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!
the MOST IMPORTANT ATEM VIDEO you’ll watch… how to use ANY camera original in ATEM ISO re-edits!
Photo Moment - February 21, 2024
This is real. We've found a way to replace the 1080p ISO clips from ATEM Mini/Extreme Pro ISO's DaVinci Resolve project files with the camera original clips – from ANY camera. Don't use Blackmagic cameras? No problem. This is no longer a limitation. You can now re-edit your live shows at the highest quality and resolution that your cameras can record.
With the ATEMISO models, you can record your live shows to an SSD, capturing not only the program, but also DaVinci Resolve project files and isolated video streams of each camera input for later re-editing. If you use Blackmagic cameras such as the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or 6K, you can easily replace the ATEM-generated 1080p video files with camera-original 4K or 6K RAW files. This workflow is fantastic, but limited to Blackmagic cameras. Or at least, it was. Not anymore. Let me explain how…
Fellow YouTuber Alex Pettitt figured out the first part of this setup; he discovered how to convert the flat Resolve project file generated by the ATEMISO into a true multicam project. This allows you to much more easily re-edit your live show, with actual multicam clips. This was a huge discovery; as far as anyone knows, he was the first to figure this out. I then realized that from there, it was relatively trivial to replace the 1080p low resolution ATEM-generated files with full resolution camera-originals, no matter what camera they came from.
The Setup
As you’ll see in the video tutorial, I'm using a straightforward setup with the ATEM Mini Pro ISO and three cameras. This will work with any number of cameras that your ATEM supports. Do ensure that your ATEM settings and your camera settings are using the same frame-rate (i.e. 29.97 or 25). You'll need a clear cue, like a clicker sound, at the beginning of each shot for easy manual synchronization later (although after I made the video I realized that you may not need that — Resolve can sync these via waveform; more on that later). Start recording in the ATEM as usual, and also start recording in each camera, and produce your show like normal. After the live show, copy the ATEM files and camera original files to your computer, and begin this seemingly complicated, but actually quick and easy, process:
Convert to multicam
This first step is what Alex figured out; this is how to convert your “flat” multicam timeline into a true multicam project, where you can easily swap camera angles during the re-edit. It sounds tedious, but it really does go quickly once you have memorized the steps.
1/ Open the ATEM-generated project file in Resolve.
Double-click the ATEM-generated project file or import it from inside Resolve. It will automatically adapt whatever your default project resolution settings are, but it’s also good to check that your project is set to the resolution of the camera original clips you’ll be working with later. In most cases, that’s going to be UHD (3840×2160). Even if you set this after you import the project, the change will ripple through where it matters.
2/ Color code the ATEMISO camera clips.
Right click on each camera angle individually, and assign a color. I advise doing them in order of the color drop-down to make it easier to find them later; so CAM 1 becomes Orange, CAM 2 becomes Apricot, CAM 3 becomes Yellow, and so-on.
3/ Create a new multicam clip from the ATEMISO video files.
Select all the video clips at once, and choose “Create New Multicam Clip Using Selected Clips”.
Set the Angle Sync to be based on timecode, and the Angle Name to be based on Camera name.
4/ Place the new multicam clip in a separate bin by itself.
Create a new bin, and name it “multicam” so you can identify it later. This is extremely important, and important that the multicam clip is the only clip in the bin.
5/ On the original timeline, select the first color (Orange) clips.
Open the ATEM-generated timeline, and from the menu, choose “Timeline > Select Clips with Clip Color > Orange”.
6/ Disable “Conform Lock Enabled” on the selected clips.
Right click on any selected (Orange) clip in the timeline, and choose “Conform Lock Enabled” to disable it.
A red <!> warning symbol will appear on all the orange clips.
7/ Set the multicam clip to Camera 1.
Right-click on the multicam clip in the Media Pool, and choose “Switch Multicam Video Angle > Camera 1” (it should already be there). Verify that audio is also set to Camera 1; you won’t need to change that again.
8/ Reconform the timeline from the multicam bin.
This is where the magic happens! Right-click on the timeline the Media Pool (the timeline icon; not in the open timeline itself), and choose “Timelines > Reconform from Bins”.
(1) Under “Attempt to reconform”, set it to “Selected Clips”. (2) Enable “set clips to Conform Lock Enabled after conform”. (3) Under “Choose Conform Bins”, deselect everything except your “Multicam” bin. (4) Finally, under Conform Options, only “Timecode: Source Timecode” should be enabled.
Click OK, and this will replace all the flat Camera 1 clip on the timeline with the multicam clip, set to Camera 1.
9/ Repeat for all remaining camera angles.
Do this again for each camera angle. Be sure to select the next color in line, and be sure to change the camera angle in the multicam clip to whichever camera angle you’re currently swapping out, before you conform.
Now, your timeline is a true multicam timeline. Every flat camera clip has been replaced by a multicam clip, already set to the correct camera angle!
Replace with Camera Originals
Now that you have a true multicam timeline, it’s time to replace the 1080p video files with your camera originals. While the following steps aren’t the only way to do this, I believe this is the safest way to do it, and ensures that even if somehow a clip gets out of sync, you can easily go back and verify it, as the ATEM-generated files are never deleted.
1/ Create a Compound Clip for each camera angle in the Multicam clip.
Open the multicam clip again, so you see all camera angles stacked on top of each other. Select the first camera angle clip…
and choose the menu “Clip > New Compound Clip…”,
and name it something like “cam 1 comp”. Repeat for all camera angles.
2/ Import your camera original footage
Now it’s time to import your camera originals. If you have lots of angles you may want to name them now to make it easier to keep track as you go.
3/ Open each Compound Clip and align the camera-original with the ATEM-generated file
Right click on the first compound clip (“cam 1 comp”) and select “Open in Timeline”.
Drag the matching camera-original file on top of it, onto V2. You can manually align the clips visually or audibly (looking at the waveform), or what’s even easier (and which I discovered after making the video), is just select both clips, right-click, and choose “Auto Align Clips > Based on Waveform”. Resolve will analyze the audio waveform of each clip, and move the new clip on V2 to align with the original on V1.
Note that the clip on V1 (the ATEM video clip) must not move. It will be lined up at the start of the Compound clip and needs to stay there.
4/ Repeat this for the other camera angles
Repeat this process for each additional composite that you made!
Now you’re done! You now have a full resolution version of your live show, at the highest quality that your cameras can generate.
A Note About Cameras with Varying HDMI Delay
One amazing advantage of this process is that you can now compensate for cameras with varying HDMI delays. If you’re using all the same cameras, then this doesn’t matter. But if you aren’t, then this might. All HDMI cameras have a slight delay between realtime and what comes out the HDMI port. Some cameras have very little (as little as a single frame), most have between three and seven frames delay, and some like GoPro cameras may have well over ten frames delay. Wireless cameras could easily have half a second delay, depending on the wireless HDMI technology you’re using. For a live production, there’s nothing you can do about it. But now, in the re-edit, you can compensate for that delay. If you have something visual to align to at the beginning of the show (such as a timecode display), then you can offset the most-delayed cameras to bring them in sync with the least-delayed cameras. By slipping the camera-original in the compound clip, you can move it so it’s in sync with the other cameras instead of with the ATEM recording, making everything line up perfectly. That’s pretty amazing.
Conclusion
This workflow offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to match camera original files from any camera to your ATEM-generated Resolve project file. Whether you're using Blackmagic cameras or not, this opens up new possibilities for your production workflow. Make sure to watch Alex's video for a deeper understanding of the first part of this process, and check out my ATEM playlist for more tips on getting the most from your ATEM hardware. Thanks for reading, and see you in the next post!
The music is from MusicBed! Get your first month free when you purchase an annual subscription by using my coupon code PHOTOJOSEPH at checkout! https://geni.us/MusicBed
Reply from @photojoseph on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 - 8:17pm
I just realized you can auto-align clips in the Compound Clip so you don't have to manually align them!! Once you add the camera original video on top of the 1080p clip, select both, right-click and choose "Auto Align Clips > Based on Waveform" . Sheesh.
Reply from @WeCreateMusicTV on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - 3:56pm
@@photojoseph But most importantly, thank you for your genius! While it is easy for us to point out what you could have done, we sometimes forget to give thanks for the time, effort, and genius it takes in putting these videos together and sharing with us to help us put out the best products.
Reply from @samgillespie on Friday, August 2, 2024 - 4:08pm
All I can say is THANK YOU! I was literally looking to invest in some BMPCC 4k/6k as a way of getting 4k+ recordings through my ISO Extreme ISO, but this workaround means I can use my current kit. Of course a few more clicks of the mouse, but well worth the saving!
Reply from @e.leewhite7907 on Friday, July 26, 2024 - 5:44pm
First I want to thank you for all this valuable information you give away!! I’ve had a ATEM pro ISO almost since came out years ago. My problem I couldn’t started from lack of supportive clients. I purchase this ATEM case mainly due to it having the stream deck inside the case. The main misgivings is the developer. Send the case out any instructions video links or instructions at all .with no supportive instructions on using the case. https://youtu.be/dXqml2I59UI?si=iuqjGQ_NYmy8aq8t any help from you would be great
Reply from @photojoseph on Monday, July 29, 2024 - 8:42am
I haven't talked to the developer since I made the original video on the product. He isn't responding to emails or on his facebook page? All I can say is to keep trying, and threaten to return it if you don't get some support!!
Reply from @GG-rs5wr on Friday, July 12, 2024 - 11:02pm
This is great for mars 400s user especially when they have interference and the video comes up messed up, also i had to downgrade because one of the step does not work on the lates version of davici resolve, i think it was the recoform from bin part
Reply from @photojoseph on Thursday, July 11, 2024 - 6:01am
Not easier, because there’s still no way to get timecode to the video assists from the ATEM. So it’s the same procedure but you can use the ProRes or RAW files from the VA!
Reply from @robsmith1239 on Sunday, June 16, 2024 - 12:59am
Joseph, can you help. We just upgraded from atem mini pro iso to the extreme, right in the middle of our first recording I see the recording indicator flashing, and now we have to keep stopping. We have one of the recommended drives, it's set up correctly, can you tell us why this is happening?
Reply from @robsmith1239 on Monday, June 17, 2024 - 1:28pm
@@photojoseph Thanks Joseph, We were using the cable that came with the drive. I ordered a new SSD drive so we will see. Thanks for your help. Love the work/content you do on here, you have saved us so much time and trouble with your videos, they have helped us in creating a great workflow that woulld've taken us forever to put together! Very much appreciated.
Reply from @photojoseph on Monday, June 17, 2024 - 9:37am
I have not tried that drive. All I can really recommend is trying another drive, or at minimum a different cable, although that's not likely the issue, assuming you're using the cable that came with the drive. Actually if the drive didn't come with a cable, and you're using whatever you had laying around, that's likely the issue. Not all USB-C cables are the same; make sure it's a high speed data cable. Let me know what you learn!
This is absolutely awesome! Thanks for your help! Now the only thing missing for me is removing the multi-view labels box from atem mini iso, so I can use a clean feed in VMIX :D
Nice. I’ve been doing something similar in Premiere for the last couple years since I got the Atem Mini Extreme ISO. Davinci frustrates me because I can’t zoom in and out on the timeline with the track pad. 😂
Reply from @gutandrew on Sunday, May 12, 2024 - 10:22pm
one more question - if I have 2 files for camera 1 and 2 files for camera 2. For example if show has a break and I turned off the cameras. Reconform option is not working in this way. Only 1st camera is able to reconform. I tried to add different colors for 2nd camera but it doesn't work
Reply from @magastha8147 on Sunday, May 5, 2024 - 10:50pm
Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you
Reply from @photojoseph on Monday, April 29, 2024 - 8:14am
You can open the XML in FCP but I don’t know how well this true multicam timeline will carry over. I haven’t tried. If you’re going to try it, follow the steps in this video first, then export to FCP XML and see what happens. Here’s a video that shows that, around 12:40https://youtu.be/vwPH4l5R-dw?si=7ymGu3mJulx29d_m
Reply from @PetrKrenzelok on Sunday, April 28, 2024 - 9:49am
@@photojoseph Well, they don't make it easy even with their own products, so 🙂 Worked with ATEM a few bits in terms of our corporate studio (really an amateur here). We could not get split HDMI multicam view for e.g. with any adapter. Just google related complaints. And now compare with something like all-in-one Yolobox (ok, not having a tacticle feedback is Yolo's disadvatage) - ATEM has no battery operation, no wireless (not to mention bonding), you need notebook, you need monitor, streaming to just one platform at a time. Even Osee StreamDeck looks more useful here .... well, except if you want an ISO, then you are back to the ATEM again. And BM knows that 🙂
Reply from @FXTradingTV on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 - 9:31pm
I have a nightmare I can’t see multicam on either iPad laptop or monitor I’ve got hdmi out in atem iso plugged into computer or iPad how do I tell it to show me the 3 cameras I have all plugged in
Reply from @garretreed9709 on Thursday, April 11, 2024 - 12:48am
Conveniently I saw Alex’s video this morning which helped me follow through with an ISO file we just recorded. Note I can appear really smart with my colleagues even though you two did all the heavy lifting. Thank you!!
It if you record log on cameras won’t it show up in log form on the atem mini pro iso? How do I make it log on the camera but have a “normal” 1080p image on the atem?
Reply from @photojoseph on Monday, April 8, 2024 - 7:40pm
On the LUMIX cameras, you can choose for the LCD and/or the HDMI out to have a LUT applied so it looks “normal”, but the recording will be Log. I don’t know what other manufacturers cameras can or can’t do.
Ok, I followed this and it worked for half my show. I stopped the cameras in the middle for about 10 min and then started again. I see all my cuts but when I try to reconfirm from bins it isn’t doing anything to the clips that are in the 2nd half. What am I missing?
@photojoseph thanks so much for the help. I'm not sure why they won't sync automatically but I just did it manually. They are all black magic cameras so I'm not sure what the issue is. Time code helped.
Reply from @photojoseph on Thursday, March 14, 2024 - 6:08am
That’s not going to work for the conform. You had that checkbox “place clips from same cameras on one track” (something like that; I’m not looking at Resolve now) enabled? It must have put them somewhere or it would give you an error. You could manually place them and do the math for the distance between clips (when cameras were off) but that should not be necessary.
@@photojosephit appears to only add the 1st group of clips even though I selected all. I tried just selecting the 2nd half clips and that worked. So now I have 1 multicam clip for the 1st half and another one for the 2nd. Do I have to edit them separately and then stick them together?
Reply from @photojoseph on Thursday, March 14, 2024 - 5:52am
Ok! When you made the multicam, did you select all the clips, and enabled the option to put clips from the same camera on one track? Did you open the multicam and verify that all the clips were there, with a 10 minute gap where the camera wasn’t rolling?
Reply from @JohanVelthuis on Saturday, March 9, 2024 - 10:07am
Very nice. This also means that after this you can color correct the multicam clip, which in a lot of situations is much faster. It would still be better of course that BM changes the firmware that this is the default behaviour of an ISO recording project.
Reply from @photojoseph on Saturday, March 9, 2024 - 5:13pm
Aha, gracias. This video will be on the Spanish channel soon! I haven’t used the GoStrean before. It does look very interesting but without ISO recording (which no other switchers have), it’s not as interesting to me. Thank you for following both channels!
Reply from @zonaactivatv on Saturday, March 9, 2024 - 2:10pm
@@photojoseph No, thank you for your kind reply. I'm not promoting anything. I was just wondering if you had approved it? I am your follower on your channel in Spanish. but I see that you upload more videos here. Regarding the product. I only see reviews in English. I understand English very little. and what I have seen seems to be a better product in some points than the atem. I have the extreme atem, I love it. an abarazi, greetings from Ecuador
Reply from @photojoseph on Saturday, March 9, 2024 - 9:02am
I assume you’re just here to promote another product since that switcher doesn’t offer an ISO record function which is what this video is about. I’m sure the GoStream is a nice product, but without ISO recording, in context of discussion on this video, the Osee scores a 0/10.
Reply from @maicovimuto6341 on Thursday, March 7, 2024 - 12:25am
Do you know if you record with the Atomos Sumo19SE, that it creates a multicam clip straight away to use in Resolve? I saw your other video on the Shogun 7 from 3 years ago, and in Final cut it's an instant multicam. Either way, I guess this workaround should also work with the Sumo19se?
Reply from @maicovimuto6341 on Thursday, March 7, 2024 - 11:19am
@@photojoseph You misinterpreted me I think, in your own video with the Shogun 7 it looks like there is an instant multicamclip in FCPX straight from the XML file. That's why I was wondering if that was correct, or whether you did it personally in post, but didn't put it in the video. Either way, still amazing that you and Alex found this workaround!
Reply from @davidaltizer on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - 12:58pm
seriously amazing. isn't it crazy this has been possible all along? just took brilliant minds to figure out this loophole. great work Joseph! using this tip on a project now and thrilled!
Im a complete beginner, so I might be missing something. Don't I have to delete the original A/V track in the compound clip I created to ensure I get the 4K out? Or am i just relying on that the top track is rendered first? Would there be any repercussions to deleting the old ATEM 1080P track?
@@photojoseph Thats amazing, thanks for the hard work and sharing this with us. I've been recording in-camera 4K, and manually replacing, syncing and editing it before render.. This will make a big difference for me. Cheers
Reply from @photojoseph on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 - 8:16pm
Only the top layer of video is visible. All audio would be audible so you’d need to mute the original audio track; I neglected to show that but that will be figured out quickly. The only reason to retain the original video is to have a known sync track, but yes once everything is in place it’s safe to delete.
Reply from @Eddy04tv on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 - 12:43am
This video is amazing! I started fiddling with Multicam Recently, but now being able to do all this with 4K to match the ISOs from the ATEM is just lovely. I'll need to figure out the camera part though, cause my camcorder doesn't allow me to record 4K while sharing content to the ATEM.
Reply from @imfabsdj on Monday, March 4, 2024 - 5:56pm
DOOOOPE! I was really thinking on how to do this months ago! This video save my life haha! Thanks Joseph and Alex, I'm following your wotk since 2020 with the atems keep going. Cheers from Costa Rica
Reply from @andylikeswords on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 - 9:28am
Been dying for a 4K solution forever on this without buying BMCC, and you've totally made my night. Well worth the little bit of work. Can't wait to try this.
Reply from @AmateurBlonde on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 - 3:18am
This is great. A lot cheaper than Tentacle Sync, although a pretty complex procedure. I'm grateful you made this comprehensive tutorial. I'm adding it to my bag of tricks. The WWII clicker is great. I can think of many applications for that. One thing about it is that it's not as alarming to actors/talent as a slate. I'll be sure to save this and Alex's video for future recall. Thank you!
Reply from @DatingPodcast on Monday, February 26, 2024 - 8:49pm
00:00🎥 The video discusses a crucial workflow for ATEM Mini Pro ISO and ATEM Mini Extreme ISO users, enabling re-editing of live shows using DaVinci Resolve project files and ISO streams of each camera input. 00:54🔄 The presenter, along with YouTuber Alex Pettitt, has developed a method to match camera originals from any camera with ATEM-generated Resolve project files, allowing flexibility in recording formats and camera types. 02:19🎬 Alex Pettitt's contribution involves turning flat clips in ATEM Resolve project files into true multicam clips, enhancing the re-editing process for ATEM users working with multiple cameras during live shows. 03:44🔄 The synchronization process involves recording in the ATEM, recording in each camera, and using clear cues like audible clicks to sync the clips manually. 04:12🖥️ After recording, copying ATEM and camera original files to the computer is the initial step for further re-editing using DaVinci Resolve. 06:10🔄 Swapping out ATEM files with camera originals involves creating multicam clips, disabling conform lock, and reconforming from bins for each camera angle. 08:27📏 Checking and adjusting project settings in DaVinci Resolve, including resolution and frame rate, is crucial for ensuring proper alignment of camera originals with the ATEM project. 10:10🔍 Aligning 4K camera originals with 1080p ATEM footage involves creating compound clips, importing originals, and manually syncing using visual and audible cues. 12:55🔄 The presented workflow extends flexibility to include high-quality audio recorded separately and synced to a camera angle, providing users with ultimate flexibility in post-production.
Reply from @photojoseph on Saturday, February 24, 2024 - 10:46pm
If it appears on the timeline, it works. Standard PiP shows up (USK, if memory serves). Pretty sure supersource doesn’t but I haven’t looked at that in ages.
Reply from @Coruway on Saturday, February 24, 2024 - 4:54pm
Could this multicam clip be used to color correct the cameras original clip? This is a technique (correcting the master clips and creating a good start poin t for different camera shots). I've used in FCP and its a main hesitation I've had in the Resolve multicam. I have seen ways to enter the color mods on the color coded and selected clips, But being able to modify the master clip is what I've been looking for. Great technique you outline that might let me move away from FCP Multicam clips. Thanks for the billiance here.
Reply from @photojoseph on Sunday, February 25, 2024 - 6:17am
I’m not totally sure I follow. But let me see if I do. To grade a Resolve multi cam project, you can either grade each cut one by one, or open the multicam clip and grade each angle once. Either way works. And you can do both; do a base grade inside the multicam then finesse each cut (or just the ones that need it) on the timeline. Is that what you’re asking?
Comments from YouTube