The Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher is a 2 RU-high, 8-source switcher that accepts four 10-bit HD/SD-SDI inputs, four HDMI inputs, and one analog video input for a total of eight simultaneous inputs, each with a frame synchronizer. The ATEM 1 M/E Switcher comes with a software control panel, and it's also compatible with the 1 M/E & 2 M/E Broadcast Panels from Blackmagic (not included).
For live productions of all kinds, the ATEM 1 M/E represents an extremely affordable way to get in the game at a broadcast-quality level, switching HD and SD sources such as cameras with HDMI or SDI output, VTRs/DDRs, etc., and adding keys and graphics. Whether you'll operate via mouse & laptop or you're ready to switch your sources from a control panel, you're still operating at a very high level, with a 10-bit signal path throughout (depending on your video system, of course).
Program outputs come in the form of SDI, analog, and HDMI, and there are three auxiliary SDI outputs. There's also USB 3.0 output for Windows systems, for directly capturing a 10-bit master to your computer. The switcher features DVE transitions, seven keyers, two built-in media players for clips and stills, and multi-view output, which eliminates the need for separate monitors for each source.
| Connectivity | |
|---|---|
| Video Inputs |
8x Total simultaneous 4x SDI 10-bit (HD/SD switchable) 4x HDMI 1.4a (10-bit HD/SD switchable) 1x Composite/S-Video/10-bit Component (component is HD/SD switchable) |
| Audio Input | 2-channel analog balanced XLR via breakout cable |
| Sync Input | Tri-Sync or black burst |
| Built-in TBC/Frame Sync | 8 internal frame synchronizers (all inputs) |
| Total Outputs | 14 |
| Program Output |
1x SDI (10-bit HD/SD switchable) 1x HDMI 1.4a (10-bit HD/SD switchable) 1x Component (HD/SD switchable) 1x permanently downconverted Composite NTSC/PAL 1x downconverted 10-bit SDI |
| Preview (PVW) Output | 1x SDI 10-bit (HD/SD switchable) |
| Auxiliary Output | 3x SDI 10-bit (HD/SD switchable) |
| Computer Outputs | 1x USB 3.0 from Aux. 1 output. Media Express for Windows included |
| Quantity of Multi-Views | 1 |
| Outputs per Multi-View |
1x HD-SDI 1x HDMI |
| SDI Audio Output | 2 channels embedded into SDI output |
| Analog Audio Output | 2 channels balanced XLR via breakout cable |
| Ethernet | 1x 10/100/1000 BaseT input. Allows direct connection between control panel and chassis, or via network |
| Control Panel | ATEM Software Control Panel included free for Mac OS X and Windows. ATEM 1 M/E Broadcast Panel preferred (not included); compatible with ATME 2 M/E Broadcast Panel (not included) |
| Serial Communication | 1x RS-422 output |
| Tally Output | Added via Ethernet connection; GPI and Tally Interface product (not included) |
| GPI | Added via Ethernet connection; GPI and Tally Interface product (not included) |
| Software Update | Using USB connection directly connected to Mac OS X or Windows computers. Includes ATEM Switcher Utility |
| Configuration | Set via ATEM Software Control Panel, excluding ATEM chassis IP address, which is set via the ATEM Switcher Utility connected via USB to chassis |
| Processing | |
|---|---|
| Color Space Conversion | Hardware-based, real-time |
| Processing Delay | 1 line |
| HD Down Conversion | Built-in, high-quality hardware downconverter always outputs to SD-SDI and composite outputs when working in HD video formats. Component output can be switched between HD or SD. Selectable between letterbox, anamorphic 16:9, and center-cut 4:3 styles |
| Standards | |
|---|---|
| HD Format Support | 1080i50, 1080i59.94, 720p50, 720p59.94 |
| SD Format Support | 625/25 PAL, 525/29.97 NTSC |
| SDI Compliance | SMPTE 259M, 292M |
| HDMI Resolutions | Input resolutions for computers: 720 x 480 59.94 Hz, 720 x 576 50 Hz, 1280 x 720 59.94/50 Hz, and 1920 x 1080 59.94/50 Hz |
| Video Sampling | 4:2:2 |
| Color Precision | 10-bit |
| Color Space | 4:2:2 YUV |
| Media Player | |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 2 |
| Channels | 2x for key and fill |
| Resize Clip Manually | 32 with fill and key |
| Clip Capacity | 2 with fill and key |
| Maximum Clip Length |
1080i: 180 frames 720p: 360 frames NTSC/PAL: 900 frames |
| Image Format | PNG, TGA, BMP, GIF, JPEG and TIFF |
| Video Format | QuickTime and AVI |
| Audio Format | WAV, MP3, AIFF |
| Multi-View Monitoring | |
|---|---|
| Number of Windows | 1 x 10 |
| Routable Windows | 8 |
| Tally | Red for program and green for preview indication |
| Window Source Labels | Yes |
| Extras | |
|---|---|
| Keyers |
7x Total 4x Upstream 2x Downstream 7x Linear/Luma 4x Chroma 1x Transition (Stinger/DVE) |
| Generators |
5x Pattern 2x Color |
| DVE | 1x DVE with 3D borders & drop shadow |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Redundant Power | No |
| Input Voltage | 12V |
| Power Consumption | 50W |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 3.5 x 19 x 2.5" (88 x 482 x 62mm) |
| Weight | 5.2 lb (2.4 kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
Cons
Best Uses
Reviewed by 7 customers
Sort by
Displaying reviews 1-7
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher:
The only problem with this switcher is that we had sources that it wouldn't recognize, even though all setting were correct. Including my Blackmagic Decklink card. But, with the sources that worked the switcher worked great!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher:
Use it daily for church productions. Works as advertised and solid performance. This is a great product for the price. Can't Beat this.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher:
We purchased the Atem1 due to a couple events we got hired for, they wanted Hi Def and this thing worked great! Have had lots of experience with the TriCaster product line and I liked this much better! Graphics were a breeze. We connected two computers to it, used one for the switching and the other to generate graphics. Would be nice to have standard def inputs, but with the shift to HD this thing is great!
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher:
My main purpose of using this switcher is for live casting (mainly Ustream) event.Since the Internet live cast has the limited budget, the choice of cost effective device is the must. But you still need to invest the best quality equipment.When purchasing this swicther, my other candidates were- Blackmagic ATEM Television Studio- Roland VR-5- Roland LVS-800Roland makes the best products. But HD model cost over $8,000. If you purhcase the control panel of ATEM, it would cost the same price. But you can choose not to buy in case of ATEM.And it's HD, and it has the HDMI inputs. I can easily connect consumer HD camera without any converter.Next, I had to choose either Television Studio or 1 M/E. I decided to spend extra $1000 for DVE effects.You definately need to do PinP. Television Studio cannot do that.I'm happy with the functionality and the price compared to the conventional video switcher.I love how Blackmagic bring down the price since DeckLink.I'm very comfortable with using software panel now.I don't really think I need the control panel that bad.Although you Television Studio has USB2.0 H.264 encoder built-in, I heard that Ustream Producer Pro or Flash Media Encoder cannot accept the H.264 feed (yet as in Oct 2011).I really wish they they will add the functionality to be able to import into Mac directly. (It's either USB2.0 or Thunderbolt).I've used two productions in 2 weeks of arrival.One of the live cast example (in Japanese)[@]Since I'm on location all the time, I don't like that it's rack design. The heat sink is very sharp. I'm afraid that if I cut my hand some day.And I wish you can just connect USB to control the device. It's troublesome to set-up the IP address.Because of this, I need to carry an extra router for the switcher.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher:
Get the manual from blackmagic's site, and know its limitations. NO scalers are included, and everything must be in the same framesize and framerate, both input and output.
Another person was complaining about HDMI input. NOTE: ***the HDMI input accepts YUV formats ONLY.*** You can NOT put any type of RGB format into the switcher. So for instance, using a DVI -> HDMI converter will not work (DVI always carries RGB data.)
I can confirm that the Panasonic HMC-150 HDMI out does work with the switcher, so does my nvidia video card through HDMI out.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher:
Live productions
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Blackmagic Design ATEM 1 M/E Production Switcher:
No scaling in switcher. All sources must be exact format - no variances. HDMI support sketchy, only have found one device accepted by switcher, #39 DVD player. Higher end sources not supported as of yet. USB 3.0 available, but not supported yet. I Love Blackmagic Design products, but this turns out to be to "format specific" for me to really like. Haven't found media clip format that it accepts yet either.
Displaying reviews 1-7