live production switcher. That guarantees full compatibility with any video software and in full resolution 1080HD quality. Choose any software you like, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Skype for a new way to do presentations with a professional multi camera broadcast quality style! The ATEM SDI webcam output also works with streaming software such as Open Broadcaster, XSplit Broadcaster and more!

Professional production values are possible using the range of built-in video effects. The cut button ensures an instant cut when switching between sources. The auto button is a professional term that’s used on large broadcast switchers to enable video effect transitions. There are duration buttons for video effects allowing 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 second settings. You can also select the type of effect you want including mix, which does a smooth transition between sources, and dip which fades via a color during the transition. Or use fun DVE effects that move the image off screen when transitioning between sources!

With two independent 3.5mm stereo audio inputs, you can connect desktop and lapel microphones. You can even connect a music player to generate introduction music after the live stream commences but before the program starts. With 2 extra stereo audio inputs, you can ensure a host and guest both have lapel microphones when doing interviews. All audio inputs to ATEM SDI include buttons on the panel for adjusting audio level and enabling inputs into the audio mixer. Plus all models feature a Fairlight audio mixer with all SDI inputs and both microphone inputs connected to the audio mixer allowing live mixing from all your audio sources.

Each 3G-SDI video input features its own dedicated standards converter. That means ATEM SDI will automatically convert 1080p, 1080i and 720p sources to the switcher video standard! By default the switcher will set its video format automatically, however you can also set the switcher to any video standard manually! The SDI outputs are a true “aux”outputs so you 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.

One of the most exciting features on ATEM SDI is the built in DVE that allows picture in picture effects and DVE transitions. The DVE lets you create professional picture in picture effects with customizable 3D borders, shadows and lighting. The image quality is the same as high end ATEM switcher models and the DVE supports position, resize and scale, all inreal time. The DVE can also be used to create amazing transitions with 16 different DVE squeeze and DVE push effects for adding excitement to your programming. The DVE features a “fly key” so you can use it with custom graphics to create graphic wipe transitions.

ATEM SDI includes a wide range of broadcast quality HD native transitions such as mix, dip, wipe and more. All transitions can be customized by adjusting parameters such as duration, border color, border width, position and direction. You can also use the DVE in transitions, allowinga graphic to be moved over the wipe edge which is called a graphic wipe, and is commonly used in sports programming. To eliminate errors, ATEM SDI has a preview transition feature so you can check your transitions before putting them to air.

The built in “media pool” allows the loading of up to 20 separate broadcast quality RGBA graphics for titles, opening plates and logos. The media player is used to output the selected image so it appears as an extra internal video source for use in graphics and titles. You can even use still frames for complex effects such as graphic wipes. ATEM SDI can also grab stills from video and save them to the internal media pool. Graphics can be loaded via ATEM Software Control or downloaded directly from Photoshop using the ATEM Photoshop plug-in. The Photoshop Plug-in is perfect for graphics that change often, such as scoreboards, as you can download directly into the media player.

For news or on-set presentation work, ATEM SDI is perfect as it features the powerful ATEM Advanced Chroma Key for green screen keying effects. The chroma keyer is incredibly powerful and features a color picker to sample background colors for automatic generation of the key parameters. You get precise controls for edge and flare, and there is even a foreground color corrector so you can match the foreground and background layers for seamless compositions. You can even use it for title overlays by creating graphics with a green or blue background. Plus the ATEM SDI Extreme includes a massive 4 separate ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyers, for a keyer per camera, allowing virtual set production.

Although ATEM SDI works in “cut bus” mode when first purchased, it can also be changed to “program/preview” style operation, which is the way broadcasters normally use live production switchers. Cut bus switching is easy and selecting any input will instantly switch to that source. However if you want to operate ATEM SDI like a true professional then you can change the switcher to program/preview using ATEM Software Control settings. Mix effects operation allows a source to be selected but it won’t be put on air until you press the cut or auto buttons. That 2 step program/preview process means fewer mistakes.