Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro HDMI Live Stream Switcher

The ATEM Mini Pro by Blackmagic Design, is a four-input live production switcher that retains the core functionality of its predecessor, the ATEM Mini. It features an integrated control panel tailored for multi-camera live streaming, capable of delivering HD video for internet or broadcast applications, including gaming consoles, corporate computer streams, and HD cameras. In addition to a software control update, the Mini Pro enhances the original model with several new features, including live stream data rate and status indicators, a built-in hardware encoder, the ability to record simultaneously to USB drives, hot swapping capabilities with the Blackmagic MultiDock, dedicated record and stream buttons, stream caching, a timecode generator, program preview multiview, tally support, and compatibility with the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K and 4K for use as broadcast sources.

The ATEM Mini Pro features an identical rear-panel configuration, providing four HDMI inputs capable of accommodating up to 1080p HD video. Additionally, it includes an HDMI output for connecting to a projector or for multiview monitoring, a USB Type-C output for recording HD video directly to a computer, and an RJ45 10/100/1000 Ethernet port that facilitates direct live streaming, system management, remote control, and software upgrades. Users can modify the frame rate based on the desired streaming quality, and there is no requirement for external streaming software, as the Pro is equipped with an integrated hardware encoder.

The revised ATEM Software Control Panel facilitates the management and configuration of the ATEM Mini Pro through USB-C or Ethernet connections. It provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities, including data rate, audio levels, configuration settings, and the status of your live broadcast. The integrated color control panel mirrors the layout of DaVinci Resolve, thereby eliminating any potential learning curve. Among its advanced functionalities is the option for engineers to upload an XML configuration file, streamlining the process of adjusting all settings simultaneously.

The control surface is equipped with easily visible, backlit buttons that simplify the selection of camera inputs, transitions, keyers, settings, and the DVE. The ATEM Mini Pro introduces additional buttons on the right side, including a quick record button that enables immediate recording of your live stream to the connected USB device. By holding this button, users can also hot-swap drives when utilizing the Blackmagic MultiDock, facilitating rapid editing. Furthermore, On-Air and Stream buttons have been incorporated to allow for the immediate initiation and cessation of streaming once configured in the software control. The newly added Video Out buttons on the right side enable the selection of program previews for each source, ensuring that all sources are prepared for broadcasting.

The ATEM Mini Pro retains the same upstream and downstream keyers, featuring an advanced chroma keyer, two linear/luma keyers, a DVE transition keyer, a pattern generator, and color generators. Additionally, it supports media players for fill and key images, accommodating up to 20 still images in formats such as PNG, TGA, BMP, JPEG, and TIFF.

New Features

• Same rear panel as ATEM Mini with added buttons and software features
  
  
• Stream video up to 1080p HD
  
  
• Quick stream, on-air and record buttons
  
  
• Hardware encoder, so there's no need for additional streaming software
  
  
• Control and configure timecode, stream status
  
  
• Full support and control features for BMPCC 6K and 4K cameras
  
  
• Simultaneous USB recording to computer via USB-C
  
  
• Integration with MultiDock for live hard drive switching
  
  
• Customize advanced settings with XML files
  
  
• Software multiview with program previews, graphics, record status, on air status, audio meters
  
  
• Program preview input and output buttons
  
  
• Tally light control for BMPCC 6K/4K cameras
  
  
• Automatic timecode sync for all cameras
  
  

Webcam Option

If you're streaming, then all models use USB as a webcam. The ATM Mini Pro connects via its USB-C to a computer, and your computer will recognize ATEM Mini Pro as a webcam and you can then select it as the webcam source in your streaming software, such as Skype.

Transitions

• Cut: when you press the cut button, ATEM instantly changes from your current program source to the preview source. Cuts can be performed by directly selecting sources or by pressing the cut button to switch to the next source.
  
  
• Mix: the mix, or dissolve, gradually transitions from one source to the next by creating a smooth blend. You can set custom timings to manually blend the transition.
  
  
• Dip: just like mix transitions, a dip transition is a gradual blend that includes either a solid color, graphic, or another clip between the two video sources. Dips to black or white between sources are the most popular, or you can use logos or sponsor graphics.
  
  
• Wipe: built-in wipe patterns include circles, diamonds, squares, and more. Shapes and patterns can be inverted or softened and can even have customized colored borders.
  
  
• DVE: with the powerful built-in Digital Video Effects processor, or DVE, you can push, spin, squeeze, or swoosh your live video from one camera to the next with incredible built-in transitions. DVE transitions can be flip-flopped and reversed, giving you even more transition options.
  
  

Upstream Keyer

Layer live video over other video sources or graphics with the Upstream Keyer. You can use luma key, linear key, pattern key, or shoot against a green screen and use chroma key to instantly composite the video over virtual sets.

• Luma key: luma keys work best with high-contrast images, like white elements on a black background, so you can use the contrast to cut the black background and replace it with live video or graphics.
  
  
• Linear key: get clean, high-quality results with linear keying by using two separate sources for the fill and the key to create one video image. The fill signal contains the video to be stacked over the background, while the key signal contains a gray scale mask to cut out, or mask, the area to be filled.
  
  
• Chroma key: used every day for TV weather forecasts, chroma keys are a powerful way of combining live images in real time. The presenter typically stands in front of a green or blue background and the chroma keyer will remove only that color and combine it with another image, such as a video or graphic.
  
  
• Pattern key: combine live images with any of the built-in wipe patterns to combine live images or graphics with geometric shapes. You get full control over softness, symmetry, size, and position to create unique picture-in-picture effects that can be transitioned to as easily as any live source.
  
  

Downstream Keyers

The ATEM Mini Pro switcher includes one downstream keyer, so you can add high-quality graphics like logos, bugs, and titles from the built-in media player over the live stream program output. Downstream keyers are the last layers of keying, so they overlay all video switched to the main program output.

Audio Mixer

The built-in audio mixer lets you control both camera and external audio with precision level and balance adjustments on all six available audio inputs and two channels. The mixer features selectable On/Off/Audio-Follow-Video per channel, plus it has separate gain control per channel, level and peak metering, and new Fairlight audio enhancements such as compressor, gate, limiter, six bands of parametric EQ, and master gain control.

Monitor Output

The HDMI monitor output allows you to see your sources, graphics, preview, and program output on a single screen.

Media Player

Eliminate external character generators by storing up to 20 broadcast-quality RGBA graphic files in the media pool. The one media player appears as input sources to your switcher. You can transition to graphics as full-frame video, or feed them to the keyers for overlaying video. Popular image formats such as PNG, TGA, BMP, GIF, JPEG, and TIFF are supported.