NAB 2024 – Blackmagic Design today announced ATEM 1 M/E Constellation 4K and ATEM 2 M/E Constellation 4K switchers, two new Ultra HD models of the ATEM Constellation family with up to 20 x 12G-SDI standards converted inputs. The two new 4K models have the same powerful features as the ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Constellation HD models including aux outputs, DVEs, ATEM advanced chroma keyers, multiview and SuperSource. ATEM 1 M/E Constellation 4K and ATEM 2 M/E Constellation 4K are available immediately from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide from US$1,795.

The ATEM 1 M/E Constellation 4K and ATEM 2 M/E Constellation 4K switchers will be demonstrated on the Blackmagic Design NAB 2024 booth #SL5005.

The ATEM 1 M/E Constellation 4K is a powerful live production switcher that includes 10 standards converted 12G-SDI inputs, 6 x 12G-SDI outputs, DVE, 4 ATEM Advanced chroma keyers, a 16 way multiview, media players, talkback and USB webcam output. The larger ATEM 2 M/E Constellation 4K has 20 standards converted 12G-SDI inputs, 12 x 12G-SDI aux outputs, 2 DVEs, 8 ATEM Advanced chroma keyers, 2 multiviews and a SuperSource for a total of 6 DVEs.

ATEM Constellation switchers feature a compact rack mount design with a built in control panel. This allows operation of the switcher, critical during setup or for emergency use. Also included is a large LCD so customers can see program output and change switcher settings via on screen menus. The compact design is perfect for portable live production, with the rear of the switcher including connections for 12G-SDI inputs, aux outputs, balanced audio and Ethernet for control.

The ATEM Constellation family has a massive number of fully independent outputs. These SDI outputs are very powerful because customers can independently route any SDI input or any internal source to each SDI output. That’s perfect for running independent feeds to stage screens, master recorders and streaming processors. Or use the SDI outputs for ISO recorders, where each deck will get a resynchronized switcher input with matching timecode. All SDI outputs contain program audio, RP-188 timecode, SDI camera control, tally and talkback.

For live streaming, the USB-C connection on ATEM Constellation operates as a webcam source. The software is tricked into thinking the ATEM Constellation is a common webcam, but it’s really a live production switcher! That guarantees full compatibility with any video software in full resolution 1080HD quality.

The built in multiview lets customers monitor multiple sources on a single monitor. The 1 M/E model includes 1 multiview while the 2 M/E model has 2 independent multiviews. All external SDI inputs, plus all internal video sources can be routed to any view. All multiviews are fully customizable and can be independently set to 4, 7, 10, 13 or 16 simultaneous views. Customers can add the tally border plus source label and VU meters as an overlay on each view. Plus a red and green border will show tally on each view, so customers know what sources are on air.

ATEM Constellation features up to 2 independent DVEs, depending on the model, that let customers reposition graphics and create picture in picture compositions. Customers get amazing quality and the DVE supports position, resize and scale, all in real time. The DVE lets customers create professional picture in picture effects with customizable 2D borders, shadows and lighting. DVEs can also be used to create amazing DVE transitions with push and squeeze effects for adding excitement to their programming. Customers can even combine DVE transitions with custom graphics to create their own graphic wipe transitions! Then the 2 M/E model includes a SuperSource processor for even more DVEs!

The built in media pool stores broadcast quality RGBA graphics and animations that can be played back instantly by the 2 or 4 media players. The built in media pool holds graphics for use with the media players and the 1 M/E model can hold 20 stills and 200 frame animations and the 2 M/E model can hold 40 stills and 400 frame animations in 4K.

For news or virtual set work, ATEM Constellation is perfect as it features lots of ATEM advanced keyers for high quality chroma or luminance keying. The chroma keyer is incredibly powerful and features a color picker to sample background colors for automatic generation of the key parameters. Customers get precise controls for edge and flare, and there is even a foreground color corrector so customers can match the “look” of the foreground layer to the background layer making seamless compositions possible. The keyer can also be used for pattern and DVE keying. Customers get 4 ATEM Advanced Keyers on the 1 M/E models and 8 ATEM Advanced Keyers on the 2 M/E models.

With 4 upstream chroma keyers per M/E row, customers get the perfect solution for building virtual sets! With so many ATEM advanced chroma keyers, customers can use a keyer per camera to create a seamless composition of the camera over the custom background. Customers can use external image processors for virtual sets, or customers can even build a fixed camera virtual set by loading pre rendered still image backgrounds from the media players and media pool. Customers can setup macros to change cameras and load the correct background into the media players. With so much flexibility, customers can experiment to try out different studio setups!

In addition to the DVEs in the M/E rows, the 2 M/E model includes powerful SuperSource multi layer processors with 4 extra DVE layers plus a background layer, that all appear to ATEM Constellation as an additional input source. Any switcher video input can be used for each SuperSource DVE, then it’s all layered together over a media pool custom background. SuperSource is just like having an extra multi-layer VFX switcher built in. SuperSource is perfect for doing picture in picture displays for interviews because customers can set up the effect while keeping the main DVEs free for other tasks.

Customers can connect equipment in HD or Ultra HD television standards including 720p, 1080i,1080p and 2160p formats. The SDI inputs will also handle embedded audio and mix audio from all video inputs. The program outputs include talkback, tally and camera control information. So customers can connect any of the switcher SDI outputs back to the camera for program return, camera control, and talkback.

With a built in Fairlight audio mixer, the ATEM Constellation makes it possible to do extremely complex live sound mixing. The internal mixer has up to 48 input channels on the ATEM 2 M/E Constellation 4K! Audio is de-embedded from all the SDI video inputs and passed to the audio mixer. Each input channel features the highest quality 6 band parametric EQ and compressor, limiter, expander and noise gate as well as full panning. All this audio power can be controlled via the ATEM Software Control or a Mackie compatible panel.

“The ATEM Constellation HD switchers have been incredibly popular since they were first released,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “However, people have been asking for switchers that are the same compact size but also work with 12G-SDI for working in frame rates up to Ultra HD 2160p60. These new 1 M/E and 2 M/E models will match the same resolution as our Blackmagic Studio Camera 6K Pro and will give our customers all the features they need to produce outstanding live productions in Ultra HD!”

ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Constellation 4K Features

• Advanced design with built in front panel controls.
• Up to 20 standards converted 12G-SDI inputs.
• Up to 12 customizable 12G-SDI outputs.
• USB output operates as a webcam and supports all video software.
• Includes up to 2 independent multiviews with multiple layout options.
• Includes DVE and stinger transitions.
• Includes up to 2 independent DVEs.
• Professional talkback compatible with ClearCom and RTS.
• Internal media for stills and motion graphics.
• Includes ATEM Advanced Chroma Key.
• Multi rate 12G-SDI for all HD and Ultra HD television standards up to 2160p60.
• Built in Fairlight audio mixer with up to 48 channels..
• Compatible with all ATEM hardware control panels.