ATEM TV Studio + 3 DSLRs = multicam production system?

[Eric Van engelen]

The problem with the DSLR’s is that they -most times- can’t output a clean video-signal in 720P or 1080i. In general Menu-info is overlay, or the video is strangely cutted in letterbox etc.

Maybe there’s a Magic Lantern-hack for the Eos 5D’s which can activate a clean output at a resolution that the ATEM Television Studio can handle?

[Bob Zelin]

Hi Janne –
have you looked at the HDMI output of a Canon EOS series camera ?
Tell me exactly what you see when you look at the output.
That will answer your question.

But yes, the ATEM requires very little – let me qualify this –

1) you need either a computer or a control panel to run the ATEM.
So for $995 and no PC or MAC, it doesnt work.

2) you need at least one monitor to be able to see the multiviewer output. You don’t see any video on the computer screen for the ATEM

3) you need some way of recording or streaming the output of the switcher.

SO, you don’t walk into a production with 3 Canon 7D’s, and an ATEM TV Studio, and go to work. There is more equipment required –

AND – I didn’t even discuss audio, or intercom (communication) to your cameramen.

Bob ZElin

[Shane Duggan]

HI,

I am lucky enough to have a ATEM switcher & control panel & to be honest you still need a computer even with a control. The media pool is only stored in volatile memory so you need to attach it to a laptop to put in any media for a show. This may be changed in a future version All the key’s are much easier to control on a computer as well – but can be done on the control panel. But I think for the price it is head & shoulders better value than anything else out there. The HDMI source we are using is a Sony FX 1000 720p. Seems to have no problem with accepting it. We will be getting Panasonic AF101’s so I’ll let you know how we get on.

Obviously all the other equipment mentioned is a given. Monitor’s, audio, recording & intercom.

Shane

[Janne Eerola]

Thanks for the quick replies.

First of all, of course I’d be using a laptop for control and a screen/tv for the multicam monitoring. Just didn’t mention that in my post, sorry. And there’d be cables, stands, intercom etc. also included, but it’d still be a lot less to carry and a lot less expensive than traditional cameras & switcher, considering the quality you’d get.

The HDMI out of Canon’s has the problem that it shows information on the screen, but it seems you can get a clear output with the Magic Lantern. However, what I read about Panasonic GH2 is that it has the ability to output a clean image from HDMI out and show all the info on the LCD at the same time. So that’d make a very good camera for this purpose (at least until Canon makes this feature available).

One problem would also be the cable lenght of HDMI, but couldn’t that be solved by just using a HDMI-SDI converter with the DSLR’s and using SDI cables to feed the ATEM?

For the recording with ATEM, isn’t that done by just recording the H.264 feed into the laptop?

[Dimitry Czar]

I think one very important thing worth to mention is the sensor overheating. DSLR sensors were never designed to be ran continuously as required in live production. Sure they perform fine in start n stop multi-take scripted production, but that’s much different from live…

[Janne Eerola]

I think the overheating might be a problem with Canons etc. (at least the 550D gets a bit hot when shooting), but what I’ve read about GH2 is that no one has encountered any heat problems with it. No personal experience about using Panasonics though..

[Elvis Deane]

I use the GH1 all the time for long shoots, and it never gets hot. I’ve done 2.5 hour shows, and it’s fine. I assume the GH2 is the same, especially considering you won’t be necessarily writing to a card while using it with the ATEM set up.

I’m very interested in hearing how you get on, Janne, as I’m hoping to try something similar. I have been wondering if using a wireless HDMI solution would work with it to cut out the cable length issue.

—
Elvis Deane!

The Apprentice Magician’s Guide to particleIllusion

Wilbur of Wumbaberry

[Janne Eerola]

One thing we’ve been wondering: do you think there would be lots of delay in the picture? If you have 3 cameras going into the ATEM with SDI cables and then from the ATEM to a projector/screen, is there too much delay for this system to be used in a live event situation?

[Marc Enette]

Switching live is cool, Having a multi input ISO recorder would have been even better I suggested the idea to Blackmagic let’s see what happens…

I worked in a multicam shoot with the GH1, GH2 7D & T2i. The panasonics shot for over an hour non stop… The canons stopped about every 14 minutes… The Hdmi from the canons output 480i while shooting… You have to let them cool down before restarting or they would stop the recording earlier the next time… Sensor over heating is the issue.

I amalso thinking about the Atem… If you want extended hdmi cable length, use the HDMI to Cat5 converters there are a few on the marketcheck out Markertek.com, I saw a few in action going from a switcher to hdmi monitors with very little delay.

Best

[Philip Peel]

The GH2 works fine with ATEM mixer. I’m using it with hdmi to sdi converter if I need a long cable run.

Phil

https://www.philpeel.com

http://www.philpeel.com