Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:27 am
Another thing to consider: you can have as many instances of the ATEM software open on different machines as you want.
I manage a public access station that is housed in our local high school, and, like you, they also do a daily morning announcements with tons of graphics in the media pools. So, we have a CG operator who has a laptop that has a 2nd monitor attached with Photoshop open on one monitor (in case they need to change something or build on the fly), with the ATEM software (open on the Media Pool tab) open on the 2nd screen so they can cycle through the graphics in the 2 media pools.
We have another instance of the software on another laptop so a student can shade the cameras.
And while we have a Broadcast Panel for our ATEM, we could have a 3rd instance of the software open for the technical director to switch the show. (The Broadcast Panel has a knob that allows you to cycle quickly through the Media Pools when we don't have a CG operator).
While I know that you talked about a tight budget, but the ATEM software can run on pretty much anything, so if you could get a hold of any old computer or laptop, you could have a student running the ATEM software on it just to change the graphics in the Media Pools, so that you don't have to interrupt the person operating the switcher.
Public Access Director, Peters Twp Comm TV
Freelance TV Broadcast Camera Op (sometimes Dir, TD, EIC, Video)
ATEM M/E 1, 2 & TVS, Studio & Broadcast Cam, Smartscope/view, Cam Conv, Studio Conv, Talkback Conv, Hyperdecks, Videohub 40x40 & MC