Blackmagic Design announces 30- and 40-button Atem 2 M/E Advanced Panels

Blackmagic Design has unveiled two new Atem hardware control panels for all Atem switchers. The new 30- and 40-button models of the Atem 2 M/E Advanced Panel are large enough so the user has dedicated controls for the largest Atem switchers, but are compact so they fit into any studio space.

Atem Advanced Panels open up the power of the Atem Constellation, which has been designed to give customers an advanced live switching workflow. Internally, Atem Constellation has separate program and preview busses that customers can use to quickly and accurately switch sources.

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.

Atem switchers offer users a 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 users can dip to any video source, they can create innovative effects. DVE transitions use the DVE to create crazy moves where the whole foreground image moves. The t-bar fader even lets users manually position the transition for total control.

Atem Advanced Panels are perfect for positioning the DVE for custom picture-in-picture effects because they include a 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 set up to fly graphics into frame or select any of the pre-programed push and squeeze transitions.

Each system control LCD has a direct access keypad with a button for each function and LCD and soft knobs and buttons. There are hundreds of switcher parameters available for keyers, transition selection, DVE and colour generators, as well as switcher video standard, multiview setup and even input button remapping. Customers can save and recall 10 individual panel setups and store them in the panel.

The Atem Advanced Panel also features built-in macros, where customers can record their own custom macros and trigger them to play back with the push of a button. This means that customers don’t need to use a computer to work with macros because they can trigger them from the same hardware panel they are switching from.

“The new larger models of the Atem 2 M/E Advanced Panel are exciting because they still give customers total control of the largest Atem Constellation switchers, but they are not as deep as the Atem 4 M/E Advanced Panel, so they don’t take up much space,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “With lots of custom LCDs for dynamic button labelling, customisable colours, and a massive number of controls, these new models take Atem live production switchers to a whole new level. We think these new models will allow customers to build the most innovative television studios possible.”