This massive 4 M/E switcher features 40 12G-SDI inputs, 24 12G-SDI aux outputs, 4 DVEs, 16 ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyers, 4 media players, 4 independent Ultra HD multiviews, 2 SuperSource processors and even standards conversion on all inputs! The ATEM Constellation 8K is a 2 rack unit live production switcher that runs as a 4 M/E Ultra HD switcher, then combines its resources to work as a native 8K switcher. Those headline figures describe the Ultra HD mode — in 8K the switcher reallocates its processing and the counts change, so both are given below.

Every one of the 40 SDI inputs carries its own re-sync plus frame rate and format conversion, so sources running at different standards can be plugged straight in without outboard converters. Inputs are 10-bit and support 1.5G, 3G, 6G and 12G-SDI rates, with automatic detection between level A and level B 3G-SDI, 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI. Ten of the 40 inputs switch to 4320p for 8K work, which runs 2 sample interleave. On the output side there are 28 video outputs up to Ultra HD — 24 aux plus 4 multiview — dropping to 7 in 8K, being 6 aux and 1 multiview. Any of the 24 SDI outputs can be assigned as program or preview.

Keying runs to 16 upstream and 4 downstream keyers in Ultra HD, dropping to 4 and 2 in 8K, and all 16 upstream keyers are ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyers. Two SuperSource processors handle multi-box layouts, alongside 21 linear and luma keyers and 28 total layers up to Ultra HD, or 7 of each in 8K. Four DVEs with 3D borders and drop shadow are available up to Ultra HD, one in 8K. Four media players in Ultra HD, or one in 8K, draw on a pool holding 64 Ultra HD stills with fill and key, or 24 in 8K, from PNG, TGA, BMP, GIF, JPEG and TIFF files.

Four independent multiviews in Ultra HD, or one in 8K, give up to 64 routable windows — 16 in 8K — with custom source labels and red and green tally, each selectable to HD, Ultra HD or 8K. You even get built in talkback and a professional 156 channel Fairlight audio mixer with EQ and dynamics! Audio connections cover two balanced 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) jacks in and two out, plus one 32 stereo channel MADI input and two 32 stereo channel MADI outputs on BNC, with a 5-pin XLR talkback connection and RJ45 for third party talkback systems. Power comes from two internal 100 to 240V AC supplies drawing 300W, and ATEM Software Control is included free for Mac and Windows.

Key features

• 4 M/E Ultra HD switcher that reconfigures as a native 8K switcher
• 40 12G-SDI inputs up to Ultra HD; 10 of them switchable to 4320p in 8K
• 28 video outputs up to Ultra HD (24 aux, 4 multiview) or 7 in 8K (6 aux, 1 multiview)
• Standards conversion and re-sync on all 40 inputs
• 1.5G, 3G, 6G and 12G-SDI rates, with auto detection across 3G, 6G and 12G-SDI
• 16 upstream and 4 downstream keyers in Ultra HD; 4 and 2 in 8K
• All 16 upstream keyers are ATEM Advanced Chroma Keyers (4 in 8K)
• 2 SuperSource processors; 4 DVEs with 3D borders and drop shadow, 1 in 8K
• 21 linear and luma keyers and 28 total layers up to Ultra HD, 7 of each in 8K
• 4 media players in Ultra HD, 1 in 8K; pool holds 64 Ultra HD stills with fill and key, 24 in 8K
• 4 independent multiviews (1 in 8K), up to 64 routable windows (16 in 8K) with tally
• 156 channel Fairlight mixer with 6 band parametric EQ and dynamics
• 1x 32 stereo channel MADI in and 2x 32 stereo channel MADI out on BNC, plus balanced 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) jacks
• Built in talkback: 5-pin XLR plus RJ45 for third party systems
• Tri-Sync or Black Burst reference input, internal timecode generator
• Two internal 100 to 240V AC supplies, 300W, 2 rack units
• 10-bit 4:2:2 in Rec. 709 and Rec. 2020
• ATEM Software Control included free for Mac and Windows