Blackmagic’s NAB Update

First things first, IT’S ABOUT TIME!!!

I know I’m not the only one who has been after a 4K version of the Television Studio since it had a built-in control panel. Unfortunately, whilst it’s been a long time coming I still think it’s making a few features or the wrong technologies have been implemented.

Let’s start with the big omission from the 4K8. There is no ISO option on this model. Whilst this can be worked around somewhat with the 8 extra aux outputs and sending the feeds of each input out to a video recorder, you still don’t have the Davinci Resolve file automatically generated which, for me, was one of the selling points of the ISO models. From what I can tell you also lose the ability to have remote camera feeds come in over the network also. I know that on some of my previous projects that have been spread across locations, where running massive cables was not an option, this would have been a killer feature and I’m really disappointed that it’s not available.

Another major gripe, The lack of Dante Support! I get that BMD seems to have gone all in on MADI but to me, that just doesn’t make sense for a large chunk of their market (schools, churches, community TV stations). Most of these groups will likely be using an audio mixer that can support Dante. It just adds additional expense to those that want to use the ATEM built-in Fairlight Audio Mixer. From what I have read online and from the people I’ve talked to though even with Blackmagic’s new(ish) ATEM microphone converter they’ll be processing their audio externally as Fairlight just doesn’t have the full feature set they expect from an audio mixer, let alone an actual control surface that can be used for live events.

Just imagine being able to plug your Dante stage box directly into your ATEM, with all the features of an A&H SQ7, and having a dedicated control surface. The only thing missing then would be lighting control and then you’d have a full Blackmagic Eco System for your events.

I’m daydreaming now but imagine the automation you could put in place if there was that full ecosystem. Slap a Que Stack on the ATEM and then you could technically run the lighting, sound and audio from one platform and have everything linked together. For example, if you were working a show that covers F1 and someone crashed and the safety car has come out, With the push of one button on the ATEM you could play a sound sting, play a graphic and change the lighting on set via DMX or Artnet.

Sorry about that mini ramble, I may expand on the idea in a future post, but my points about the lack of an ISO model and Dante stand. During the webcast, Grant mentioned that the reason for the lack of an ISO model was due to thermal constraints. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if the ATEM was a bit bigger and had a couple of extra fans in it to have the extra features an ISO model would bring.

My last gripe is that with the built-in internal storage, Why can’t we store video files and play them back from the media player? It’s not just me is it? This just makes sense to me. You’ve already got access to the recording via the network. Why not let us add extra videos and play them back via the media players? Limit it to H265, H264 and ProPress if you must but please just add it.

I’m also hoping that with the new naming scheme in the next few months, we are going to see larger models of the ATEM TVS 4K maybe 12, 16 or 20 input models. By the time you have added the key and fill for your graphics as well as a couple of Hyperdecks, you are down to 4 camera inputs (or 2 if you use the key and fill on your videos too!!)