Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro Live Production Switcher

Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro Live Production Switcher

The Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro is a compact live production switcher that turns up to four HDMI sources into a single professional programme, then streams it, records it, or both, without depending on a computer to do the encoding. Four HDMI inputs accept cameras, computers and games consoles, and every input is standards converted and re-synced, so sources running at different HD formats can be mixed freely. A built-in hardware streaming engine sends the programme directly over Ethernet to services such as YouTube Live, Facebook and Twitch by RTMP, while a USB-C connection records the switched programme in H.264 to USB flash disks and doubles as a webcam output for conferencing and streaming software. The HDMI output can carry programme or a full multiview showing all four cameras, preview, media, audio meters and the status of streaming and recording.

Key features

• 4 HDMI inputs, 10-bit HD, each with standards conversion and re-sync
• Built-in hardware streaming engine for direct Ethernet streaming
• Direct H.264 recording of the programme to USB flash disks
• Multiview monitoring of inputs, preview, programme, media and status
• USB-C output that presents the switcher as a standard webcam
• Fairlight audio mixer with EQ and dynamics processing
• DVE for picture-in-picture, transition effects and green screen chroma key
• Media pool holding 20 stills for titles, logos and graphics

Switching and effects

The panel follows the layout of Blackmagic’s larger ATEM switchers, with source buttons, cut and auto transition controls, and dedicated buttons for streaming and recording. One upstream keyer handles picture-in-picture through the DVE, lower thirds and logos, and there are further keyers for chroma, luma and pattern work, including a proper green screen chroma keyer for virtual sets. Transitions include mix, dip, wipe and DVE moves, and the media player recalls any of the 20 stored stills, in formats such as PNG, TGA, BMP, GIF, JPEG and TIFF, as full-frame graphics or keyed overlays.

Audio

Two 3.5 mm stereo microphone inputs accept desktop and lapel microphones independently of the cameras, and embedded HDMI audio from every source joins them in the Fairlight mixer. Each channel offers gain control, level and peak metering, and processing that includes a compressor, gate, limiter and six bands of parametric EQ, with a master gain stage at the output. Audio-follow-video can be set per channel, so a presenter’s microphone stays live while camera audio follows the switching.

Streaming, recording and control

Streaming is configured in the free ATEM Software Control, which also provides a full software panel, media management and deeper settings than the hardware buttons expose; the switcher can also be tethered to a phone for streaming over mobile data when a wired connection is unavailable. Recording and streaming can run at the same time, so the live audience gets the stream while the H.264 file on the USB disk serves as the archive and a safety copy. Note that this is the ATEM Mini Pro: programme recording only. The separate Pro ISO model additionally records every input as an individual file.

Build and power

The unit measures 237.5 x 103.4 x 35.1 mm and weighs 550 g, runs from the included external 12 V power supply at 36 W, and connects to a control computer over Ethernet or USB-C. For classrooms, houses of worship, podcasts, product launches and small event stages, it concentrates a multi-camera studio into one box that a single operator can run from the desk.