Blackmagic Design Announces New ATEM Advanced Panels

Blackmagic Design announces the all new ATEM 2 M/E Advanced Panel and the ATEM 4 M/E Advanced Panel. A new family of elegantly designed hardware control panels designed to work with all ATEM switchers. The ATEM Advanced Panels are large enough so the user has dedicated controls for the largest ATEM switchers. Features included up to 4 M/Es, up to 24 separate LCDs for custom button labels, 4 separate system control LCDs, 4 T‑bar fader controls and much more The new panel design allows both desktop use or inset mounting for a perfectly flat control surface.

ATEM Advanced Panels are available immediately from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide from AU$11,855.

The 1 M/E model features a single M/E row with 10 input buttons and 1 system control LCD screen. Although it’s a 1 M/E panel, customers can control all M/Es in larger switchers. The input buttons feature user customizable colors and button label LCDs. There’s also a joystick for the DVE and a T‑bar fader.

The 2 M/E model features 2 M/E rows with 20 input buttons and 2 independent system control LCDs for each row. Plus each row can control up to 4 M/Es in larger switchers. Both rows and all input buttons include LCDs for custom labelling. Each row also includes an independent select bus.

The massive 4 M/E model is big enough to perfectly match the features on the ATEM Constellation switcher. It features 4 M/E rows with 40 input buttons per row and 4 independent system control LCDs for each row. This massive panel includes 24 LCD’s for custom labelling of every button on every row.

ATEM Constellation has been designed to give customers the most advanced live switching workflow. Internally, ATEM Constellation has separate program and preview buses that customers can use to quickly and accurately switch sources. ATEM Constellation lets customers see their preview bus selection by using an aux output or on the multi view. Then all customers need to do is make selections on the preview bus of the advanced panel, which will appear on their preview screen, allowing customers to see their source before it goes on air. Then customers can bring the source online by pressing cut or auto. Customers can also switch sources on the program bus if customers need them to go live immediately.

When selecting transition types, a system control LCD screen will display the options for that transition, so customers can change its parameters without navigating through complex menus. It’s all instantly available. That gives customers multiple ways to switch. Customers can even cut directly on the program bus. With ATEM Advanced Panels customers get all the controls customers need to access all transition types fast.

ATEM switchers give customers a huge range of transition styles. Standard SMPTE wipes are included and wipes can have edge softening for smooth transitions that are more exciting than simple cross dissolves. Dip transitions create a dip to colour effect, however because customers can dip to any video source, customers could create really innovative effects. DVE transitions use the DVE to create crazy moves where the whole foreground image moves. The t-bar fader even lets customers manually position the transition for total control.

ATEM Advanced Panels are perfect for positioning the DVE for custom picture in picture effects using the joystick. Customers can also use the soft knobs and menus on the LCD to adjust the DVE position, size and other DVE features such as lighting and drop shadow effects. The DVE can be setup to fly graphics into frame or select any of the pre-programmed push and squeeze transitions.

The ergonomically designed t-bar control lets customers ride transitions perfectly as part of the live performance. Sometimes the emotion of a live event means customers need to feel a transition to get it perfectly in sync with the camera operators and talent. Like a conductor, their ATEM Constellation is part of the performance and drives the mood as the production unfolds.

Move elements around the screen using the Joystick. With full 3 Axis control customers can adjust X, Y and Z positions of wipe patterns and position the ATEM Constellation DVEs. The joystick control with the DVE is ideal to position live video over video. Scale the size, position up down or left and right for the perfect picture in picture effect. Customers can also use the joystick to move the DVE and enter start and end keyframe screen positions for their own customized animated DVE moves.

Each system control LCD has a direct access keypad with a button for each function, and LCD and soft knobs and buttons. There’s hundreds of switcher parameters available for keyers, transition selection, DVE, colour generators as well as switcher video standard, multiview setup and even input button remapping. Customers can even save and recall 10 individual panel set ups and store them in the panel. Plus the 2 M/E model as 2 totally independent system control menus, while the 4 M/E model has a massive 4 independent system control LCDs.

Another benefit of the ATEM Advanced Panel is the built in macros, where customers can very easily record their own custom macros and trigger them to playback with the push of a button. This means that customers don’t need to use a computer to work with macros because customers can trigger them from the same hardware panel customers are switching from. Customers can set up different macros to trigger under each macro button and the thin strip LCD under the buttons will show customers which button as which macro customers have assigned.