Blackmagic Design announced today the ATEM SDI lineup of ATEM switchers.

From HDMI to SDI

Functionally and visually, the ATEM SDI switchers are very similar to the ATEM Mini line except they now feature SDI for inputs and outputs instead of HDMI.

The base ATEM SDI also features two SDI Outputs that send out Program. The ATEM Mini on which it is based only had one HDMI Output. The ATEM SDI Pro ISO also has two configurable SDI Outputs and the ATEM SDI Extreme ISO features four configurable SDI Outputs.

Prices for the new switchers are as follows:

• ATEM SDI: $345
• ATEM SDI Pro: $795
• ATEM SDI Extreme ISO: $1495

Other than that, I don’t see any other major differences between the ATEM Mini and the ATEM SDI models. Probably in an attempt to reduce the number of SKUs, there are no non-ISO versions of the ATEM SDI Pro and ATEM SDI Extreme. SuperSource remains a feature on the most expensive model, the ATEM SDI Extreme ISO.

Just a few months ago, if you wanted to move natively to SDI, you could have ordered and received one of the new ATEM 1 M/E and 2 M/E Constellation HD models (the 4 M/E is still not yet available). Those switchers, however, lacked some features Mini users were used to such as ISO recording and built-in streaming support. Now, you have more options to choose from. I personally would have liked to have seen a merging of the Constellation rack mount form factor with the extra functionality of the Mini/SDI lineup.

MixEffect Compatibility

MixEffect 1.6.3 does not currently support the ATEM SDI line of switchers, but I will be updating the software as soon as I get my hands on some loaner devices from Blackmagic Design.