Blackmagic Design announced ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K, a professional all in one Ultra HD live production switcher with integrated hardware control panel. ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K features 8 independent 12G-SDI inputs, built in Fairlight audio mixer, ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyer, multiview, auxiliary and program outputs, analog audio inputs, built in talkback, two flash based media players, professional creative transitions, a DVE for effects and more.

ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K combines a professional broadcast hardware control panel with a powerful 8 input 12G-SDI switcher for working with all HD and Ultra HD formats up to 2160p59.94. All of the 12G-SDI inputs feature full re-sync and independent format and frame rate conversions. That means customers can connect a total of up to 8 different sources with various different frame sizes and frame rates, and cleanly switch between them. The switcher automatically converts everything to the program’s output format and frame rate.

Professional Fairlight audio mixing is built in to the ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K. Fairlight has been used for extremely high end feature film and television audio post production for years and now, for the first time ever, Blackmagic Design has integrated these incredible Fairlight audio tools into a live production switcher. ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K gives customers independent 6 band parametric equalizers on every single input. In addition, it also includes expander/gate, compressor and limiter dynamics on each input.

ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K features the all new next generation ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyer. This new keyer gives customers adjustable on screen controls for selecting and sampling a region of color, adjustment controls for foreground, background and edges, and chroma correction tools for spill and flare suppression. That means ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K can pull extremely clean keys to replace a blue or green screen for professional broadcast quality composites.

ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K has a built in media pool that can store 90 frames of Ultra HD, 360 frames of 1080HD or 1440 frames of 720HD video that can be used with the two built in media players. The media pool uses flash memory, so images are saved even after the power is turned off. That means customers can create completely custom graphics to use in their own programs. In addition, there is an upstream keyer with full chroma keying for green screen shots so customers can add weather maps, graphics, or even virtual sets. The upstream keyer works with chroma, patterns, shapes and linear keys.

ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K also features 2 downstream keyers for adding graphics, logos and bugs to video. Customers can use a HyperDeck Studio Mini with ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K as a source for ProRes 4:4:4:4 motion graphics files with alpha channels. That means customers can get fill and key graphics composited over live video, or they can use motion graphics with alpha as transitions between sources, all in real time.

ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K also includes a built in talkback converter for SDI cameras. The talkback information is sent back to the camera via the SDI program return feed on the rarely used SDI audio channels 15 and 16. When working live with a reporter in the field, there can be a slight delay that causes them to hear themselves as an echo in their headset. ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K includes mix minus which sends back all of the program audio to the camera but removes the reporter’s own voice, so they don’t hear a distracting echo of themselves while reporting.

For maximum speed and flexibility in live productions, ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K includes a free software control panel for Mac and Windows that allows multiple users to be connected at the same time. That means customers can have one person switching the program while another mixes the audio and another uploads or changes graphics, while another person remotely color balances and controls the cameras.

“ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K packs our most advanced broadcast switcher technology into a compact, elegant design that you can take anywhere,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “The exciting thing about it is that it has all of the same professional features as larger and more expensive switchers, but it fits into a standard equipment rack or fly away kit. Customers get the speed of a full size 1 M/E hardware control panel so they can work on complex, fast paced live events!”