ATEM Television Studio HD8
Blackmagic Design

ATEM Television Studio HD8

Compact live production switcher with built in broadcast control panel, 8 x 3G-SDI inputs, streaming, recording, multiview, DVE, keyers, USB webcam, media players, talkback and optional cloud storage!
Product Highlights
  • 8-Input 3G-SDI 1080p60 Live Switcher
  • Redesigned Buttons and Layout
  • Streaming Support, USB & M.2 Recording
  • Blackmagic Cloud Integration
  • Webcam Support, Runs Blackmagic OS
  • Up to 16 Multiview Output Sources
  • Audio Mixing, Transitions, T-Bar, AUX
  • Customizable Electronic LCDs
  • Studio Camera Control
  • Timecode, MADI, Talkback

  • Overview
  • Tech Specs

ATEM Television Studio HD8 is a compact live production switcher with built in broadcast control panel. Get a fully featured broadcast quality live production studio with 8 standards converted 3G-SDI inputs, built in streaming, master recorder, multiview, USB webcam support, DVE, 4 ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyers, media players, talkback, 4 way Ethernet switch and optional internal cloud media storage.

Live Production
You get an incredibly powerful 8 input switcher with both program and two aux outputs so you have everything you need for mobile production. That means you can connect up to 8 cameras! Plus you get professional camera control, talkback and audio mixing all designed into a familiar broadcast panel.

DistributionWith a built in hardware streaming engine, you can live stream your event to a global audience! Recording to H.264 files with AAC audio means you get the correct format to upload to YouTube. Plus you share live broadcasts with your audience by using the aux outputs and large screens and projectors!

Works Like a True Broadcast Live Production Switcher!
While ATEM Television Studio HD is a compact design, it still includes very powerful broadcast features! If you're interested in a career in the television industry, then it's perfect for training as it has the same features as switchers in high end broadcast studios. You get an advanced broadcast grade switcher, with built in ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyers, Fairlight audio mixer, DVE, still store for graphics and much more! Most of the features can be operated from the front panel, or you can use the free ATEM Software Control on Mac or Windows to access even more features! With a little fun experimentation it’s possible for anyone to create high end broadcast quality live television!

Easy to Use and Fast to Learn!
There's never been a switcher that’s easier to use, as you simply press any of the program row buttons on the front panel to cut between video sources. Or you can pre select a source on the preview row and then choose between cut or effect transitions by selecting the cut or auto buttons. You can select from exciting transitions such as dissolve, or more dramatic effects such as dip to color, DVE squeeze and DVE push. You can even add a DVE for picture in picture effects with customized graphics. There are also media players which let you store graphics with alpha channels for titles and graphics that you can load as live video inputs. Then you can live stream the results!

Redesigned Front Panel
The front panel includes buttons for selecting sources, triggering transitions, and setting up video effects. Plus the buttons are the same high-end type used on expensive broadcast switchers. You also get a built-in T-bar for manual transition control. The front panel even has an innovative audio mixer-control area with live metering on a dedicated LCD. There are also buttons for recording and streaming control, plus live aux switching that lets you change aux outputs between all 8 cameras, program, preview, or the multiview.

True Broadcast Style Mix Effects Switching
ATEM Television Studio uses a professional program/preview style of operation, which is exactly the way large broadcasters use live production switchers! However ATEM Television Studio can be switched to A/B style switching, which is easier when it's used by volunteers or community groups. However, if you want to operate the switcher like a broadcast professional then the program/preview is perfect! This means a source won't be put on air until you press the cut or auto button. This 2 step process means you see what you are selecting before putting it to air, so you get fewer mistakes. Plus program/preview operation is a fantastic way to train students for a career in broadcast television!

Easy to Add Exciting Video Effects!
One of the benefits of ATEM Television Studio is the range of professional built in video effects! The cut button ensures an instant cut when switching between sources. The t-bar fader can be used to transition video effects, or you can do the transition automatically by pressing the auto button. Auto uses the transition duration set in the system control. You can also select the type of effect you want including mix, which does a smooth transition between sources, or dip which transitions via a third video source, such as a color generator. There is a wide range of SMPTE wipes included, plus fun DVE effects that slide or squeeze the image off screen when transitioning between video sources!

Includes Loads of Extremely Creative Transitions!
ATEM Television Studio includes the same kind of transitions found on expensive broadcast switchers. This means the effects and transitions can be customized in many different ways, so they are surprisingly powerful. You'll never stop finding new ways of using them! That’s because all transitions can be customized by adjusting parameters such as duration, border color, border width, position and direction. You can even use the DVE with a wipe transition, where the DVE moves a graphic over the wipe edge. That's called a graphic wipe and it’s often used in sports broadcasting. The preview transition button can be used to set up effects offline, which is great for eliminating mistakes.

Built in DVE for Broadcast Video Effects
ATEM Television Studio HD features an independent DVE that lets you reposition graphics and create picture in picture compositions. You get amazing quality and the DVE supports position, resize and scale, all in real time. The DVE lets you create professional picture in picture effects with customizable 3D borders, shadows and lighting. DVEs can also be used to create amazing DVE transitions with squeeze, swoosh and push effects for adding excitement to your programming. You can even combine DVE transitions with custom graphics to create your own graphic wipe transitions! Pus there is also a SuperSource multi layer processing engine with 4 extra DVEs!

Supports Internal Media for Stills and Motion Graphics
The built in media pool stores broadcast quality graphics and animations that can be played back using the built in media players. Media players appear as independent sources so you don't need to waste any of the SDI inputs for graphics. For highest quality, all media supports RGB colorspace with alpha channel, allowing transparency and layering. The media pool can hold 20 HD resolution stills. Motion graphics clips for animations and stingers can be up to 400 frames in 720HD and 200 frames in 1080HD. The ATEM Software Control allows you to upload and manage media. You can even prepare graphics in Adobe Photoshop and then download to the media pool using the free ATEM Photoshop plug-in!

Includes 4 ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyers
ATEM Television Studio is perfect for news and on-set presentation work because it features 4 ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyers for green screen keying effects. The chroma keyers are incredibly powerful and include features such as a color picker to sample background colors for automatic generation of the key parameters. You get precise controls for edge and flare, and there is even a foreground color corrector so you can match the foreground and background layers for seamless compositions. You can even use it for title overlays by creating graphics with a green or blue background. With 4 ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyers, ATEM Television Studio is perfect for creating fixed camera virtual sets!

Powerful SuperSource Processing!
In addition to the DVE in the ATEM Television Studio, there is also a powerful SuperSource multi layer processor! SuperSource gives you 4 extra DVE layers plus a background layer, all layered together as an additional input source. Any video input can be used as sources for each DVE, then it’s all layered together over a media pool custom background or live video. SuperSource is perfect for doing multiple picture in picture displays with people being interviewed because you can set up the effect so the viewer can see each person being interviewed all within a stylish graphic. SuperSource is just like having a completely independent multi-layer VFX switcher built in!

Up to 8 Standards Converted 3G-SDI Inputs!
The ATEM Television Studio HD features 8 independent 3G-SDI inputs, with each input featuring its own dedicated standards converter. That means it’s possible to convert any 1080HD or 720HD input source to the video standard of the switcher! That means you could have each switcher SDI input running a different television standard and all the inputs would just work! SDI input audio channels 1, 2, 3 and 4 can also be manually routed to various embedded audio channels in the program and aux outputs. Plus you can even router out audio channels 1 and 2 from the SDI inputs to the MADI digital audio output, so you can hand off the switcher input audio to an external audio engineer for mixing.

Professional 3G‑SDI Outputs with 16 Channel Embedded Audio
The ATEM Television Studio includes nine 3G‑SDI program outputs so you get enough connections to send a separate program return feed to all of your cameras! That’s important because the SDI program return is used to send tally, talkback and control information back to the cameras! You also get 2 dedicated aux outputs for driving stage monitors and master recorders. These aux outputs can be live switched using dedicated buttons on the control panel! Aux 1 even includes an on screen counter for presenter monitoring. Plus you can manually route audio into all 16 embedded audio channels in the SDI outputs! For camera monitoring, there is a dedicated 3G-SDI and HDMI output for the multiview.

Built In Audio Mixer with 6 Band EQ, Compressor and Limiter
With a built in Fairlight audio mixer, ATEM Television Studio HD makes it possible to do complex live sound mixing. The internal mixer features enough channels for all SDI inputs, as well as extra channels for the XLR, RCA and MADI inputs! Each input channel features the highest quality 6 band parametric EQ, compressor, limiter, expander and noise gate as well as level and pan controls. You can mix all these input channels together at the same time, or you can set video sources to "audio follow video". The audio mixer is extremely powerful and it can be adjusted from the front panel using the dedicated audio mixer controls and LCD. Plus you can also mix audio using ATEM Software Control!

Built-in Multiview Supports 16 Sources on a Single Monitor
When doing larger live productions with multiple cameras, it’s vital to see all your video sources at the same time on a single monitor. ATEM Television Studio HD includes a professional multiview that lets you see all video inputs, preview and program on a single SDI or HDMI monitor. You can even send the multiview to the aux outputs! Each camera view includes tally indicators so you know when each source is on-air, plus each view has custom labels and audio meters. You can fully customize the multiview layout with up to 16 simultaneous views! You can also select one of the additional status views that lets you track recording, streaming and the audio mixer status, right from the multiview!

Live Stream to a Global Audience!
ATEM Television Studio HD has a built in hardware streaming engine for live streaming to a global audience! That means you can live stream to services such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitch in better video quality and without dropped frames. Streaming works using the Ethernet connection to the internet, or you can connect a smartphone to use mobile data! Then you simply select the streaming service and enter the streaming key using ATEM Software Control. This makes streaming easy to setup, and the convenient data rate indicator shows the internet speed required. If you're technically minded, you can even update the streaming profiles in an XML settings file to add new services!

Connect 5G or 4G Phones for Mobile Data
If you’re doing live production on location then the ATEM Television Studio HD supports mobile data by connecting an Apple or Android phone to the USB port. It's also a great backup for the main Ethernet connection. Phone tethering works with the latest high speed 5G phones plus the more common 4G phones! The ATEM switcher will detect when a phone is connected and automatically switch its internet connection to use it if the Ethernet connection is lost. When connected, the phone will also power from the USB port so it always remains charged and ready to go. By using phone tethering and mobile data, you get the perfect mobile production solution that can be transported anywhere!

Record Direct to Internal Cloud Storage or USB Disks
ATEM Television Studio HD supports recording to external USB flash disks! Or if an optional M.2 flash disk is installed, you can record direct to internal cloud storage! The internal storage plus any external USB disks will be available to share over the local Ethernet network so other people can work on post production tasks such as editing, color correction and graphics preparation. All recordings are in H.264 format with AAC audio for broadcast quality video and small file sizes. You can also connect multiple USB disks, so recording will continue if a disk becomes full. You even get buttons on the control panel to start recording and you can see record status in the multiview!

Outputs to Any Software that Supports USB Webcams!
You can use any video software with ATEM Television Studio HD because the USB connection will emulate a webcam! That means you can plug into a computer and use any video software that works with a webcam. The software is tricked into thinking the ATEM Television Studio HD is a common webcam, but it's really a live production switcher! That guarantees full compatibility with any video software and in full resolution 1080HD quality. Imagine doing a presentation from a professional broadcast studio to software such as Zoom, Teams or Skype! For streaming, the webcam output also works with streaming software such as Open Broadcaster, XSplit Broadcaster and more!

Includes Free ATEM Software Control Panel
The ATEM Software Control app unlocks the hidden power of ATEM Television Studio HD by allowing access to all the features in the switcher. ATEM Software Control features a visual switcher user interface with parameter palettes for making adjustments. Although you can connect via USB, if you connect using Ethernet you can run multiple copies of ATEM Software Control on different computers! The software lets you live switch, mix audio, color correct in the cameras and manage media. You can also build and run complex macros from the software! Plus you can save the switcher state as an XML file for recalling jobs later! You can even control trigger external HyperDeck recorders.

Localized for 13 Popular Languages
ATEM Television Studio HD supports multiple languages in the menus and in the ATEM Software Control, so you can customize it to the language you prefer. You get support for English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, German, French, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Polish and Ukrainian languages. Simply go into the setup menu to change the language, or you can always switch to another language at any time in the future. Once a language is selected, the menus on all the LCDs will change to the selected language. Multiple language support means ATEM Television Studio HD is perfect for doing live production work anywhere in the world and with any crew!

Designed to Be Easy to Repair
With so many features built in, it’s vital that ATEM Television Studio can be easily repaired! Plus, there is already a lot of built in redundancy, with 4 Ethernet connections, 9 program SDI outputs, 2 USB ports and 2 power connections! However if someone trips on a cable and breaks a connector, then you need to be able to repair the connector at low cost. All the internal electronic PCBs are modular, so any qualified technician can buy a replacement and easily swap the board. This includes the connector PCBs, which can be purchased separately. All the technician needs to do is remove the bottom cover and replace the PCB! A large broadcaster could even buy the boards as a spare parts kit!

Flexible and Redundant Power
The all in one design of ATEM Television Studio includes a built in power supply so you don’t have to carry around an external power brick! Simply plug it into any AC mains outlet and start live production. The international power supply automatically works from 100 to 240V AC, so you can use it anywhere in the world. Plus, ATEM Television Studio includes both AC and DC power connections. A broadcast standard XLR 12V DC power connection is included which is perfect for backup power or for running on batteries. That means you can use it in extremely remote locations! Plus, if the internal power supply should malfunction, then you can simply connect an external DC supply to keep running!

Connections
SDI Video Inputs 8
SDI Video Outputs 12
SDI Rates 1.5G, 3G
HDMI Video Outputs 1
Total Audio Inputs 2 x XLR balanced analog audio,
1 x BNC 32 Ch MADI digital audio,
2 x RCA stereo analog audio,
1 x 5 pin XLR Talkback.
Total Audio Outputs 4 x 1/4 inch Jack analog audio,
1 x BNC 64 Ch MADI digital audio, up to 50 active,
1 x 5 pin XLR Talkback.
SDI Audio Inputs 4 Ch embedded audio on all SDI inputs.
SDI Audio Outputs 2 Ch embedded audio on all SDI outputs.
Timecode Connections 1 x BNC In, 1 x BNC Out.
Reference Input 1 x BNC In, 1 x BNC Out.
Tri-Sync or Black Burst.
Video Input Re-Sync On all 8 inputs.
Frame Rate and Format Converters On all 8 inputs.
SDI Aux Outputs 2
SDI Program Outputs 1
Webcam Output 2 x USB-C supporting 720p or 1080p at PGM frame rate.
Total Multi Views 1 x 3G-SDI
1 x HDMI
Remote RJ12 supports RS-422
Control Panel Connection Ethernet. Direct connection between panel and chassis, or via network.
Internal Timecode Generator Yes
Talkback RJ45 for 3rd party talkback systems.
Tally Output Added via ethernet connection to Blackmagic Design GPI and Tally Interface product. (Not included).
Ethernet 4 x RJ45 with internet network switch. Supports 10/100/1000 BASE-T.
Computer Interface 2 x USB-C supports USB 2.0 for external drive recording, webcam out, software control, software updates and switcher connection.
Standards
SD Video Standards None
HD Video Input Standards 720p50, 720p59.94, 720p60
1080i50, 1080i59.94, 1080i60
1080p23.98, 1080p24, 1080p25, 1080p29.97, 1080p30, 1080p50, 1080p59.94, 1080p60
SDI Compliance SMPTE 292M, SMPTE 296M, SMPTE 424M, SMPTE 425M level A and B.
Video Sampling 4:2:2
Color Precision 10-bit.
Color Space REC 709
SDI Auto Switching Automatically detects between 1.5G-SDI and level A or level B 3G-SDI.
Product Specifics
Upstream Keyers 4
Downstream Keyers 2
Advanced Chroma Keyers 4
SuperSource 1
Linear/Luma Keyers 7
Transition Keyer (Stinger/DVE) 1 Stinger, 1 DVE.
Total Number of Layers 8
Pattern Generators 7
Color Generators 2
Control Panel Integrated panel with full control of switching and settings.
Routable Windows 16
Windows Source Labels Yes
Tally Red for program and green for preview indication.
Talkback Support Yes
Mix Minus Support Yes
Streaming
Direct Streaming Supports direct live streaming using Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) over ethernet or a shared internet connection over USB‑C.
Recording
Direct Recording Video and Audio USB-C expansion port can record directly to external media.
Video Recording Program recorded as a H.264 .mp4 file at the streaming quality setting and at the ATEM video standard with AAC audio.
Media Format Supports media formatted ExFAT (Windows/Mac). APFS or HFS+ (Mac).
Multi View Monitoring
Multi View Monitoring 1 x multi view via SDI and HDMI configurable to 16, 13, 10, 7 or 4 up views. Includes monitoring of Program, Preview, Inputs, Media Players, DSKs, SuperSource, Clean Feed with optional labels and audio meters.
Multi View Video Standard HD
Display Minimum Resolution 1366 x 768
Media Player
Media Players 2
Channels Fill and key for each media player.
Media Pool Still Image Capacity 20
Media Pool Still Image Format PNG, TGA, BMP, GIF, JPEG and TIFF.
Media Pool Clip Capacity 2 x up to 1080p60.
Media Player Clip Length in 720 HD 400 frames.
Media Player Clip Length in 1080 HD 200 frames.
Media Pool Video File Format TGA sequence.
Media Pool Audio File Format WAV, MP3 and AIFF.
Processing
Processing Delay < 10 lines when genlocked and in the same format as the switcher.
Audio Mixer 58 Channel mixer.
Selectable On/Off/Audio-Follow-Video.
Level and Peak metering.
Master gain control.
6 band parametric EQ, Dynamics including Expander, Gate, Compressor and Limiter.
Camera Control When used with most Blackmagic Design cameras, ATEM can control focus, iris and zoom of compatible lenses and camera settings including gain, white balance, tint, shutter, ND filter, color corrector, tally and record start/stop.
Down Conversion None
Software
Control Panel Included ATEM Software Control Panel included free for Mac 12.0 Monterey, Mac 13.0 Ventura or later. and Windows 10 or 11.
Software Updates Using USB or Ethernet connection directly connected to Mac OS or Windows computers. Includes ATEM Setup Utility.
Physical Installation
Physical Installation Desktop or in-desk mount.

Operating Systems
  • Mac
    Mac 12.0 Monterey,
    Mac 13.0 Ventura or later.
  • Windows
    Windows 10 and 11.

Power Requirements
  • Power Supply
    1 x Internal 100 - 240 AC 50/60Hz with IEC C14 socket.
    1 x 4 pin XLR 12V DC In for external power supply or battery use.
  • Power Usage
    100 W max.