Control HDMI Blackmagic cameras from an ATEM SDI switcher // Show and Tell Ep.104

Getting control of your Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4k or 6k from an SDI ATEM is super useful - but isn't quite plug-and-play.
Let's explore the steps involved to make it work.
Timestamps
00:00 - The setup
00:56 - Making the connections
01:44 - Camera return feed
02:14 - Converter setup and ATEM Camera ID
03:25 - Mapping the camera type
03:45 - Auto lens settings
03:58 - Sending a useful return feed
04:25 - Splitting an SDI output with a distribution box
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[@EricLikness]

2:02 luv that you show a 2nd attempt to get it to work,... and it's still not working. Always good to show those pitfalls.

[@heretorecord]

This video was a very accurate recreation of my actual attempt to get this working 2 weeks ago :D

[@philpritchard5173]

Grt video thx. Can you speak to what the added delay is with the converter?

[@kevinmonahan9647]

You mentioned that when updating the camera ID in BlackMagic converter that it sometimes doesn't "take." I develop macOS and iOS software and I've noticed that some operations (seen especially on iOS) that write to config store, and possibly to external devices, don't happen immediately. For example, I change a setting, immediately quit app and restart. The setting might not have been stored unless I wait for a few seconds+ before quitting. No idea if this is happening here, just that what you've seen is similar in effect to what I've seen.

[@MrGabbass]

Hi Nice video mate! thanks! SO just to makes things clear for me, with the mini converter sdi distribution you can get the in camera control on 4 cameras? thanks!!

[@julienpetrifie686]

Hello does this set up works with atem extreme iso hdmi using a second micro converter?

[@FAMEAcademyNY]

So glad I did not freak out and buy an ATEM SDI Version.

[@julienpetrifie686]

Hello does this set up work with an hdmi atem and two converter? I tried and I can t get any video signal Only a green screen I don t get it

[@eirans]

I hope you can help me with this... I have a BMPPC 6K G2 and an Atem Mini Extreme Pro (HDMI), the issue occurs when I connect the camera to the atem, the settings on the camera changes (screen blinks) and cannot longer use the 16:9 ratio it seems blocked as well the ProRes codec, only remains some ratios with the BRAW codecs, but none are 16:9 ratios so always get black stripes on the PGM in the Atem mini. Note: This isn't happen with my BMPPC 4K. All firmwares are updated BTW. The only way that I found so far to fix it, is using an external monitor with I/O HDMI, connecting the camera to the monitor; with that the camera doesn't change codecs and I can use the 16:9 ratio and the monitor to the Atem. BUT, obviously I lost control over the camera like color correction and tally light, and I need those. Other way is converting the HDMI signal thought the BM Bidirectional converter HDMI to SDI and again SDI to HDMI. It works, the 16:9 ratio remains but losing again control over the camera. Surfing the web I found that connecting a second SDI cable to return the "control" and works, BUT in that second the cameras blink and change the codec and I ends right where I start, losing the 16:9. So, do you had any idea of what is going on here? Your are my only hope Obi-wan, neither in BlackMagic support are catching my consult and always respond something else.

[@Bamsambam33]

does this work with the opposite? can you send hdmi output from camera convert to sdi (runs longer line) and convert it back to hadmi before it hits the atem mini hdmi input. Will i be able to have control?

[@katermorgana]

Will this also work with an HDMI ATEM and 2 BM converters?

[@nebukadnezzar3578]

Would love to know that as well :)

[@MARZILLI]

What if I wanted to record 4k60 to the external SSD would I need the 12g converter instead of the 3g or can I send out a 4k60 and the 3g converter still convert the 1080p60?

[@nathanoday]

Sadly none of the ATEM Mini SDI models do 4K. At all. I think you'd need to get the ATEM Television Studio 4K.

[@GG-rs5wr]

Do you think it's possible if I put two mars 400s receivers and two March 400 transmitter, do you think it's possible to tell the camera to change the colors wirelessly if one of the SDI that goes to the camera is connected to the March 400s transmitter and receiving it in the camera, while the camera also has a transmitter sending the picture to the item, is this possible or is there a better way to control it wirelessly

[@isaiahm8001]

Is there anyway to do this with a wireless transmitter like a hollyland or terra deck?

[@heretorecord]

That would be cool but we’d need MixEffect to support it

[@mdadiho]

Hi. How did you connect the Atem SDI to your computer and getting the computer feed? Thank you in advance.

[@heretorecord]

I have the computer connected to my ATEM via a HDMI to SDI converter

[@mdadiho]

@@heretorecord thank you so much.

[@TCWorkshopVideo]

what if I use ATEM mini (the HDMI version) to control a bmpcc over a long SDI cable?

[@tim_mueller]

Hey, as far as I know you have to put the converter the other way around and then run 2 SDI Cables, depending on your camera you then need to convert it back to hdmi as shown here

[@bhsaproduction]

How do you deal with 2 or more blackmagic cameras and multiple SDI/HDMI converts if there is only one spare SDI out put on the ATEM Mini?

[@maicovimuto6341]

With an SDI 4k Distribution box from bmd

[@DigitalCreations2012]

What lens are you using on the Camera?

[@heretorecord]

I am using the Leica 15mm and 25mm lens for this video!

[@yreyez]

where can i get those short purple sdi cables?

[@heretorecord]

I made them! You can buy short ones on Amazon/similar sites - just look for "Belden 1855A" cables which are thin!

[@pueblochristiancenter6959]

Will this work for any camera? Or just Blackmagic cameras?

[@palmvalleyproduction51]

SDI In or Reference In as it is usually called will only work on BlackMagic Cameras or cameras that allow reference in through HDMI or through its own dedicated SDI port.

[@audionapster1]

How do you send the sdi output to a monitor for multi view ? I used a BM sdi to hdmi converter but it doesn’t work. Is there something that needs to be done prior to ? Or does the Monitor have to be certain specs ?

[@elijahdavis3127]

I’m having the same problem! Did you find a solution?

[@martijnsmit4004]

Does this mean that a maximum of two BMPC Camera’s can be controlled over the ATEM Mini SDI? That would be a downside for this model compared to the ATEM Mini (HDMI), where 4 BMPCC’s can be controlled over a single cable, doesn’t it?

[@heretorecord]

Not quite - I mentioned in the section about the SDI Distributor that you can send a feed back to all 4 of the SDI cameras from 1 output.

[@clarkeleland9220]

@@heretorecord Are you saying that if you connect the SDI Distro to the computer software you can assign the outputs as different cameras? Then once the assigned SDI output runs back to the correct camera you can control all 4 from the ATEM "Camera" page?

[@kevinmonahan9647]

Just want to add a bit of detail to Clarke's question. I have three PCCs and one Ursa Mini Pro. From your great (subscribed!) video I know how to connect from camera to ATEM. And also how to connect one ATEM SDI output to a BM distribution switch. And finally how to connect the four switch outputs to my cameras (the Ursa Mini being a bit different.) Can I assume that each of the cameras can be controlled separately? That the one ATEM SDI output "embeds" the camera ID in its signal so only the affected camera will respond? If I change ISO on camera 3 then cameras 1, 2 and 4 won't also make the change?

[@kevinmonahan9647]

To answer my own question, "yes." I purchased an ATEM Mini Pro ISO and the necessary BlackMagic HDMI/SDI and SDI distribution boxes. After configuring the converters for each camera (and labelling them!) I'm able to control each PCC separately, as I asked. Can't yet confirm that I could control the Ursa my SDI IN plug is used by the SSD adapter. So only SDI OUT for now. I'm going to remove the SSD adapter so I have those SDI ports available for testing (and record via the USB-C port.)

[@nathanoday]

@@kevinmonahan9647 Thanks so much for answering this question, Kevin. I'm getting an SDI Extreme (8 in, 4 out) to use with 3 of the studio camera 4k pro g2 models, and I do NOT want to give up 3 of my 4 ATEM SDI out ports just to be able to do camera control. This is pretty magical.

[@xanhetu6034]

Hey! Your H2rgear website is not loading up.

[@heretorecord]

Having issues today but you can still use the alt url… app.h2rgear.com/