Blackmagic Design ATEM Micro Camera Panel

Blackmagic Design ATEM Micro Camera Panel

The Blackmagic Design ATEM Micro Camera Panel is a professional, ultra-compact hardware control surface designed to provide tactile, high-precision remote control for up to four Blackmagic Micro Studio or URSA Broadcast cameras. It is engineered for operators who need the speed and finesse of physical knobs and buttons in a footprint small enough to fit on a cluttered desk or in a mobile fly-pack.

Precision CCU Controls

The panel mimics the workflow of a high-end Camera Control Unit (CCU), allowing a single operator to "shade" multiple cameras simultaneously:

• High-Quality Joysticks: Features four miniature joysticks that provide smooth, weighted control over iris (up/down) and master black (twist). This allows for instantaneous exposure adjustments during live events without digging through on-screen menus.

• Dedicated Color Correction: Each camera channel has its own set of tactile controls for adjusting lift, gamma, and gain. This ensures that all cameras in a multi-cam array are perfectly color-matched in real-time.

• Tally and Status: Integrated tally indicators light up to show which camera is currently "on-air" (red) or "previewed" (green), ensuring the operator knows exactly which feed they are adjusting.

Optimized Workflow Features

• Global and Individual Adjustments: You can adjust cameras individually or use the "Master" controls to apply shifts to all connected cameras at once—useful for quick compensation if the house lights dim or change color.

• Scene Memories: Allows operators to save and recall "Scene" presets. If a camera moves from a darkly lit stage to a bright spotlight, the operator can jump to the correct color and exposure settings with a single button press.

• Direct Access Buttons: Includes dedicated buttons for shutter speed, white balance, and gain, providing instant access to the most critical technical parameters of the camera's sensor.

Connectivity and Integration

The Micro Camera Panel is designed to work as a "sidecar" to an ATEM switcher setup:

• USB-C and Bluetooth: Connects to a computer running ATEM Software Control via a single USB-C cable or via Bluetooth for wireless operation in localized environments.

• Internal Battery: Features a built-in battery, making it truly portable for use in field kits where AC power is limited or cable management is a priority.

• PoE Support: Can be powered over Ethernet when used in a fixed studio network, ensuring the panel remains online 24/7 without needing a dedicated power brick.

Technical Compatibility

• ATEM Switcher Ecosystem: Works with any ATEM switcher that supports camera control protocol (including ATEM Mini, Extreme, Constellation, and Television Studio models).

• Camera Support: Primary support for Micro Studio Camera 4K G2, Studio Camera 4K/6K Pro, and URSA series cameras.

Operational Benefit

The ATEM Micro Camera Panel solves the "latency of thought" problem. While software-based sliders are functional, they lack the muscle-memory speed required for live broadcast. By giving the operator physical joysticks and knobs, the Micro Panel allows for "blind" operation—letting the operator keep their eyes on the monitors while their hands intuitively balance the image.

Professional Tip

When setting up a multi-camera shoot, use the Copy/Paste function on the panel to quickly replicate the base color settings from Camera 1 to the other three units. This creates a consistent starting point, leaving you to only make minor "tweak" adjustments to account for different lens characteristics or lighting angles.