Switching your Production

Now that you have your cameras and microphone connected and your streaming software sees
ATEM Mini as a webcam, ATEM Mini is ready to start switching your production. This happens
when you switch from one video source in your broadcast to another. A source can be any
HDMI video signal connected to the HDMI inputs. It can also be a still graphic, a keyer, or any
internal source like a color generator, color bars, or black.
With ATEM Mini, you can switch cleanly using professional cuts or transitions. For example,
a cut will instantly change from one source to another and a transition will change sources over
a defined duration often using an effect. For more information, refer to the ‘using cuts and
transitions’ section later in this manual.

Using Cuts and Transitions

When switching video sources, you can use a straight cut which will immediately change one
source to another, or a transition which gradually changes one source to another over a defined
duration. Transitions appear as an effect, for example a cross dissolve or mix, a dip to colour, or
even a stylized wipe and you have many styles to choose from.

Switching Sources using a Cut

In the demonstration below ATEM Mini will cut from input 1 to input 2.

To perform a cut:
1 Input 1 is illuminated red to indicate input 1 is currently live on air.
2 Select a ‘cut’ by pressing the ‘cut’ button. Pressing ‘cut’ tells ATEM Mini
you want to use a straight cut instead of an auto transition.
3 Now press the input 2 button.

Input 1 will now immediately switch to input 2 and you will see input 2 illuminated red,
which means input 2 is now live on air. This is known as a cut as you are ‘cutting’ directly
from one source to another.

Switching Sources using an Auto Transition

Transitions let you smoothly switch from one source to another over a defined duration.
For example, a mix transition gradually fades the current source into the next until the original
source is no longer visible. A wipe transition will move a line across the original source
revealing another effectively wiping across the image.
You can add a colored border, or make it soft so the edge is smooth and pleasing. You can
even use digital video effects or DVEs, such as a squeeze or push, to move the images as they
transition from one to the other.
In the demonstration below ATEM Mini will switch from input 1 to input 2 using a mix transition:

Switching your Production 11