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This ATEM (mini) Tips” series of short video tutorials for your Blackmagic ATEM hardware includes tips for all users, from beginner to advanced. Scroll down to see more in the series!

This is a collection of all PhotoJoseph LIVE shows, from the PhotoJoseph YouTube channel. Additional episodes are listed below!

Choosing the Right Color Profile (Mac Shared Screen)

Photo Moment - April 20, 2021

Does your Mac display look… wrong… on your ATEM Mini? There's a good reason for this. You need to choose the right color profile!!

Need an ATEM Mini?

What this tip is about…

When you connect your Mac (and possibly a PC… sorry, I don't know!) to your ATEM Mini, ATEM Mini Pro, ATEM Mini Pro ISO, ATEM Mini Extreme, or ATEM Mini Extreme ISO — the colors will NOT look right!

Now, to be honest, most folks will never notice. But, if the screen looks off to you, and you do want things to look as accurate as possible — especially if you're doing software demos through your ATEM! — then, you will want to choose the right profile.

Which profile is it? That's “easy”… it's SMPTE RP 431-2-2007 DCI (P3) 😂 — Just remember that it starts whit “SMPTE” and ends with “P3,” and you'll be good to go!

📄 Full Video Transcript

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Did this help on your ATEM setup? Let me know! I hope this tip is helpful, and if you want to see more, be sure to subscribe! https://youtube.com/c/photojoseph?sub_confirmation=1
I'm having a similar problem in OBS: my image coming from the ATEM is way too bright and contrasty. If I'm sending a presentation with lots of whites and light greys, the image looks great on the atem, but it's horrible in OBS. I can't even see the light grey parts. Is this the same problem? Or is there another part that crashes my image?
Different problem. It’s been years since I looked at this but there’s a color management or profile setting in the OBS preferences that needs to be changed. Sorry I can’t be more specific but a Google search using those terms should locate it for you.
Hey Joseph, Thanks for this tip. I've changed my color profile and I'm still running in to an issue. When we're running slide decks the grays and whites are meshing in to each other and are making the slide decks look horrible. Was wondering if you have any other suggestions for us?
I'm a bit late to the party seeing this video, and its helpful advice which took me down a rabbit hole I needed to go down. But I don't actually believe the profile you suggest is correct.
The profile you suggest makes everything look too light.. so the opposite problem, and blacks look washed out. But don't get me wrong, the video was still helpful as a reminder that this option in the Mac exists.
I did some fairly exhaustive tests, monitoring the screen on the Mac, then switching to a calibrated display connected to the ATEM... and found none of the colour presets on the Mac were 'correct'. In fact, in the end I went back to the default BDHDM option because although it looks slightly darker it messes less with the colours and overall looks more accurate.

The other issue already mentioned in the comments (about the ATEM's webcam output being full range instead of partial range) I've already dealt with by using a CAMLINK 4K connected to the Atem's HDMI output. But although that is much better, even that shows differences in the colour and contrast that are not correct..

I think with this issue in a live environment with multiple sources (mixing cameras and computer souces), you can end up chasing your tail and never fully resolve the problem.
So I now just get it as close as I can by eye and live with it. For me the Camlink was worth using, the colour profile switch on the Mac was not.

The better (though still not perfect) option is to use a tiny bit of Zoom's 'adjust for low light' feature.

I don't want to sound ungrateful though... this stuff needs to be talked about, and not many people are talking about it. Thank you.
Interesting. This doesn't seem to resolve my issue which is that the output and therefore the recording from the Atem Mini Pro, is too warm. The dark grey colors look more orange grey instead of neutral. Is there an easy way to adjust color on the output?
@@SunriseWaterMedia there is not
@@photojoseph What I mean by output is the USBC SSD recording as well as HDMI 1 and HDMI 2 (multiview and program view)

The overall color is rather warm. I was hoping that Black Magic had an overall white balance adjustment for the program out.
When you say "output", do you mean the HDMI out? If so, then yes, the same way you change the Mac display. Open the Display settings, choose that "monitor" (the Mac will see whatever is connected to the HDMI as a monitor, even if it's a recorder), and change the profile used there.
This video is gold. Grazi!
Prego!
Hi, do you have a fix for the over saturated image when using the Atem Mini USB output into OBS as a webcam? I have tried this but first, when duplicating it does not get the right color, second, I don't need to used it duplicated but as a second display that comes form another laptop into the HDMI input of the Atem Mini. I really appreciate if you can help me to solve this issue.
I don't know what you mean by "duplicated". If this color profile doesn't look right in OBS, but it does look right in an HDMI preview monitor, then OBS or the computer is doing something to the image on input. I'd be looking at OBS as the fault here.
My church uses Propresenter 6 and the ATEM software Control 8.5.2 and all the colors except black show up on the screen. Do you know what would cause that and how we can get that fixed?
Then you are keying out the black. You need to key out whatever color your background is.
@@photojoseph I believe the chroma key.
that means you're keying black. Are you set to a luma key or chroma key?
@@photojoseph It's translucent. So you just see whatever is in the background/behind the lower third.
If black doesn't show up, what shows up instead?
GENIUS! thanks a lot Joseph!
I was wondering why FCP looked so crunchy during my livestreams! I had changed the display settings a few times to just try to randomly find one that looked better, but now I know the exact setting! Thanks, Joseph!
You just SAVED ME!!!!!!!! I was having huge issues and this solved it. Thank you.
Awesome!
THANK YOU THANK YOU BRO! Saved me
fantastic!! Love to hear that ;-)
Hey thanks for sharing this. The problem we are having at my agency, is that the output from the atem significantly changes from the keynote slide deck that we are sharing into zoom. any way to adjust or account for that? When we share direct to zoom without the BM Atem, the colors match that of the original mac screens output to end users. ... We're stumped. @photojoseph
You’ve done this color fix and are still seeing a difference?
Ty for this.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We use a Mac with Chromakey turned on in the ATEM so we can superimpose lower thirds right from KeyNote. But we were having a problem with playing certain videos from KeyNote into the ATEM - they had large, blobby black areas that were only visible with the Chromakey turned on. Changing the display profile fixed it! Perfect!
Fantastic!
Hi @PhotoJoseph, Thanks for your tips. Why is it that whenever my laptop is connected to my BMD Atem mini through HDMI, it doesn't show full frame scale on the monitor whenever I switched to the channel on the atem mini (in Duplicate mode) unless the PC is projected to display at Extended mode?
While changing to this Color Profile will make a minor improvement, it doesn't fix the source of the problem. The issue is that the USB-C output is exporting a compressed (15-235 instead of 0-255) range. That means that blacks and whites are being "clipped" and there simply is no way around it.

If you're using OBS you can switch to Rec 709 and get the full range. In apps (Zoom and FaceTime specifically) there's no fix.

My solution was to purchase a Cam Link and use the HDMI output via Cam Link into Zoom. No more compression issue.
Hey Travis. The compression they are adding is likely in hardware, so unfixable. But, who knows.

As far as the color — I still maintain that we are talking about different things. If you plug a Mac's HDMI output into an ATEM, and a monitor into the ATEM's Output (forget USB, we're not touching it), and mirror your screen in the Mac — the output from the ATEM will look different until you set the color profile as directed in this video. That's what this video is about.
By skipping the USB-C webcam output on the ATEM and instead using HDMI OUT -> StreamDeck 4K video capture card, the result is an uncompressed stream with no clipping. I've been constantly complaining to BlackMagic about how they're compressing the MJPEG output of the USB-C stream, but crickets.
@@photojoseph No, that's exactly what I'm talking about. The entire issue is created by the way the ATEM mini handles webcam out via USB-C. When using the ATEM as a source for an app like Zoom or FaceTime (with Mac display on HDMI 1, for example) the resulting stream via USB-C webcam output looks miserable. The main HDMI looks fine though. The output of the USB-C is a compressed version that clips roughly 15-20 points on the far end of the levels, resulting in an overly contrasty image.
So, you’re talking about a different issue. You’re 100% correct in USB vs HDMI output. However this is about bringing a Mac screen into the ATEM, i.e. for a software demo.
Side note - I also tried a cheapo $18 HDMI-USB capture device from Amazon and it looked even worse than the ATEM input. The Cam Link 4K looks outstanding though and works perfectly with Mac displays and Apple TVs.
We are waiting for the next Atem Tip 😃
"Conveniently named..." LOL (& Great tip! - added to my ATEM playlist)
hehe sweet!
Hey Photo Joseph! Thanks again for your awesome tips! I would love to see one about camera control via ATEM software control, particularly regarding zooming in and out on the Blackmagic pocket cinema cameras. What kind of lenses work for that etc. There seems to be very little info about it out there..
@@photojoseph That's amazing, thank you so much!! Really appreciate it. Can't wait to watch it
I'm going to work on that today, as I just happen to have a BMPCC and a motorized zoom lens in house right now!
thanks again for doing this!
Sure thing, thanks for watching!
Tip on Connecting the Atem to a network (with or without internet) and controlling it with multiple devices. Will really appreciate on showing the router configurations for a reliable wireless connection. Thanks.
Sure thing! Although the fact that you asked the question does make me think it'd be a good mini tip!
@@photojoseph Thanks Man! :)
You don't need any special configuration to have multiple computers talking to the ATEM. Any number can be connected at once. It will execute whatever last command it got; no matter where it came from. As to wireless — don't do it. The ATEMs are very finicky on their network connection, and any little glitch will make it drop the connection to the software, and take several seconds to reconnect. I've been using ATEMs for a long time. Don't go wireless. Even if you use an iPad to control it, you'll want an ethernet connection on your iPad.
Dear Joseph,
Thanks for your time in advance.

I have 1 Pocket 6K and 1 Pocket 6K Pro and 1 Atem mini extreme iso. I do livestreams directly from the ATEM via the Ethernet connector.
All works fine.

my question is:
When the Pocket’s are connected via HDMI to the atem, the camera’s are on the BRAW setting.
Assuming that iso/exposure etc settings are properly dialed in, What/Which LUT setting on the camera’s is the appropriate one when you want to give the viewers at home a descend, graded/broadcast-ish image ?

Hope to hear from you, and many thanks!! 👍
I don't own those cameras, but in general if the camera has a Rec709, or "like 709" LUT, then that'd be the most basic, clean, broadcast-standard LUT.
Awesome tip - many thanks!!!
You're welcome!
Thanks, Joseph. I've been looking for tip like this without realizing I was looking for a tip like this.
haha awesome
Thank you for the tip Joseph!! The other problem with color profiles comes when you want to get the usb ATEM output on your computer to send via StreamYard or OBS, it's also darker, but you can't change the ATEM profile obviously... What you recommend to do? The ATEM USB-output signal its also darker and saturate 😔
I think that's a byproduct of the compression happening over USB. To avoid it entirely, use the HDMI output and get a dedicated HDMI to USB converter.
Do you also have an idea why light greys in UIs from some devices (Surface laptop 3:2 and MacBook Pro) appear as white when they're plugged into Atem Mini.
I saw this behaviour when I record with OBS and it's on the record file.
@@kickmagnet4971 I didn’t even consider making a custom profile… thanks!!
@@photojoseph I can share what finally worked for me: manually calibrating the color. In Mac System Preferences > Display, select "Color" then hold down option when you click the "Calibrate" button. I found using the apple (you'll know what I'm talking about when you get there) wasn't as helpful as using some pictures in the background that I knew how they were supposed to look. You can save your settings as a custom profile and reload it anytime you need to use your Mac as a source in the ATEM.

Thanks for all these helpful videos, by the way!
@@kickmagnet4971 I’ve been noticing that more. It’s like the shade of grey in the ATEM software is incompatible with the ATEM hardware!
@@photojoseph Not the original commenter, but: yes, the color profile fixes the colors for the most part, but largely still displays the grays incorrectly.
Did you try changing the profile as discussed in this video?
I’ve had the ATEM Mini for like 4 days now, I couldn’t’ figure out why it was darker, now I know.. THANK YOU!
No, however the new Apple TV 4K will have that screen calibration feature which might help!
When I connect my Apple TV 4K to one of the ATEM Mini inputs, it also looks a little darker than it should with darker scenes... is there a fix for that too?
Right on! Yeah, this makes a big difference!
Love your info. Consider doing this: I want to record a Zoom call on an ATEM. The entire Zoom call, with everyone on it. But Zoom doesn't see the ATEM as a monitor. I tried running Zoom through an external monitor and then, via HDMI out, to the ATEM, but I see only snow, no image. Would like to know if this is possible. Thanks.
So you’re connecting the HDMI out of your computer to an input on the ATEM, right? Watch the previous tip, 008, on how to do that. The rest will fall into place.
Just joined the Atem family and you are a lifesaver!!!
Right on, welcome to the family, Nathan!
Please how can fix Audio delay or sync on Atem mini and what cause that product ?
@@photojoseph ok thank you I will try and give you feedback
Here's the video you want: https://youtu.be/H07ZW72CSD0
Really mini that tip, but really helpful! I’ll check that out when I start up my ATEM Mini tomorrow.
You are very welcome, (and I'm sorry if you have to re-record!)
@@photojoseph I tried it – and it makes a huge difference! I almost feel like having to re-record some of my videos from the last two weeks again, in particular those where I had photos on my lecture slides. Thank you for pointing this out!
it makes a difference, for sure!
Turbo Top Tip!
hehe emphasis on TURBO, yeah? 😂
I always wondered why the output was darker! Thanks Joseph!
Happy to help!
What is the best way to get a mixer output into the ATEM iso so it can be recorded with all the other video inputs?
@@DennisMathews-is1qz I have used a yamaha mixer that has CR out with RCA jacks, the block diagram (included in the mixer manual) tells me CR out is sourced right before the main output fader, it also tells me the norminal level so I can adjust the gain/fader in fairlight (mic in channel) to match -10dBV norminal that ATEM expects
@@DennisMathews-is1qz Again, I am far from an expert, but have successfully set up an ATEM Mini Pro to livestream at our church with our sound board. Hopefully someone else will weigh in here. If you don't need the control room outputs for anything else, I think that is your simplest approach. The RCAs are unbalanced and according to 30 seconds of Peavy video I found, they mirror your Left and Right Main Outs. From your original post, I am not clear whether that worked for you. That does preserve your headphone jack for monitoring. If you need the RCAs for something else, Google "balanced output to unbalanced input" and you can find pin-out information. That will require some soldering to wire XLR output connectors to an input plug for the ATEM. There are probably more proper ways to do that transition, but if your run from the mixer to the ATEM is relatively short, you shouldn't pick up any noise problems. I imagine some configuring will be needed in your mixer to get the sends you want to a pair of XLR outs. Hopefully that helps.
I’ve tried three ways coming from a peavy Aureus 28, all going into one on the Mike inputs. I’ve used the headphone out on the mixer with stereo cable, and of course loose the monitoring. I’ve used what is called a control room out and adapt RCA to 3.5 stereo in, and third I took two linked bus outputs into a audio interface and use TRS 1/4 headphones out into 3.5 TRS on ATEM. The headphone outputs are unbalanced but the linked bus XLRs aren’t. What is the proper way to unbalance them? Thanks
Also check your mixer audio output, which is probably balanced. The Mini Pro is unbalanced, so you will need to make that conversion. Probably second nature to the experts, but it kept us confused for a couple weeks.
Into one of the Mic inputs; just be sure to set it to line level (in the ATEM software)
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