Small ATEM mini setup using Davinci Resolve live replay

Hello there,

I'm a member of a streaming team for a pretty small Rugby club. We've got a small video setup and we are trying to get some live replay. I read a lot of articles about Davinci Resolve live replay and I tried some small things out, but it all was a bit unclear to me and I couldn't find any complete answer on my question: how can we use the Davinci live replay system with our small setup*?

*Using ATEM mini extreme, 3 simple camera's, OBS for grahpics or streaming (sometimes we stream via the ATEM itself). We record on a SSD connected directly to the ATEM mini.

We have a really tight budget and I hope to get a small, simple replay system to work.

On the internet I watched several videos about the replay system and read some articles about it. In those scenarios they would use hyperdecks and either external (10G) mediaplayers or the ultrastudio mini.

What is the most cost effective way to use Davinci Resolve live replay for our small setup?
And if we do need hyperdecks and all that stuff, will there be any way to use ISO records from that SSD in the future?

Thanks for the help!

Hello there,

I'm a member of a streaming team for a pretty small Rugby club. We've got a small video setup and we are trying to get some live replay. I read a lot of articles about Davinci Resolve live replay and I tried some small things out, but it all was a bit unclear to me and I couldn't find any complete answer on my question: how can we use the Davinci live replay system with our small setup*?

*Using ATEM mini extreme, 3 simple camera's, OBS for grahpics or streaming (sometimes we stream via the ATEM itself). We record on a SSD connected directly to the ATEM mini.

We have a really tight budget and I hope to get a small, simple replay system to work.

On the internet I watched several videos about the replay system and read some articles about it. In those scenarios they would use hyperdecks and either external (10G) mediaplayers or the ultrastudio mini.

What is the most cost effective way to use Davinci Resolve live replay for our small setup?
And if we do need hyperdecks and all that stuff, will there be any way to use ISO records from that SSD in the future?

Thanks for the help!

To use Davinci Resolve Live replay you need to do two things :

1. Record the feeds you want to replay - either using Hyperdecks or the Atem Mini's internal recordings (which is where the Atem ISO models are useful as they record every input, not just PGM, to external SSD media)

2. Replay the recorded video back via Resolve so it's a replay source on the Atem. This is where you need an HDMI or SDI live output from the PC/Mac running Resolve. I don't know if you can get the Resolve software to use a second HDMI output from a laptop/desktop PC to do this - or if you need to use a Decklink/Ultrastudio/Media Player 10G. Cheapest option if you don't need a key - so can use a single HDMI output - is likely to be an Ultrastudio 3G via Thunderbolt from a laptop, or a cheap Decklink Mini Monitor 3G for HDMI/SDI output?

NB I haven't trialled this yet - though I keep meaning to as I have the bits to test (Atem Mini Pro for recording, Mac running Resolve 19 for replay and an Ultrastudio 4K for output)

** Will try to update this post over the weekend when I've had a play **

One thing to be aware of with a non-ISO mixer is that you'll be recording PGM only - so if you replay something that was on PGM and leave it running for too long you'll see your replay repeat as you show the bit of PGM that you have recorded showing the replay, as a replay. That's why the ISOs make more sense for this role - as you're replaying an input camera recording, not the recording of PGM.

To use Davinci Resolve Live replay you need to do two things :

1. Record the feeds you want to replay - either using Hyperdecks or the Atem Mini's internal recordings (which is where the Atem ISO models are useful as they record every input, not just PGM, to external SSD media)

2. Replay the recorded video back via Resolve so it's a replay source on the Atem. This is where you need an HDMI or SDI live output from the PC/Mac running Resolve. I don't know if you can get the Resolve software to use a second HDMI output from a laptop/desktop PC to do this - or if you need to use a Decklink/Ultrastudio/Media Player 10G. Cheapest option if you don't need a key - so can use a single HDMI output - is likely to be an Ultrastudio 3G via Thunderbolt from a laptop, or a cheap Decklink Mini Monitor 3G for HDMI/SDI output?

NB I haven't trialled this yet - though I keep meaning to as I have the bits to test (Atem Mini Pro for recording, Mac running Resolve 19 for replay and an Ultrastudio 4K for output)

** Will try to update this post over the weekend when I've had a play **

One thing to be aware of with a non-ISO mixer is that you'll be recording PGM only - so if you replay something that was on PGM and leave it running for too long you'll see your replay repeat as you show the bit of PGM that you have recorded showing the replay, as a replay. That's why the ISOs make more sense for this role - as you're replaying an input camera recording, not the recording of PGM.

Thanks for your reply! This information has made the system a lot clearer for me.
I'll keep an eye on your post this weekend.


Just to confirm I understand everything correctly:

To do live replays I would need ISO recording from all camera's (which I can with the mini extreme), then feed these ISO recordings to my laptop via a (tunderbolt?) cable so Resolve can process them and send a HDMI feed out via an ultrastudio (HD mini?) which then feeds the video into ATEM.

With this system I won't be able to use stingers because Ultrastudio HD mini doesn't have separate key and fill, correct?


Then if I set this all up, how would I set up Resolve so it feeds the video feed to the ultrastudio converter?
(And is that on Mac, Windows or both?)

To use Davinci Resolve Live replay you need to do two things :

1. Record the feeds you want to replay - either using Hyperdecks or the Atem Mini's internal recordings (which is where the Atem ISO models are useful as they record every input, not just PGM, to external SSD media)

2. Replay the recorded video back via Resolve so it's a replay source on the Atem. This is where you need an HDMI or SDI live output from the PC/Mac running Resolve. I don't know if you can get the Resolve software to use a second HDMI output from a laptop/desktop PC to do this - or if you need to use a Decklink/Ultrastudio/Media Player 10G. Cheapest option if you don't need a key - so can use a single HDMI output - is likely to be an Ultrastudio 3G via Thunderbolt from a laptop, or a cheap Decklink Mini Monitor 3G for HDMI/SDI output?

NB I haven't trialled this yet - though I keep meaning to as I have the bits to test (Atem Mini Pro for recording, Mac running Resolve 19 for replay and an Ultrastudio 4K for output)

** Will try to update this post over the weekend when I've had a play **

One thing to be aware of with a non-ISO mixer is that you'll be recording PGM only - so if you replay something that was on PGM and leave it running for too long you'll see your replay repeat as you show the bit of PGM that you have recorded showing the replay, as a replay. That's why the ISOs make more sense for this role - as you're replaying an input camera recording, not the recording of PGM.

Thanks for your reply! This information has made the system a lot clearer for me.
I'll keep an eye on your post this weekend.

Afraid life has got in the way today - may have a go tomorrow.

Just to confirm I understand everything correctly:

To do live replays I would need ISO recording from all camera's (which I can with the mini extreme),

Yes - the Atem Mini Extreme ISO (I don't think there is a non-ISO) will record all cameras to h.264 on external USB-C connected storage.

then feed these ISO recordings to my laptop via a (tunderbolt?) cable so Resolve can process them

You access the recordings over the network - you mount the Atem's USB-C connected SSD storage as a network drive on the PC/Mac running Resolve

and send a HDMI feed out via an ultrastudio (HD mini?) which then feeds the video into ATEM.

Yes - that is how you get the video back out of Resolve and into your Atem Mini Extreme ISO

With this system I won't be able to use stingers because Ultrastudio HD mini doesn't have separate key and fill, correct?

Correct - the Ultrastudio HD Mini only has one HDMI output - though it does have two SDI outputs that may be converted to HDMI for Key and Fill potentially. I don't know if the HD Mini is supported for replay though.

Then if I set this all up, how would I set up Resolve so it feeds the video feed to the ultrastudio converter?
(And is that on Mac, Windows or both?)

You connect the Ultrastudio HD Mini to the PC / Mac running Resolve via Thunderbolt (NOT USB C)

[Gary Adams]

To answer one question Resolve only supports Fill and Key with the Ultrastudio 4K Mini and the upcoming Media Player.

Gary

To answer one question Resolve only supports Fill and Key with the Ultrastudio 4K Mini and the upcoming Media Player.

Gary

Thanks for confirming Gary.

You access the recordings over the network - you mount the Atem's USB-C connected SSD storage as a network drive on the PC/Mac running Resolve

I don't quite get this one.
If you connect a T7 SSD for example on USB port A, you can just use ethernet and/or thunderbolt via USB port B right? Or do I need to connect that SSD separately to my laptop?

You access the recordings over the network - you mount the Atem's USB-C connected SSD storage as a network drive on the PC/Mac running Resolve

I don't quite get this one.
If you connect a T7 SSD for example on USB port A, you can just use ethernet and/or thunderbolt via USB port B right? Or do I need to connect that SSD separately to my laptop?

You connect to the SSD connected to your Atem via the Atem's Ethernet connection. The USB SSD appears as a network mountable drive (It uses the standard Windows SMB/CIFS network protocol to share it).

On your PC/Mac running Resolve you mount the SSD that's connected to the Atem over the network. The Atem will appear in your network list (Macs and PCs vary but it's standard network drive sharing) and when you select it you'll see the SSD volume connected which you can mount as a drive. You then load the clips on that drive into your Media Pool in Resolve. It will detect they are growing clips being recorded as you'll see a red dot top left on them. Resolve will be playing the Media from the drive connected to your Atem (it may do some local cacheing on your PC/Mac under the hood to smooth out any bumps due to connectivity)

(NB it will help if you stop describing the USB Type-C connector on the Atem as Thunderbolt. It's not Thunderbolt. It's plain old USB. None of the current Atem Mini/SDI range has Thunderbolt I/O)

You connect to the SSD connected to your Atem via the Atem's Ethernet connection. The USB SSD appears as a network mountable drive (It uses the standard Windows SMB/CIFS network protocol to share it).

Please, help me in this step! I can't see the ATEM Pro Mini ISO in the network list. Using a Mac Book Pro M2 with Ventura MacOs
So I have no way to see the growing file in the davinci media

You connect to the SSD connected to your Atem via the Atem's Ethernet connection. The USB SSD appears as a network mountable drive (It uses the standard Windows SMB/CIFS network protocol to share it).

Please, help me in this step! I can't see the ATEM Pro Mini ISO in the network list. Using a Mac Book Pro M2 with Ventura MacOs
So I have no way to see the growing file in the davinci media

On my MacBook Pro M1 Max running Sonoma, the Atem Mini Pro just shows up in the Locations-Network area in Finder, along with all the other SMB-aware computers advertising themselves on my home network.

You can manually add it in Finder just as you would any other SMB network share though if it's not appearing automatically :

Finder->Go->Connect to Server (or CMD+K)
then add SMB://IP.ADDRESS.OF.ATEMMINI (using your Atem's IP address.)

Does anyone know if UltraStudio Monitor 3G works with this (without the use of stingers)?
And if not, does the Ultrastudio HD mini?

[Gary Adams]

The Ultrastudio Monitor or Mini HD do work to output the replay video. There is no black or audio switching or key support like you would have with the Ultrastudio 4K Mini but you can manually switch in the replay at the ATEM.

Gary

The Ultrastudio Monitor or Mini HD do work to output the replay video. There is no black or audio switching or key support like you would have with the Ultrastudio 4K Mini but you can manually switch in the replay at the ATEM.

Gary

Thanks for the answer Gary!
Is there any reason to go for the HD mini instead of the Monitor in my case?

Ultrastudio HD mini have 2 SDI outputs with FILL and KEY .. Im using it with Caspar CG ..

The Ultrastudio Monitor or Mini HD do work to output the replay video. There is no black or audio switching or key support like you would have with the Ultrastudio 4K Mini but you can manually switch in the replay at the ATEM.

Gary

So the Fill (A) and Key (B) outputs of the Ultrastudio 4K Mini are supported, but the Ultrastudio HD Mini is Fill (A) only and Resolve won't use its Key (B) output?

(Both the Ultrastudio 4K and HD Minis have A and B SDI outputs for Fill and Key in other situations - like CasparCG - don't they?)

[Gary Adams]

Both the Ultrastudio 4K Mini and the Ultrastudio HD Mini support Fill and Key outputs (along with some other Blackmagic capture/playback devices), however the Resolve Replay software functionality of Fill and Key along with black switching is only supported with the Ultrastudio 4K Mini and the upcoming Media Player 10G. It's a logical assumption but we don't want anyone assuming all of the devices are supported in this way. For manual switching of the replay video from resolve (minus any special handling), any of the playback devices will output the video from Resolve. I hope that helps.

Gary

Both the Ultrastudio 4K Mini and the Ultrastudio HD Mini support Fill and Key outputs (along with some other Blackmagic capture/playback devices), however the Resolve Replay software functionality of Fill and Key along with black switching is only supported with the Ultrastudio 4K Mini and the upcoming Media Player 10G. It's a logical assumption but we don't want anyone assuming all of the devices are supported in this way. For manual switching of the replay video from resolve (minus any special handling), any of the playback devices will output the video from Resolve. I hope that helps.

Gary

That explains a lot, thanks!
Will the Ultrastudio HD mini eventually support key, fill and black switching?

I have a simple question about small replay system...
Is it possible to use ATEM MINI PRO ISO or is necessary the ATEM EXTREME ISO?

It should work, the required features are built into that I suppose. As long as you have accessible realtime ISO files you can edit it with Resolve live replay and send it back into an HDMI input.

maybe some of you use it on a daily basis and know how it should work?

so:
I have an Atem Mini Extreme
- I have cameras connected to it from input 1-7
- I also connect the Ultra Studio 3G monitor to input no. 8 of the Atem (it is also connected to the computer on which I have the DaVinci and set replays)

now the question
in a situation when I have a replay, should I switch to input no. 8 to show it - or will it happen automatically? (how does it work?)

[Gary Adams]

With the Ultrastudio Monitor 3G you will need to switch or transition to it manually when you start the replay. I hope this helps.

Gary

Chiming in here as my other posts have gone un-noticed. This system has been incredibly buggy for us. Even with a new clean mac studio- we're using all the recommended hardware for the small system.

Resolve replay locked up our main atem ISO extreme in the middle of a broadcast and we had to unplug the ATEM (black screen) to get the atem working. ( We were not able to switch cameras)

Resolve crashed in the middle of another event and sent the multiview output as a downstream key over our live broadcast, both as resolve crashed and rebooted. This happened twice.

This is all incredibly stressful. Every event I feel like it's a ticking time-bomb waiting to go off - frustrating and embarrassing. Reaching out to BM tech support and the basic answer is no recommendations- it's a "new" product- best to go talk to integrators. I've used resolve/BMD products for the better of 10 years, but BMD WTH??

[Gary Adams]

The disk drive could cause this. Keep in mind the necessary bandwidth stress on the disk when recording and playing over USB and the network. Of course make sure you are up to date on software.

Gary

Thanks for the reply Gary

I am also noticing a strange issue. We are running all SDI inputs through the ATEM ISO extreme 8 and there seems to be a timecode issue.(Everything and resolve set to 1080p59.94) When we set a a POI from the liveview I see a TC delay that sets the POI almost 1 minute into the future. So when we trigger the go to POI, the whole system hangs and waits for the POI TC to be created. Have you ever seen this before?

The disk drive could cause this. Keep in mind the necessary bandwidth stress on the disk when recording and playing over USB and the network. Of course make sure you are up to date on software.

Gary