Video Switchers and Routers
ATEM automation for radio camera switching
An ATEM only cuts when somebody presses the button, and on a radio show that is somebody's whole hour. VRA cuts it from the studio microphones and runs its keys and macros. Your team can take over at any moment.
What VRA does with Blackmagic ATEM.
Cameras cut on the microphones
When a presenter's microphone opens, VRA takes their camera to program. Rules, dashboard buttons and macros can send the same command.
Program and preview, per M/E
VRA mirrors program and preview for every mix effects bus the model has, so operators and rules work from the switcher's real state.
Your keys and macros, run from VRA
VRA takes downstream keys on and off air and runs the macros stored on the ATEM. Fill, key and macro content stay configured on the switcher.
Rules that check the switcher first
A graphic, a rundown item or an automation can wait for a condition like camera 3 on program or the opener macro running.
A catch on manual takes
With live switching turned off on the Live Switcher page, every take needs a second click within two seconds.
How to set it up.
Requirements
- A Blackmagic ATEM reachable from VRA Core by IP.
- ATEM firmware 7.2 to 7.5.2 or 8.0 to 8.6. Check other versions with us before setup.
- Input labels and ATEM macros already configured on the switcher when you want to address them by name.
Connect the ATEM and the machine running VRA Core to the same reachable studio network.
In VRA Cloud, add a Live Switcher and choose Blackmagic ATEM.
Enter the switcher's IP address, save the connection and wait for VRA to read its inputs and current state.
Check program and preview for every M/E you plan to use. Test a downstream key and an ATEM macro before adding automation.
Use the generated switcher commands in camera angles, macros or automations.
Blackmagic ATEM questions
Does VRA work with my ATEM Mini? +
Yes, when it runs a supported firmware. VRA supports ATEM switchers on firmware 7.2 to 7.5.2 and 8.0 to 8.6, the ATEM Mini range included. On another version, ask us to check it before you rely on it on air.
Can VRA control more than one M/E on my ATEM? +
Yes. When the model has several mix effects buses, VRA reads and controls program and preview on each of them.
Does VRA replace ATEM Software Control? +
No. Inputs, keyers, media and macros are still set up in the ATEM's own software. VRA runs what you configured there as part of the show.
Where does the ATEM connection run? +
From VRA Core on your studio network to the switcher's IP address. A button pressed in VRA Cloud reaches the ATEM through that Core, so the switcher itself never has to be reachable from outside.
Blackmagic Design
About Blackmagic ATEM.
Blackmagic ATEM switchers run from the ATEM Mini up to broadcast models with several mix effects buses.
VRA connects to the switcher over the studio network and adds the one thing it cannot do by itself: listen to the microphones. When a presenter starts talking, their camera goes to program. VRA also reads program, preview, keys and macros back from the ATEM, so every rule can check what is really on air before it acts. Put together with Camera Assist framing PTZ cameras while they are off air, this is automated camera switching on the switcher you already own.
What you can do with this connection
Automated camera switching for radio
Switch cameras from microphone activity and prepare PTZ shots off air.
More infoThe products behind it.
More integrations.
vMix
Automate vMix for your radio show. The studio microphones pick the input, VRA graphics arrive as one NDI input and the recording follows the rundown.
OBS
Automatic camera switching in OBS Studio: VRA changes the scene when a studio microphone opens, using the scenes you already built, and runs the recording.
Blackmagic Videohub
Automate Blackmagic Videohub routing from VRA. Put SDI routes on buttons and in macros, next to your camera and graphics commands, on the studio network.
Check your studio setup with us.
Tell us your camera models, video switcher and radio automation. We will check the connections and show you the workflow that fits your station.