Blackmagic Design ATEM Microphone Converter

The Blackmagic Design ATEM Microphone Converter is an essential tool for those establishing a podcasting studio or requiring additional microphones. This device facilitates audio-input expansion for the ATEM Television Studio by transforming four analog XLR inputs into MADI format. It features two BNC MADI I/O ports, allowing for straightforward connection to the ATEM Television Studio MADI port without the need for complicated setup. Furthermore, multiple units can be daisy-chained to accommodate additional audio sources. The four XLR-1/4" combo analog inputs are selectable for microphone or line use and supply 48V phantom power.

This Microphone Converter employs 32-bit float digital preamps and eight analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for each input, ensuring clip-free recordings at 24-bit / 48 kHz with an exceptionally low noise floor, broad dynamic range, and minimal distortion, regardless of performance volume. Additionally, it includes a convenient HDMI output that displays scrolling audio waveforms, enabling users to connect a monitor for audio status tracking. USB and Ethernet ports are also available for remote administration and software updates through the ATEM Software Control application.

Digital Preamplifier Design

The device features four wide-dynamic-range inputs that negate the necessity for analog preamplifiers. The adjustment of microphone levels is managed by a highly stable digital preamplifier gain stage. Given that the analog audio levels can differ significantly among various microphone types and brands, this digital gain stage facilitates compensation tailored to the specific microphone brand in use. Notably, the digital preamplifier operates at a full internal 32-bit float RAW audio bit depth, allowing for adjustments with a level of precision that surpasses the capabilities of the MADI audio standard. This results in a remarkably clean and noise-free gain stage. Subsequently, the final audio levels can be refined using the ATEM audio mixer during operation.

High-End Analog-to-Digital Conversion

The ATEM Microphone Converter deviates from traditional audio industry design norms, which typically rely on a single audio analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for each input. Instead, it employs eight high-dynamic-range audio ADCs that work in unison to operate as a single ultrahigh-dynamic-range audio ADC. Consequently, each input channel provides an exceptional dynamic range of 131 dBA, along with an impressively low distortion rate of merely 0.002%.

Extremely Low -129 dBV Noise Floor

A prevalent issue associated with microphone converters is the elevated noise floor, which arises from electrical noise generated within the preamplifiers. The ATEM Microphone Converter addresses this concern through a distinctly different design approach. It directly converts the input using its ultrahigh-dynamic-range conversion, allowing for the transmission of RAW audio to the switcher. The switcher then applies the necessary gain to achieve the appropriate audio level. This design eliminates the introduction of noise typically associated with an analog gain stage, resulting in an exceptionally low, fixed noise floor of -129 dBV, irrespective of the digital gain applied.

Precisely Matched Analog Inputs

The ATEM Microphone Converter is designed to ensure highly accurate matching across its four audio-input channels. Utilizing a multi-ADC-per-input design approach, each analog audio input maintains closely aligned specifications and tolerances, resulting in a statistically uniform performance across all input channels. Consequently, users can expect consistent performance regardless of the microphone connection or when using multiple ATEM Microphone Converters.

Connects via MADI for Multichannel Audio

The MADI output of the ATEM Microphone Converter integrates the four analog inputs as MADI channels 1, 2, 3, and 4. Additionally, the converter features a MADI input that facilitates the connection of multiple converters, allowing for the expansion beyond four audio channels on a single MADI link. Consequently, when a second converter is linked to the input of another, the upstream converter will add its four channels to the existing four channels of the downstream converter.

HDMI Monitoring with Scrolling Audio Waveforms

The ATEM Microphone Converter features an HDMI video monitoring output, allowing for the connection of a standard television or computer monitor to provide a comprehensive status display. This functionality enables the visualization of four scrolling waveforms representing the last 60 seconds of recording, which is quite informative. Additionally, audio meters are available to indicate the levels at the input connectors. Each channel can be assigned a custom label through the software utility.

Furthermore, there are indicators that reflect the switch settings for microphone/line input selection and phantom power. If converters are daisy-chained, the monitoring output will adjust to display more than four channels. Users also have the option to set a converter name that will appear on the monitoring display.