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Which ATEM Mini should YOU buy?

Show and Tell19th November, 2020

Today we are taking a look at the ATEM Mini, ATEM Mini Pro, and ATEM Mini Pro ISO, in the hopes of helping you pick which one to buy for your future needs.

It's been over a year since I posted my first video on the ATEM Mini, and since then we have gotten 2 new models and a whole lot of new lovers of Blackmagic Design and the ATEM Range on switchers.

I know many of you already own 1 or more ATEM Minis, but I also know there are many out there still venturing into this world, so first, we should take a look at each model.

ATEM Mini

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The ATEM Mini kicked things off with a small form-factor switcher from Blackmagic design. 

While it had its limitations, it was a perfect way to bring together 4 HDMI sources, mix them into a production and record it for use later.


ATEM Mini Pro

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The ATEM Mini Pro brought some needed extras, with a Multiview output, recording, and streaming built-in, as well as more buttons than its predecessor.


ATEM Mini Pro ISO

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And finally, the ATEM Mini Pro ISO was very much an ATEM Mini Pro with one big addition, the ability to record each input separately and create a DaVinci Resolve project to re-edit your production once the live part was all over.

So which one to choose?

When it comes to choosing between an ATEM, there are only THREE things to properly consider.

  • Do I want multi-view?

  • Do I want to stream/record?

  • Do I need plan on re-edit later?

If your answer is NO to all three, then the ATEM Mini is the way to go.

Alternatively, if you answered YES to all three, then the ATEM Mini Pro ISO is your obvious choice.

And if you are unsure about any of them, then I would recommend choosing the ATEM Mini Pro. It's the best balance between features and cost.

Use cases

So that was a pretty fast summary of which to choose. But I don't want to leave it there, so instead, I want to offer a few use cases for each of them, just for you to help a little more.

ATEM Mini

‘I want the basic setup to get me going’

If this is your first slide into video production like this, then the ATEM Mini is a perfect way to jump in. You will get to understand the basics of live video switching.

‘I already have a Pro or ISO but need more inputs’

Turns out the ATEM Mini is a wonderful way to squeeze a little more out of the ATEM Mini Pro or ISO that you already own. Grab the original Mini, connect its output to another ATEM Mini Pro or ISO and you have 4 more inputs to play with!

ATEM Mini Pro

‘I’m ready to go live’

The ATEM Mini Pro, with its built-in streaming and recording, is a perfect way to go live YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch. You don’t even need to do too much to make it happen, just attached a camera and an audio source, configure your destination, and start streaming. 

‘Someday, I want to record events’

When the world slips back to a new normal, live events will happen, and with the ATEM Mini Pro, you’ll be ready to capture and stream them. I’ve used the device on many occasions for videos on this channel and on others, and it's wonderfully surprising just how far you can push a 4 input HDMI switcher.

ATEM Mini Pro ISO

‘I’m starting a YouTube channel’

While the ATEM Mini Pro ISO is perfect for streaming to your new channel, it saves so much time on pre-recorded content too. I’ve used it to make a few videos for this channel (including this one) and the time saved when ISO recording all channels is totally worth it. A quick edit is just that… quick. So much easier than importing footage from all sorts of SD cards and assembling an edit before making one quick change.

‘I want my ATEM to do everything’

Everything is certainly a long shot, but going for the ISO version of the ATEM Mini lineup will give you the most flexibility when you get the hang of it. You can be streaming one day, and re-editing on another, not worrying about what your clients might throw at you.

So which one will you choose?