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This ATEM (mini) Tips” series of short video tutorials for your Blackmagic ATEM hardware includes tips for all users, from beginner to advanced. Scroll down to see more in the series!

This is a collection of all PhotoJoseph LIVE shows, from the PhotoJoseph YouTube channel. Additional episodes are listed below!

Auto Switch Camera Angles Using Macros

Photo Moment - March 11, 2021

Have you ever wanted your ATEM Mini to change camera angles automatically? It's a common question, so I created this ATEM (mini) Tip to show you how!

Need an ATEM Mini?

What this tip is about…

Operating an ATEM Mini is pretty easy, but what if you want the camera angles to change for you? You easily do that using the built-in macros capability! All you need to do is start recording a macro, switch to one input (for example, CAM 1), then insert a pause of however long you want — a few seconds, a minute, whatever! — then switch to CAM 2 (or any other), add another pause, and repeat. That's it!

When you run the macro, it'll switch, pause, switch, pause, etc. And if you want this to continuously switch, you can simply set the macro to repeat! Just don't forget to add a pause at the end of the macro, so that it takes time after the final camera switch, before it starts all over again.

If you want the switches to feel more random, then build multiple rounds of switching into a single macro, each with different timings between inputs, and repeat that. For example, switch to CAM 1, pause 3 seconds… CAM 2, 5 seconds… CAM 3, 4 seconds… CAM 4, 7 seconds… CAM 1, 6 seconds… CAM 2, 3 seconds… CAM 3, 9 seconds… and so-on. You can even change the order that the camera angles switch! Just build a random “pattern” into the sequence, and make it long enough so no one notices that it's repeating. Pretty cool, right? 

📄 Full Video Transcript

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Past Shows

Hey! I have a challenge for you. I'm using the Extreme ISO STI and powerpoint. So I connect the PC with Powerpoint to the Atem. In front of the presenter, just under the cameras I have a big TV that we use when we are recording "how to" videos. This TV is connected to output on the Atem. But during a PowerPoint presentation we want to see the notes in PowerPoint on the TV, not the presentation. Are there any way that I can choose the output from the Atem to the TV to show the notes, and still show the presentation to the viewer?
The output from the ATEM can show whatever you want — program, preview, multiview, or even any single input. But you’re asking to see something that you’re not feeding to the ATEM at all; the notes. So, hook that tv directly to the computer. If you want to switch between notes and program, either feed the notes into the ATEM as well or use another ATEM. This can get complicated but is totally doable. Book a session with me to talk through it if you like. http://www.photojoseph.com/1to1
Hi, i record a podcast with obs and i use this atem switcher, is a way that camera switch depending in who’s talking?
No, unfortunately there isn’t
Excellent video. Thanks
Thanks, but if I want to switch camera only when people speaks on mic
Then get your fingers ready to push buttons quickly!
Thanks … this was a great help!
Liked and subbed. Thank you, you explain this technique so easily. Definitely buying this hardware now and using this technique!
Thanks for the sub!
It would be great if you would do a tutorial on using the Stream deck with the ATEM & OBS
Easy to learn from this video
Hello Joseph, it works perfectly, but why are we forced to use the mac? There is an auto button on the Atem, i thought it would execute that kind of function .
The “auto” button means “automate the transition from preview to program with whatever transition is currently selected (cut, wipe, etc.)”. The Extreme ATEMs are the first to have macro buttons on them but you still need a computer running the software to tell it to loop the macro. Although hmm maybe you could program the actual “loop on/off” into another macro and put that one one of the buttons.
Thanks
No problem
If I program this "auto" macro in and then disconnect my computer from the ATEM will the macro still run or does it require the computer at all times?
thanks !!!!!!
Hi, Joseph thanks for the Video... learned so much. can you please tell us how to rotate( -90 degree) an HDMI video in atem mini pro... as we are shooting in vertical mode.... thank in advance 🤝
You can’t. The only encoders I know that can do that are the YoloLiv Yolobox Instream (designed for vertical) and the Epiphan Pearl-2 (has custom resolutions)
great video
Great video. Can you trigger the switch of specific cameras from an external control system? And making this more complicated, if the camera is one box in a SouperSource setup, can this box be switched between specific cameras from an external control system?
External control: many ways. MixEffext app on iOS / iPadOS is probably the easiest. Look into Companion and a Stream Deck for the highest level of control. If all you want to do is trigger Macros, look at Strata on iOS.
How do I randomize cameras instead of going 1234 every time?
Program in a random pattern.
Excellent video! Just what I was looking for.
Great video overall. Thanks.

I am trying to, very very simply, do live musical performance videos. I want to use four stationary cameras and have the switcher just randomly switch between each view camera by using a dissolve, then take the video and sync it to the multitrack audio that I record separately during the performance.

(Don't need help with the audio or the video editing software–have that down.)

My questions are:

Do you think the Atem Mini Pro is the best/simplest/cheapest product for that?
What really inexpensive, security type, cameras might work with the system?
And last, how should I record/store the video? In other words, do I just plug a hard drive into the switcher?

Sorry to be such a newbie. Any help or insight would be appreciated.
Excellent video! Thanks!
Very Very cool! Q: Does the Mini store the macro, or does it have to come from the software even after it's programmed?
@@photojoseph ah, I see. Thank you very much for your reply! Now i must research connection options.
it comes from the software. Even on the Extreme, which has macro buttons, it needs to see the software to trigger them.
Great video! Once you set the macro up, is there a way to trigger it from the ATEM Mini Pro?
Only the Extreme has macro buttons unfortunately
How do I set up the Nikon d5600 with the atem mini pro? I can't get the video show on my monitor.
Can a macro be creeated where the switching between 3 or more cameras is random? Likewise can the switching be programmed where the dwell time, the time each camera is live, is variable between an upper and lower time limit?
No, there no random input. However you could record “random” changes (e.g. Cam 1, 3, 2, 1, 4, 2) and pauses (e.g. 10s, 13s, 8s), then loop that. It’d feel random if you make the original string long enough.
Is there any chance you can do a tutorial video on how to use the software (I have the ATEM Television Pro HD, not the Mini) to do instant replays? Our school films the local high school football games for live streaming and it's been a big request.
@@winstoncely694 it may be a while… so please let me know how you get on with this!
@@photojoseph We do have the Hyperdeck Studio Pro HD as well. Thanks for the heads up on the software! I'll start digging into this as well, and I'll look forward to your video.
It’s on my list. You need third party software. I haven’t yet tried this but https://liveskills.net/hyperslow/ along with a HyperDeck is supposed to do it. Problem is it supposedly takes about two seconds for the HyperDeck to switch between REC and PLAY so it’s not super-instant. However I’ve also heard that they NEW HyperDecks are faster at switching.
super useful, thanks Joseph
How do you add a transition effect? I have a bmpcc6kpro with ATEM iso extreme. If I use 4k, which I do a lot, I get black bars at the top and bottom, which shows during livestreaming. I'm using a macro to zoom in at 1.07. But I can't get the mix transition to work, just the hard cut. Someone mentioned that you may have covered this in another video, but haven't found it. Thank you.
The BMPCC cameras default to a DCI resolution instead of UHD, hence the black bars. I don’t know why; it’s dumb. To add a transition, just select the type you want, and when you change angles it’ll use it. Seems strange that’s not working for you. Nothing tricky about it.
Excellent vidéo, thanks for sharing, your tutorials are truly the best by far.

I do have one question however, can I do the same for multiple actions? Or multiple macros auto switch instead of cams? Reason I’m asking it’s because I want a different overlay for each cam that’s all.

Thanks
Excellent vidéo, thanks for sharing, your tutorials are truly the best by far.

I do have one question however, can I do the same for multiple actions? Or multiple macros auto switch instead of cams? Reason I’m asking it’s because I want a different overlay for each cam that’s all.

Thanks
Good evening thank you for your efforts I have a question please can I do green screen and picture ine picture at the same time
excellent, short and concise. Thank you!
Is there a way to start that script from the ATEM itself once it's programmed?
I'd like to know this as well, thanks!
The having to be explicit about what it needs to do is similar to Photoshop actions. Would be nice if the Atems could allow the insertion of steps between steps without having to go into the xml like PS actions do, but editing the xml doesn’t look too hard.
Ahh, I see. I’m pretty new to hardware switchers so did not actually know how long it has been.
It’s not “odd”; remember that this tech has been around for a really long time on a high end broadcast level and only in the last two years has this been brought to the general consumer. And it’s something a third party could do. I wouldn’t expect BMD to do anything here. But, I could be wrong!
@@photojoseph it seems even more odd since they’ve worked with you on your live stream and absolutely know this is a concern for many. Hopefully it’s in the works.
Yeah agreed. The system is not new, designed on standards ages ago and meant to be very editable. I would love to see some user friendly GUI layers added to this, though.
hallo joseph, great tip:) Is it possible to show (or to hear or to feel eg on apple watch) the time left to next switch of a camera to another camera anywhere. regards alexander
No, unfortunately. You only see that a macro is running, not how much time it has left.
What do you record into using atem mini ?
Nope, sorry.
No, so I only have regular Atem mini. Can I attach my drive to that?
If you have an ATEM Mini Pro or above, you can record the Program out using any USB drive attached to the ATEM. Is that what you're asking?
Well said and great video. Question: Is it possible to add fades in the macro instead of only using hard cuts? Thanks again
super useful, thanks Joseph!
Glad you like them!
🙏
😊
how to set longer time each camera sir?
program in whatever delay you want in the PAUSE segment
THE MISSING KEY thanks for explaining the sequencing of how ATEM records the macro states and changes...changed my frustration levels to low!!! thanks
You're welcome! It's not obvious, until someone tells you, then it's obvious ;-)
That's a pretty cool trick. Thanks for taking us through that!
My pleasure!
I have owned my mini & mini ISO for 6months... So look for this series to FINALLY help me get the most out of them..... thank you!
That is AWESOME to hear, thanks!! So much more to come 😊
would be nice if I could add random to that macro
I hear ya. The best I can offer is to manually make a seemingly random pattern and repeat that. So for example… Camera 1, Pause 3, C4, P2, C3, P5, C1, P6, C2, P4, etc. If you do this edit in the XML you could make a pretty long string without repeats very easily. If you really wanted it to be random, use a random number generator to generate the patterns. Then repeat one that’s long enough that no one notices the pattern.
These are perfect, thank you for making them!
You're so welcome!
I recently got an ATEM mini extreme. On the last version (mini pro) I had no trouble switching from camera one and camera two, while maintaining lower thirds lyrics provided by camera four. We use the chroma mode for upstream key and we’re able to maintain lyrics superimposed over the two cameras shots fir seemless switching. With the ATEM mini extreme, I do not see an easy way to keep the lower thirds graphics superimposed on the cameras as I could before. I suspect it is because they have added a number of additional available upstream keys. Any ideas?
@@photojoseph
To answer your questions, I was using the large camera switch buttons and the AUTO button to change sources. . The USK would switch off when I did so.

I just watched your second ATEM mini tip video (nice series so far!) where you partially touched on macro setup details that I was not familiar with. I’m wondering if that is my solution and will give that a shot.
I don’t have an Extreme, but I don’t see why it’d be any different. When you change sources (CAM1, CAM2, etc.), the USK should not be disabled or changed. Is it turning off? Is the source for the USK changing? Are you changing sources by pressing buttons on the ATEM, or are you using macros to change?
For those who have never heard of ATEM, it would have been helpful to get an overview first.
@@photojoseph No problem. I clicked from your newsletter and had no idea what the app did. Just a sentence or two at the beginning of the first video saying what the app does would have been helpful. And definitely excited to see what happened with Aperture. I still need to convert mine over!
I have many, many overview videos. Can't do an overview every time! Please start here with the "complete tour": https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRe8DcOhgslpIuaAUC7JqGLOQw2X44DFH
Man, first video of the series and already love it!
Glad you enjoy it! #2 just got released, too!
Great video Joseph. Looking forward for more.
Thanks 👍 #2 is out now!
Can I stream from my Atem Mini Pro to YouTube AND use same Atem as "webcam" for local presentation (Atem -> PC -> projector)?
Yes. Streaming is via the built-in encoder so is over ethernet. The USB port connected to a computer makes it a webcam. And you still have the HDMI port for multi view.
Can a macro record "engage the loop" feature? So, if I execute a "Run Macro" command from my streamdeck/companion can I get it so the button press plays the macro AND loops the camera switches...? Thx
@@photojoseph THANK YOU... it seems criminal that I get to ask these questions and people like yourself and others are there to help out... what a day and age! I guess what i’m saying is, a big thank you for testing that and making a great suggestion. Cheers!
I just tested it, and no, it doesn't record that. There is a "continue macro" command in Companion, although I don't know what that does TBH… I'd explore that.
Good tutorial, but that 'portrait chest enlargement stance' + that ''I'm looking at my monitor and back' impression looks just odd & feels cringy.. :)
so, it's cringy that I'm actually turning to my screen to record the demo, and that I'm standing in front of the camera? Whatever. This isn't a "stance", this isn't an "impression". It's just me standing there recording a demo.
Fantastic tip number 001 down 998 to go.
haha I'll do my best ;-) #2 is up now!
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