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Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro Review
The Best Video Mixer for the Money: blackmagic design atem mini pro review
The Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro is a new live video switcher with built-in streaming, recording and monitoring abilities.
LIVE STREAMING
The switcher can be used as a streaming device two separate ways — the USB output or an Ethernet cable. The USB output recognizes the ATEM Mini Pro as a common webcam that is compatible with a range of video software such as Skype, Zoom, Periscope, and more. The ethernet cable uses the ATEM Mini Pro’s hardware streaming engine to cast to Youtube, Facebook, and Twitch in better quality.
CONNECT ANY CAMERA
The ATEM Mini Pro allows you to connect different camera sources to the inputs. Each of the 4 HDMI inputs features its own dedicated standards converter. This allows the ATEM Mini to automatically convert 1080p, 1080i and 720p sources to the video standard of the switcher. By default, the switcher will set its video format automatically, but you can also change it manually if need be to another video standard.
If the camera is an SDI source all you have to do is use a SDI to HDMI converter.
You cannot input a 4K or UHD source into the ATEM Mini Pro.
BROADCAST TRANSITIONS AND FEATURES
ATEM Mini includes a wide range of broadcast quality 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, allowing a graphic to be moved over the wipe edge which is called a graphic wipe, and is used in sports programming. To eliminate errors, ATEM Mini has a preview transition feature so you can check your transitions before putting them to air.
ATEM Mini has an upstream Chroma Keyer plus an additional downstream linear keyer. The chroma keyer features a color picker to sample background colors for automatic generation of the key parameters.The keyer can also be used for pattern and DVE keying.
ATEM CAMERA CONTROL
ATEM Mini works with the latest Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras to remotely control features such as exposure, lift, gamma, gain, LUT, color control, shutter speed, focus, zoom, iris and more. All video and control is via a simple HDMI connection that lets you connect to your ATEM Mini with a single cable
EXTERNAL RECORDING
The ATEM Mini Pro supports recording H.264 video stream to an ordinary USB flash disk. You can connect upto 4 USB hard disks simultaneously via a USB Hub. So when a disk fills, the recording can continue to a second disk for non-stop recording. The drives can be hot-swapped without loosing any data.
Record settings and disk selection are set up in ATEM Software Control and there’s a record status view in the built in multiview. You can even trigger recording on external Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras.
HYPERDECK CONTROL
ATEM Mini lets you control the Blackmagic HyperDeck Studio HD Mini recorders so you can use pre‑recorded clips in live programs. You can connect up to 4 HyperDecks to the HDMI input as sources, see a list of clips on each one, select a clip, cue it, pre-roll, and play it back at any time. This is useful if you need to add pre-recorded spots, promos, and credit rolls to your live program.
ATEM MINI PRO CONNECTIONS
HDMI Video Inputs | 4 x HDMI type A, 10-bit HD switchable. |
HDMI Video Outputs | 1 x HDMI type A, 10-bit HD switchable. |
Total Audio Inputs | 2 x 3.5mm stereo mini-jack |
Total Audio Outputs | None, embedded audio only |
Video Input Re-Sync | On all 4 HDMI inputs. |
Frame Rate and Format Converters | On all 4 HDMI inputs. | Ethernet | Ethernet supports 10/100/1000 BaseT for live streaming, software control, software updates and direct or network panel connection. |
Computer Interface | 1 x USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1 for external drive recording, webcam out, software control, software updates, and panel connection. |
| Power Requirement | 12V 36W |