Numbers vs. names
The ATEM Mini’s buttons say 1, 2, 3, 4. A volunteer has to remember that 2 is the pastor and 4 is the slides. Bitfocus Companion on a Stream Deck turns those into “Pastor,” “Wide,” “Slides,” with colors that show what’s live.
Connecting Companion to the ATEM
- Put the ATEM on the church network with a fixed IP address. (See ATEM Software Control on a second computer.)
- Install Companion on a booth computer on the same network.
- In Companion, go to Connections and add Blackmagic ATEM. Enter the ATEM’s IP address.
- When it connects, the ATEM’s actions and feedbacks are available for your buttons.
A starter ATEM page
| Row | Buttons |
|---|---|
| Cameras | Pastor · Wide · Band · Slides |
| Moves | Cut · Auto (mix) · Fade to black |
| Graphics | Lyrics On/Off · Lower Third On/Off · Logo |
| Moments | Welcome · Sermon · End (ATEM macros) |
Use Companion’s feedbacks so each camera button glows when that input is on program, and the key buttons light while the key is on air.
Add the rest of the booth
The same page can:
- Recall PTZ presets for each camera, so “Pastor” moves the camera and cuts to it. (See controlling projectors, PTZ cameras, and sound boards.)
- Turn projectors on and off.
- Press buttons in WorshipMetrics Present, or be pressed by Present’s slides. (See Companion buttons inside WorshipMetrics.)
Tips for volunteers
- One page per seat. The switcher page shouldn’t hold audio or streaming buttons.
- Keep “Fade to black” and stream controls away from camera buttons.
- Use ATEM macros for multi-step moments, and Companion to run them. (See ATEM Mini macros.)
- Design for a newcomer. (See designing Companion pages for volunteers.)
A tablet works too, with no Stream Deck at all: a touch control panel with an Android tablet.
Related questions
- How do I connect Bitfocus Companion to an ATEM Mini?
- Put the ATEM on the church network with a fixed IP address, then in Companion add a Blackmagic ATEM connection and enter that address. Once it connects, Companion's ATEM actions (program and preview inputs, cut, auto transition, keys, macros, and more) are available for your buttons.
- Why use a Stream Deck with an ATEM Mini that already has buttons?
- The ATEM's buttons are numbers. Companion buttons can say 'Pastor' or 'Lyrics On,' change color to show what's live, combine several steps in one press, and also control other gear like PTZ cameras and projectors.
- Can Companion run ATEM macros?
- Yes. Companion can run ATEM macros, so a single button can trigger a sequence you've built in ATEM Software Control, such as switching to the welcome loop and turning on a logo.
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