Blackmagic Design ATEM 4 M/E Constellation 4K Plus – 12G-SDI Switcher

Product Overview

The Blackmagic Design ATEM 4 M/E Constellation 4K Plus is a flagship 12G-SDI live production switcher for large multi-camera broadcasts, with 80 12G-SDI inputs and 48 independent 12G-SDI ISO/AUX outputs. It processes 10-bit UHD 4K60 across four M/E rows and includes a 298-channel Fairlight audio mixer, making it an 80-input 12G-SDI switcher built for major live events. Control is via the integrated front panel, optional ATEM hardware panels, or the free ATEM Software Control.

Product Description

The 4 M/E Constellation 4K Plus is a rack-mount broadcast switcher with Fairlight audio that connects to a wide range of cameras and sources and outputs up to 10-bit UHD 4K60 over 12G-SDI, plus 1080p/720p webcam output over USB-C. Every input has a frame synchronizer, frame-rate converter, and format converter, so cameras without genlock can be mixed freely. Four DVE engines and SuperSource multilayer processing (eight extra DVE layers over a background) handle picture-in-picture and graphic-wipe effects, while 16 upstream ATEM Advanced chroma keyers — enough for a four-camera virtual set — and four downstream keyers support news and virtual-set work. Four multiview outputs offer up to 16 routable windows each, and up to 48 outputs are independently routable. As a 4K60 multi-camera production switcher, it adds professional broadcast talkback (5-pin XLR plus RJ12 for ClearCom/RTS, and SDI talkback to Blackmagic cameras), two MADI inputs and four MADI outputs, RS-422 serial control, and a built-in media pool with four media players. Compared with the 2 M/E Constellation 4K, the 4 M/E Plus roughly triples SDI I/O (80 in / 52 out vs 24 / 12), doubles M/E rows to four, doubles chroma keyers to 16, and provides four multiview outputs — positioning it for the largest live productions rather than medium-scale shows. A high-efficiency thermal system keeps the unit quiet despite the I/O density.

Key Features

• 80 × 12G-SDI in, 48 × 12G-SDI out — Massive 10-bit I/O for large multi-camera productions, with USB-C webcam output.
• Four M/E rows — Independent mix/effects banks for complex live switching.
• 298-channel Fairlight audio mixer — Per-input mixing with two MADI inputs and four MADI outputs.
• 16 upstream + 4 downstream keyers — ATEM Advanced chroma/luma keying for news and virtual sets, enough for a 4-camera virtual set.
• 4 DVE engines + SuperSource — Picture-in-picture, 3D borders, and an extra multilayer compositor as a virtual input.
• Per-input conversion — Frame synchronizer, frame-rate, and format converter on every input.
• Four multiview outputs — Up to 16 routable windows each; up to 48 independently routable outputs.
• Professional talkback — 5-pin XLR and RJ12 for ClearCom/RTS, plus SDI talkback to Blackmagic cameras.
• Flexible control — Integrated front panel with LCD, optional ATEM panels, or free ATEM Software Control (macOS/Windows).

Typical Applications

• Broadcast studio — Large multi-camera live switching and playout with full keying and audio.
• Auditorium — Big-stage events needing many camera inputs and multiview monitoring.
• House of worship — Multi-campus, multi-camera services with talkback and virtual-set keying.
• Government space — Chamber and large-venue production with redundant power and SDI routing.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cameras and sources can it handle?
Up to 80 12G-SDI inputs with 48 12G-SDI outputs, across four M/E rows, at up to 10-bit UHD 4K60.

Can I mix cameras without genlock?
Yes. Each input has a frame synchronizer plus frame-rate and format conversion, so non-genlocked sources can be combined.

How is it controlled?
By the integrated front panel and LCD, optional ATEM hardware panels, or the free ATEM Software Control for macOS and Windows, with multiple users able to connect over Ethernet.

Does it integrate with broadcast talkback systems?
Yes. It supports a 5-pin XLR headset and an RJ12 connector for ClearCom or RTS systems, plus SDI talkback to Blackmagic cameras.

How does it compare to the 2 M/E Constellation 4K?
The 4 M/E Plus has far more I/O (80 in / 52 out vs 24 / 12), four M/E rows instead of two, 16 chroma keyers vs 8, and four multiview outputs vs two — aimed at the largest live events.