My ATEM 2 M/E Constellation HD Video Live Streaming Flypack

[@CNC-Time-Lapse]

You can always tell when someone loves what they do when you see how something is cable managed. It's a thing of beauty, Doug. Well done.

[@djp_video]

I hope you never see the back side of my trailer. :) It used to be neat and tidy, until I started changing things many, many times over.

[@carpetbomberz]

Thanks for the component-by-component walkthru. Always interesting to see how people organize/route/group up functions.

[@djp_video]

Would you have done anything differently?

[@charleshowe6181]

K

[@QuicksilverSG]

Just scored an Elvid SRM-7X2-LT 3U rack mount SDI/HDMI 1280x800 dual 7" monitor pair. It's a plug-in HD replacement for the low-res BMD monitor you showed here. Crisp screens, all-metal construction, loop-through SDI and HDMI outputs even when not selected. As you pointed out, BMD is sadly behind the times in this area.

[@schtoop]

I'm a bit late on this but I'm building a rack based on this video. Thanks for the gr8 info. I also picked up one of those older hyperdecks ;-)

[@TechCondo]

Extremely cool build. Impressed about your cable dressing. Maybe one day I will convert to fiber! Extremely cool

[@Techieguy93]

Excellent video, Doug! Thanks for making such a detailed breakdown of your Flypack. It's given me some great ideas for how I want to build out my own.

[@eds.productions]

Awesome video Doug. Love the ability to separate outputs on the new HD models... I believe im sold on it

[@agwandacharles995]

Thank Dough for such insightful look built. A big fun great job sir

[@buildingsheriff]

Hey Doug. This is awesome. I love it. Could you please explain the process of how you extend the router antennae? Which parts does one need? Thank you.

[@djp_video]

I just drilled the holes and used extension cables. Nothing special. amzn.to/3yVR5pL Of course I had to start with a router with removable antennas.

[@desommetsensommets8065]

That is a lot of capability for a small flypack!

[@djp_video]

That's kind of the goal. :)

[@Sound4ProAudio]

Great video as ever Doug…. The new Constellation HD is a great piece of kit.

[@belosport]

Hello !! Excellent video as always!!! Thank you for being so clear in explaining us. I ask you how do you connect the 80-button panel with the switcher? Do you connect it directly to the switcher or do you have to connect it to a notebook that is connected by network cable to the switcher? Thank you very much

[@djp_video]

It is a USB device which is connected to a Windows laptop running the JustMacros software. Another option with the same control panel is Central Control.

[@DM-xp8pz]

Great video Doug! You mentioned that you considered using the BM Web Presenter HD, but experienced some reliability issues with it? I just received two of those, as I intend to use them with my Constellation 2m/e setup. Could you elaborate on that, please?! Thanks

[@djp_video]

I've had multiple streams fail with the Web Presenters. Last week my live stream as part of Stream Day failed with the Web Presenter 4K -- even though I have an extremely reliable symmetric gigabit Internet connection, it couldn't get 25 Mbps out to KZbin -- the cache filled up almost immediately, viewers experienced buffering and stuttering and not just dropped frames but entire dropped segments of video. I ran another experiment yesterday with the WP4K, Vidiu Go, and OBS all streaming simultaneously. The Vidiu and OBS streams were perfect. The WP4k stream was stuttering and freezing and getting farther and farther behind. I'm hearing similar stories from multiple viewers of my channel. In my opinion, the Web Presenter products need some serious work. On top of all of that, Blackmagic doesn't have a bonding service, so you can't combine multiple Internet connections for redundancy and additional bandwidth the way you can with the Teradek or LiveU products.

[@DM-xp8pz]

@@djp_video Thanks for your reply! This is really worrying, as I faced similar problems with the Atem Mini Pro. The Cache was filling up on the lowest quality setting, even though I had around 50mbps of upload available. I kept rebooting the Atem Mini Pro, starting a new stream and displaying a still image with audio, and the cache was filling up right away. The next day I did a 4 hour test at the office and went smoothly, without a glitch. Somehow I thought the Web Presenters were more reliable.

[@djp_video]

I'm pretty sure they use the same chips/code.

[@MGort-bb8op]

Awesome! Keep it up Doug

[@JohnWelton]

Hey Doug, love the flypack - just wondering... I'm looking to get an ATEM 1 M/E Constellation HD... but wanted to know about fan noise... I bought a cleanswitch 20x20 videohub last week and had to send it back due to the fans... don't want to be bitten twice...

[@djp_video]

It's not silent, but it isn't loud on the 2 M/E. I don't have a 1 M/E to try.

[@simingweng]

Could you please explain how the audio sources are connected into the flypack? Does every camera has external mic picking up sound from the stadium? Or there are dedicated external mixer? I’m trying to understand how audio is done in a basketball game for example with the flypack. I know talkback to camera operators are included in BMD camera converter and studio converter, so do you just plug in headset to the studio converter? How about the commentator audio and IFB?

[@djp_video]

People take different approaches to that. For me, I never mix audio in the switcher -- I prefer to have physical faders and knobs to tweak the mix rather than using a software interface. I build a separate audio mix on a dedicated audio mixer (usually a Yamaha TF3 or TF1) and then feed the final output of that mixer into the audio inputs of the ATEM. And personally I use Dante to get audio from microphones and other audio sources from a venue into my audio mixer, with one or more Yamaha Tio1608-D stage boxes setup on location to plug those into. In the very rare occasion that I do use audio from a camera, I pick that up from the audio outputs of the Blackmagic Studio Converter in my flypack, with that signal coming in as part of the SDI signal on the fiber cable connecting the cameras to my flypack. A lot of that isn't really typical, though. Just the most efficient way that I've found to pull it off. You have to do what works for you.

[@bhwhprods]

Hi @djp_video Interested in your scheme for bringing fibre in & out of this rack. I see you have the Studio Converter 2 for providing 4 camera feed/returns. Then you have a micro fibre converter for inputting remote laptops into the ATEM. How about sending the pgm feed to remote screens? Do you have this setup within the rack or would this require additional kit?

[@djp_video]

Each of the Studio Converter's fiber return lines usually carries the program feed (available for camera operators to see, but it also carries tally and intercom audio), so I can always use one of those. But the auxiliary Optical Fiber converter in the rack is also connected to an output on the switcher, and that usually defaults to the program feed as well, so that line carries a copy of Program too. And that's my go-to for when I need to use fiber for a program feed. But because there are also other outputs from the switcher available on SDI, if I happen to need another fiber run it's just a matter of grabbing another Optical Fiber converter and connecting that to one of those outputs. It's rare, but it does happen. The most common scenario for me, though, is getting the video from a presenter's laptop while simultaneously sending a video feed to the projectors in a venue. I can do both of those over the same fiber cable. In that case the return feed over that fiber line is the one that goes to the projectors. And very often the HDMI (or SDI) input at the venue for their projectors is in the same physical location that a presenter would be -- a podium or desk -- so I'm literally grabbing the laptop output and providing the program/IMAG output in the same location using a single fiber cable. And in most cases I'll have that be fed by an Aux output on the switcher which I can switch between M/E 1 Program, M/E program, a graphic, or the laptop output. For what it's worth, these days I'm using a new trick -- putting the laptop feed on DSK 2 (of Program 1), sending M/E 1 Program to the projector, but then recording and streaming Clean Feed 2 instead of Program. That allows me to put the laptop feed up on the projectors, even fading it on and off, while still switching between cameras on the live feed/recording, just by turning DSK 2 on and off. Using CF2 instead of Pgm gives a more relevant view to remote viewers and later playback, where they probably don't want to stare at a full--screen slide for multiple minutes straight, and would rather see the presenter talking, where in-person attendees might want to see the slides more than a live video of the presenter. I also find I use SuperSource a lot for that as well, with the presenter and slide, so those remote viewers can see both, but where that is less relevant for projection. This technique is a lot easier than using the 2nd M/E to create a secondary mix but provides much of the same end result.

[@bhwhprods]

@@djp_video That’s really helpful, thanks Doug, and interesting to hear your way of using the 2 me’s. I think the challenge when going over to fibre workflow for first time is getting using to the send / return and then of course the polarity on each end. When you say you send and receive from presenter’s laptop and to venue projector one on cable… I’m assuming you mean on a single LC Ie. a pair ? I know it is possible sending and receiving on a single fibre strand using different light frequencies but i assume you don’t mean that in this scenario?

[@djp_video]

Generally, yes... a transmit/receive pair of strands in a single cable assembly. I have a handful of bi-directional SFPs, but don't use them for video much.

[@EdgerRel]

Hey there - do you have an affiliate link for the 2 M/E on B&H or Amazon? I have my tax paperwork already setup on those but don't on Adorama.

[@djp_video]

www.amazon.com/Blackmagic-Design-ATEM-Constellation-HD/dp/B09ZDZH434/?tag=doubledeej-20

[@OVHS]

It may be kind of a stupid question, but I completely understand how you have your LAN stuff setup, but how do you stream all of that to the internet? How do you get Internet Access?

[@djp_video]

1. I have a router inside the rack. 2. The Ethernet switch in the rack is a managed switch, split up into multiple VLANs so even though it is a single switch it can handle both the public Internet network and LAN independently. Video on VLANs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWmUoayHlq-aoJo 3. The Router I'm using (GL.iNet Beryl AX) has the ability to use an Internet connection from Ethernet, WiFi, or over USB connected to a cell phone or hotspot. Router: amzn.to/3Nr0JZE, Video on router: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHm4pmqQmtl_Y7s 4. I use a Teradek Vidiu Go for streaming, which can use bonding technology on up to 7 separate Internet connections to ensure redundancy and sufficient bandwidth.

[@zephanmoses]

Great set up! I'm going to have to bookmark that power conditioner because the individual switches is really nice. Are you worried at all about heat dissipation? There's a great open section in the back but I can't help but think all those rack units on the front stacked on top of each other could really dissipate heat right into the next rack up or down.

[@djp_video]

It's something I've been conscious of, and I did have to reconfigure the rack slightly after I first built it. The first configuration had the HyperDeck Studio Mini, then HyperDeck Studio Mini HD, then VidiU, left to right, but I found after testing for a few hours that the VidiU was overheating and locking up because it was on the exhaust side of the HyperDecks, so I reshuffled it to put the VidiU first on the intake side and that solved the problem. Of the components in the rack the Constellation produces the most heat, that's why it's on top. The others don't produce a lot. I ran this rack non-stop from the time I built it on Thursday last week until Sunday evening when I shot this video and it got warm, but not overly hot, and all of the equipment seemed to be functioning properly. I have yet to use it out in the sun, and if there are issues I'll add some active cooling of some kind. Keep in mind that the only fundamental difference between this and the previous iteration is the switcher -- I went from a Television Studio to the new Constellation, and I used the TVS version of it for years without any issues, even in direct sun. I don't anticipate problems, but if they happen I'll address them.

[@rawlinsdiaz]

Thanks great video. What software do you use to connect xkeys to constelation HD?

[@djp_video]

JustMacros. But I don't think I'd start out on a new project with that at this point -- it doesn't work with ATEM Software version 9. Take a look at Central Control (centralcontrol.io).

[@justincastille8456]

Hey Doug! What do you think about the fiber backs for the URSA broadcast cameras? I like the thought of having just 1 cable to the camera for everything (power too!).

[@djp_video]

They're great if you always intend to use them with Ursa cameras and have the budget for them. That system can be pretty pricey -- the converters at each end are about $3000 each, and the SMPTE fiber cable runs about $15 per foot.

[@justincastille8456]

@@djp_video Yeah, the price is a little crazy. I have 3 URSA broadcast that are in a small studio build. I probably should just get a few batteries instead of using the power supplies...Thank you!!!

[@jeffrogers1873]

Thanks so much for this! Building a similar configuration, newer to the streaming part of the industry! First, the constellation has the USB C to act as a “webcam” is this not a feature to be relied on at all? And based on what I’ve read in this comment section, you wouldn’t recommend the web presenter, if I am to get into this an buy one, would you recommend the vidiu X over the web presenter? Looking to future proof as much as possible! Thank you so much!

[@djp_video]

The USB-C webcam feature is weird. It plays with the contrast and colors of the image, and visibly reduces the quality of the video. I would only use it for webcam-like tasks (Zoom/Teams meetings. etc.) and not for capturing high quality video. The Web Presenter is proving to be problematic. It seems to have network connection issues. I'd say that the Vidiu X is a lot more reliable, plus you get the option to bond up to three internet connections together for additional redundancy and aggregate bandwidth.

[@jeffrogers1873]

@@djp_video thank you so much! Really appreciate your reply 🙏

[@21ferebee]

Hello Great Video I looking to purchase a hyperdeck for our studio. I want to record 4 Iso cameras at the same time. Which model hyperdecks do you recommend for that.

[@djp_video]

Rather than trying to have a back-and-forth conversation to establish your needs, start with the video I did on the HyperDeck lineup, and then ask questions after that... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y2O3mKyAaNt0Z5I

[@21ferebee]

@@djp_video Sorry about that. I should have added more details. In our studio we currently are using Blackmagic 8k extreme Hyperdeck and also a HyperDeck Studio 4K Pro. Our SSD slot on all the previous models have went bad including this one as well. Also the 8k Extreme will not record all 4 camera feeds coming in from our 8k constellation at the same time. Do you think a good solution for just recording camera ISO would be the HyperDeck Studio HD Plus with the SD card slot and also FTP to our server? Just wanted to pick your brain.

[@WM-eg4gh]

it seems like this is more reliable for real-time live streaming. it goes without saying that the small devices and hardware which are portable still not 99% or 100% reliable for production or more so in challenging environments/conditions. I heard teradek released 6GHz products but only available for US/canada at the moment

[@BuriTechVids]

I returned to this video after some time and I have 1 comment about "WAN/Internet" port on switch and routing it through it's own VLAN to router. To let others to know. It's great BUT some enterprise networks (schools, business offices, ...) have limitation for MAC addresses available per port (Cisco calls it "Port Security"). So it means that when you're connecting their network to yours "WAN" port on your switch and then it goes to router, it's practically 2 MAC addresses (switch + router). And this very often exceed theirs limitation for 1 MAC address per port and then the port will shut down for you. Because of this - you need to connect their netowork directory to your router OR put another router between your switch and their network. :)

[@pablocostamagnaunlaemmalz2582]

Hey Doug! I had a problem on my Hyperdeck Mini last week. I was recording a live event and timecode was running and the recording status was active in red, so it seems to be ok, but after the show I tried to see it but it only recorded 4.27hs of the 5hs we was supossed to record. Recording did not stop at any time, but the file was not complete. Have you experienced something like that before? I was using a Sandisk Extreme 170mbs to record a h264 low file, so I guess is not a bitrate problem.

[@djp_video]

I have, maybe twice in 5 years. Once it was because the card was ejected while the recording was still going. The other time wasn't something I could explain. For what it's worth, I've had similar issues with other recorders too. Sometimes using a disk repair tool will bring back the missing data. For anything important, you might consider running two recordings in parallel. I always do at least two, very often three just in case.

[@pablocostamagnaunlaemmalz2582]

@@djp_video Thanks Doug. Yeah, now I'm running the ISO Recording, the Hyperdeck master and a spare USB VMix recording. Damn, hate when hardware fails. Makes me miss tape recorders haha.

[@SwimTillIDie]

This is awesome! Would love to hear more about how you're utilizing the Hyperdeck to do alpha key graphics. Also you should do a video talking about how you do animated transitions!!

[@djp_video]

You mean like kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGW1i4J3rp6dadU or kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH3VnoWkn7ydirs or kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZabYYeNlKaArs0 ?

[@marshall409]

I'm curious if this setup would allow you to provide a separate clean and dirty feed i.e. program with/without graphic overlays?

[@djp_video]

Yes, Clean Feed 1 and 2 are available as selectable sources for the outputs.

[@gabyandraos888]

Thanks for sharing Doug. Amazing how you neatly fit all this in a small rack unit. One quick question, are you able to monitor the sound without the studio converter with this setup? And I’m surprised to here about the web presenter 4K! I’ve been using it for 1-2 hour streams with out any issues!

[@djp_video]

I will be building an adapter to let me use a normal pair of headphones with the headset jack on the front of the unit. I might even make a video out of that.

[@gabyandraos888]

@@djp_video that’s good to know it’s possible with a special connector. I’ll be on the lookout for the video if you make it and thanks again

[@noahallgeier9329]

So if I have a mackie mixer with TRS output R & L, do I run each one individually into channel 1 and 2 of the constellation? Or do I use a dual TRS to single TRS cable and just run it into 1 channel on the constellation. Thanks!

[@djp_video]

Each cable carries one channel... so if you want stereo, you'd need two cables. The outputs on your Mackie and inputs on the ATEM are balanced connections. So even though there are three separate connections, each plug is only one channel... the three wires are ground, hot, and cold rather than ground, left, and right like you'd find on a headphone connection. I'll be doing a video on balanced vs unbalanced, XLR, TRS, etc. fairly soon. Stay tuned.

[@dkoukliatis]

Hello Doug i am super impressed with your new update!!! I have something similar with your previous rack again inspired from yours.... I have an audio delay box from Beringer in order to delay the audio from xlr inputs. Does the new switcher have the same feature as the atem mini? Tanks for the video!!!!

[@djp_video]

The ATEM Mini has a few features that the Constellations don't... like video recording and video streaming. It seems that Blackmagic Design assumes that if you're buying this level of gear that you probably have separate gear to perform those functions. The other difference is that the ATEM Mini is fully self-contained with its own control surface, where with the Constellations you will likely want to get something (Advanced Panel, Stream Deck, X-Keys, etc.) to control them.

[@dkoukliatis]

@@djp_video Thanks Doug again for the video! For me your new rack will be my dream for the next couple of years... From what I get from your videos throw is that the Constallations have better audio engine from mini series if you consider the entrance of Madi, mix minus as you mention in you first video. That is the reason I believe that in the Constallations would have included audio delay function in xlr inputs as well as in the mics in mini series. Can you please look for it for me when you have time? Thanks again!!!

[@djp_video]

The MADI features are only available on the 4 M/E models. And even then I've heard more horror stories about it than stories of praise. Since I have the 2 M/E I don't have access to the MADI feature so I can't look that up for you... sorry!

[@Juergen_Miessmer]

Constellation HD has inbuild audio delay for rearside analog stereo aux input and also for the frontside mic input. Audio delay can be adjusted from 1 to 8 frames.

[@dkoukliatis]

@@djp_video Thank you Doug for the response but I'm interesting to tell me if there is audio delay in the analogue inputs TRS of the switcher not the Madi. I was mess you talking about XLR because the television studio have XLR inputs... sorry.

[@maseo305]

Doug, what fiber cable brand/model/supplier is that you show in the video? How has it held up over time deploying?

[@djp_video]

It changes all the time. I've gotten from multiple different sources: Amazon, fs.com, eBay. I just look for single mode armored cables with LC connectors. My most recent source is here: amzn.to/3pWvLN1 The cables I've used have been great. But when someone trips over them the cables can rip out of the ends, and the tools to fix them are expensive so I just replace them.

[@KidTonyGaming]

Do you have a video going to into detail on how you use the hyperdesk studio mini with pre rendered graphics

[@djp_video]

This one covers it... kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5DEp3WPfNNrbrM

[@johnneumann8124]

How do you find the inboard scalers of the ATEM in comparison to what you previously were doing with Decimators or UpDownCross HD units? Especially if you have to convert interlaced signals to progressive?

[@djp_video]

I haven't really done any extensive testing. Word on the street is that the deinterlacer isn't that great.

[@BuriTechVids]

1 question: Is there some input delay there? For example - If I would want to use this switcher kinda like an videohub, I would connect my computer outputs to input 19 & 20 and I would connect my monitors to SDI output 11 & 12 connect to my monitors in my big flight case. If I would routed output 11 & 12 directly to input 19 & 20, would there be any video delay? If so, I know you're using VideoHub, is there any video delay on the device? Thanks. :) (i suppose that if you're connecting MVW outputs into inputs, there is some delay too)

[@djp_video]

The average latency through the switcher is about 0.5 frames. Sometimes it will be less, sometimes it will be more, based on the relationship between the connected video source and the ATEM's master sync. Connecting an output of the switcher back to an input will result in a little less than a full frame of additional latency. Videohubs do not add any measurable delay.

[@BuriTechVids]

@@djp_video Thanks! :)

[@AaronHuslage]

I'm curious as to why you chose not to make custom cables. Also wondering how you deal with audio levels..just Software Control?

[@djp_video]

I did make custom SDI cables. With the Ethernet, I certainly could and I have the tools... but I already had cables of the right length. For this flypack audio will normally just be through the ATEM. It has decent enough compressors and limiters to handle many situations. When I'm in charge of actually producing the audio, though, I'll use my Yamaha TF1 mixer.

[@brianwestfall8105]

Great video, Doug! Sorry if I missed this, but do you use this in your trailer and then remove it or is this in addition to the equipment that you have installed in the trailer?

[@djp_video]

This is separate from the trailer (but can act as a backup for the trailer if need be). The trailer has its own switcher (Blackmagic 2 M/E Production Studio 4K), and it is in its own rack that is quite similar to this one -- just capable of 4K and with a lot more flexible routing than this rack has.

[@mrkappa95]

Hey Doug, would you recommend any cooling unit inside similar racks, such as AC infinity ones? (for both indoor and outdoor usages). If yes, which would you pick between a 1U intake, 1U exhaust, or both?

[@djp_video]

It depends on the equipment you're using. I have active cooling in my switcher rack in my trailer (Middle Atlantic QBP-2 1U exhaust blower), but not in my flypack -- it runs fine without it.

[@mrkappa95]

@@djp_video Thank you. I would have almost the same gear that you have in this video. So you believe it would run fine with around 12 cameras connected for 3 hours?

[@djp_video]

I can't speak to how it will work for you, but I've run this rack for multiple days at a time without any issues.

[@zay303]

Thanks for sharing your build. Can you go show how your extended your wifi antenna? I'm looking to do the same on my vmix flight pack.

[@djp_video]

I drilled holes and added these cables: amzn.to/3Ondanp

[@zay303]

@@djp_video thanks!

[@bhwhprods]

Very nice rack Doug. I’m still at 28 mins in, so this might be mentioned but audio.. I would be lost without my x32 rack. Minimum inputs on most my jobs is 3 or 4 and quite often I’m sending out various mixes. Do you have this taken care of by the constellation?

[@djp_video]

I handle audio separately. I need physical knobs, faders, and buttons in order to be responsive. For most events where I use the flypack I'm just pulling in a feed from FOH and all I need to do is compress and/or EQ it, and the ATEM handles that well enough. For smaller events where I need to do audio, I'll use a small Behringer QX1202USB mixer, and for bigger ones I'll bring out my Yamaha TF1.

[@bhwhprods]

@@djp_video I know what you mean about physical controls. I can just about get by with my rack mixer, mainly muting & unmuting. I do like the zoom F6 in this regard. Mounted on a tripod arm it’s a compact solution. Just wish it had xlr out and not 3.5mm.

[@Juergen_Miessmer]

Like Doug i use an external mixer most times - mixing FOH and two atmo mics. Or doing the complete mix if there is no PA (studio scenario without audience). Maybe an option to use the frontpanel mic input to mix one atmo mic to the FOH signal on the aux input. The mic input is balanced and has a propper quality - i checked it today. But i would prefer a seperate mixer, because all analog audio inputs on all ATEMS have no adjustable analog gain - only a digital trim on the newer models. If the FOH signal is getting to strong, you are lost...

[@bhwhprods]

Is there a work around for using the 5-pin headset socket for standard 1/4” headphones? I’m not too handy with an iron and don’t see any adaptors readily available. Solo shooter atm so talkback not required. I could monitor audio via a video monitor but not ideal.

[@opejegede3971]

Can you explain how you convert the ice plug to powercon on the power distribution box. Always having a scare of powered disconnect anytime I am out there.

[@djp_video]

It wasn't difficult. I cut the existing power cord to the right length to reach the location in the case where I installed the jack, used a knockout punch to make the 15/16-inch hole in the case, then soldered the PowerCon connectors on the power cord. The whole project only took about 20 minutes. Connectors: amzn.to/3ZfR9MN and amzn.to/3IolWAc

[@opejegede3971]

@@djp_video Thank you so much for responding. I really appreciate. Will give it a try.

[@AlecKabega]

Hi Doug, Ubiquiti has some cheap and nice switches that have all the features you need in one box

[@djp_video]

If you can get your hands one one... virtually all of them are out of stock everywhere and have been for a while

[@BoguschMedia]

How do you configure the two routers that they work in both configurations of the case (stand alone and slave of trailer). I hade the same idea but what to give to the decides in terms of standard gateway. My idea was to give both routers the same ip and not switch on the fly-pack-one. How exactly did you configured this specific network parts?

[@djp_video]

I wouldn't use the same IP address range -- that can cause potential routing issues. All of my devices except the ATEM use DHCP so they'll just take on an IP address in the proper range. When switching networks all I have to do is change the IP of the ATEM.

[@robertsiler2217]

We play commercials at our events and often need to send an audio out to the local sound system. Is your build capable of that currently or would you need to alter

[@djp_video]

In that case I'd add either an SDI-to-Audio de-embedder or HDMI de-embedder to connect to the playback HyperDeck to extract the audio.

[@Juergen_Miessmer]

Hello Doug, about companian - have you tested it with the constellation HD ? I have also the 2M/E an i run into loosing connection and reconnecting issue after a while. Restarting the constellation than resolves the problem. I don't have this issue with other ATEMS, so it seems controlling constellations is not stable by now.

[@djp_video]

I've played with Companion with it a little bit... everything seemed to work alright for that short test. But it wasn't for long. Keep in mind that Companion uses an unsanctioned, reverse-engineered protocol for talking to the ATEM switchers -- it isn't the official Blackmagic SDK -- so it can potentially take a bit for the code to be updated to support new models properly.

[@Juergen_Miessmer]

@@djp_video yes, thats right. I just wanted to warn, that companian has some issues with the constellations. It woks pretty good for an hour or so, but then companian looses connection randomly. Does x-key use the official SDK? I'm testing wich control will be the best solution for me, because my diy modified Thomson RSAT2 are not able to control the new ATEMs, because they are based on skarhojs arduino libraries witch stoped working beyond ATEM 7.4 Firmware.

[@djp_video]

X-Keys is the panel... it can be used with Companion, JustMacros, or Central Control. Companion does not use the official SDK, but JustMacros and Central Control both do. I haven't tried Central Control with it, but JustMacros does work.

[@hammenalbert9761]

@@djp_video Hi Doug, thanks very much for sharing this video. I have e few questions. Is it easy to set up the X-keys panel together with justmacros, how many preset boxes can i create with supersource and fire up with the x-keys panel, how did you get the bordelines on the boxes and my last question is it possible to do green screen with the BMD 2ME HD supersource

[@ians.4284]

Can you disable the audio adjust on the front-panel? seems concerning if you accidentally bump it.

[@djp_video]

I didn't see any options in the menus to turn that on or off.

[@Juergen_Miessmer]

You can lock all buttons together on the front panel. But not seperatly.

[@donniematz]

You should put Neutrik Opticalcon Duo on the rack side. Would be nice to see in the camera converters, but we’re beholden to the manufacturers…

[@donniematz]

Not sure how you’re powering the camera converters, but the opticalcon has 4 copper contacts as well so you could send power to the remote units as well.

[@djp_video]

The Camera Converters have their own batteries internally that last for about 4 hours. But nearly always when I'm using them I also have to power a camera and monitor. Whenever I can I'll use AC power, but I have some Jackery battery banks for the times when I don't. The ones I have will last nearly all day. There is a company that makes adapters to let you use OpticalCon cables with the Camera Converters, but they're really ugly and awkward looking, and kind of expensive for what they are.

[@mikkowilson2]

@@djp_video I use OpticalCON Duo connectors on all my fly packs & field jacks. Great with OpticalCON cables of course, but also fully compatible with normal LC cables (like EtherCON & RJ45); BUT the automatic dust shutters on the OpticalCON connectors make them foolproof for keeping dust out. Well worth the price. Though I also add secondary compact dust caps also for extra protection & to remind crews to treat fiber ends with respect. Corning also makes LC connectors with built in shutters, but I haven't used them in person yet.

[@VickersDoorter]

Since switching to vMix, NDI and several high-end PC's, I've never looked back. I still have my Blackmagic TV pro 4K mixers, but I just use them as sub inputs. Blackmagic's lack of adopting NDI and SRT is a complete hindrance when it comes to more complex live events.

[@djp_video]

Those who need to do IMAG like me need hardware switchers; the software-based options have much too much latency. NDI doesn't scale well to large events. I've heard that from many people who run large events who have tried and had it fail on them.

[@SportFlow]

@@djp_video We all agree that Blackmagic needs to adopt some kind of video-over-IP solution, either propietary or standard (NDI, SMPTE2110, etc)

[@djp_video]

I don't see them ever doing NDI. The licensing costs are just too high. The problem is 4K. If you want to do 4K with more than a couple cameras, the costs for the networking gear are astronomical. Productions at the scale of national broadcast television can afford this, but pretty much nobody else can.

[@ramadanhafiz5750]

hello doug, can you share for me, this flypack system wiring diagram ? i will an assembly one of package , the flypack system.

[@djp_video]

There isn't a lot to share -- the four fiber connections go to the Studio Converter and then its outputs go to inputs 1-4 on the switcher. Inputs 5-8 on the switcher are wired directly to BNC connectors on the rear panel. Input 9 comes from a Bi-Directional Micro Converter 3G. Then I have two inputs on the switcher which are connected to the SDI outputs on the HyperDecks. The last two inputs (19-20) are connected to the MultiView outputs on the switcher so I can route them to switcher outputs. In terms of outputs, one goes to the Studio Converter for the return feed to the cameras. Two go to inputs on the HyperDecks. Two go to the monitors in the rack. One goes to the Bi-Directional Micro Converter for conversion to HDMI. And several are wired to BNC connectors on the rear panel. The HDMI input of the Teradek VidiU Pro comes from the HDMI output of the HyperDeck Studio HD Mini. The assumption there is that the HyperDeck will always receive a copy of the main Program output, so I'm using it to not only record but to do the conversion to HDMI for the encoder. Aside from Ethernet, that's about it.

[@dfstanci]

Did you find you didn’t need a fan to keep it cool?

[@djp_video]

So far I haven't needed one. And I've used this for a ton of events now.

[@dfstanci]

@@djp_video awesome!!! Just built something almost identical and wanted to see if you had issues!!! Your awesome! Thanks for the reply

[@cpanic1153]

I’d have definitely used some unifi stuff rather than that TP link and those media converters. UDMP-SE will give you a router with 2x sfp+ for fiber and 8 POE ports for $500. They also have any number of POE switches with SFP+

[@anderstest5978]

How is the noise level? Both the rack and the 2ME by itself?

[@djp_video]

Fairly quiet, but I wouldn't generally put them together in a small room at the same time as on-air talent.

[@mailsoundace]

Can we use SDI to HDMI converters to this to connect laptops

[@djp_video]

In what way? Most computers don't have HDMI inputs, so converting to HDMI isn't particularly helpful. The Constellation HD models have a USB connection which can be used to get video into a computer. The quality is just so-so, but you get video capture over USB for free. If you need something higher quality you can use an UltraStudio Mini Recorder or something similar for the best quality, or one of the inexpensive HDMI-to-USB capture devices out there to get something basic quality.

[@SportFlow]

Don't you think that all of these rack could be done with just a simple powerful laptop+sdi capture enclosure and Vmix? All the mixing, recording, streaming, video and audio routing...?

[@djp_video]

Not if you want low latency, which I need because I do IMAG quite a lot. I also need more inputs and outputs than you can get into a laptop.

[@SportFlow]

@@djp_video that's right then

[@dannypgrizzle]

I’m not a believer in software solutions in professional production environments. OK for education, churches, KZbin channels, but too unreliable for commercial work.

[@SportFlow]

@@dannypgrizzle that's not the case with Vmix

[@djp_video]

Anything that runs on top of a general purpose operating system like Windows is going to be less reliable that purpose-built hardware... it is far more complicated and has more things that can go wrong

[@AmazeStudios]

I know this is purely aesthetic, but I'd wish Blackmagic would design their hardware so it actually looks like they were meant to be in a rack together. Maybe I'm OCD or spoiled by Apple, but it drives me nuts that the monitors, knobs, or buttons do NOT line up. Maybe they have product managers for each component, but not one main product manager that would look at how all of them would tie together visually.

[@djp_video]

Different departments... left hand... right hand... blah blah blah

[@TVJAY]

I found those Fiber Converters to be very annoying. Out of the 4 we own, 1 of them always fails. When we bring it back to the shop and try it again, it works. This happens every time we use them.

[@bhwhprods]

Are you referring to the micro converters rather than the rackmount Studio Converter 2?

[@gwillacey]

How does a projector receive a fiber cable?

[@djp_video]

It has go to through an SDI or HDMI converter. I often use the Blackmagic Design ATEM Camera Converter because it has SDI, HDMI, and fiber connections all in one unit.

[@casey7179]

Thanks!

[@djp_video]

Thank you!!!

[@daltonrandall4348]

Where did you get the new ATEM?

[@djp_video]

B&H Photo Video. I ordered pretty soon after it was announced.

[@SeanTolan_illuminated_imaging]

Does the case ever get warm?

[@djp_video]

Warm, but not hot. It's never misbehaved.

[@richardabbrey4617]

🔥

[@JohnnyMotel99]

I hope BM give you special prices!

[@djp_video]

Nope. I buy everything the same way as everyone else.

[@NWOhio_live]

What is total latency through the rack?

[@djp_video]

Average of 0.5 frames

[@NWOhio_live]

@@djp_video Looked like about 6 frames in the program monitor

[@djp_video]

That 6 frames would include the camera (~2 frames), going through the switcher (0.5 fr), outputting one of the switcher outputs back into another input (1 fr), back through the switcher (0.5), then out to the monitor (1 fr). The actual latency through the switcher itself is between 0 and 1 frames for an average of 0.5 frames.

[@EugeneMaynard]

👍🏾🙏🏾

[@NewRiseTV]

Will the Vidiu do 1080P60?

[@djp_video]

Not progressively. It will do 1080i at 60 fields per second or 1080p at up to 30 frames per second

[@NewRiseTV]

@@djp_video what’s the monthly cost to run the Vidiu?

[@djp_video]

@@NewRiseTV They have ShareLink plans from pay-as-you-go up to $50 per month which includes 125 GB of streaming data

[@NewRiseTV]

@@djp_video oh nice, better than paying $300 a month for a LiveU solo kit! Lol

[@transplant003]

thankyou

[@joelromero2949]

Thank you for your content @djp_video