ATEM Mini: HDMI Audio distorted

Hi All,

I'm having an issue with the audio from the ATEM Mini (non-pro version) when I try to play a video file on a connected Macbook.

Setup:
- I'm using a freshly installed Macbook pro as streaming laptop, connected to the ATEM mini with USB-C, streaming to Youtube as webcam (not using OBS or anything else)
- 2 camera's (GH4 + GH5) are connected and working fine
- Deity connect for the sound is connected into Audio input 1, working fine
- One presenter laptop (Macbook) connected with HDMI into one of the ATEM's inputs (in the picture below it's CAM 4). This laptop runs a powerpoint presentation. There's a videofile (MP4) embedded.



There's a external monitor connected to the HDMI output of the ATEM Mini. When I plug in my headphones to that monitor, the sound is perfect. So the input seems to be fine, but something goes wrong with the audio coming from the ATEM to the Macbook.

Please see this (out of sync) test stream using the above setup:

As a reference, here's the movie that's used and how it's supposed to sound:

Things I've tried so far without luck:
- Different input on the ATEM
- Using a different laptop to play the video file
- Playing the video file through a different video player (quicktime, VLC)
- Changing the video file from stereo to mono
- Trying other video's
- Turning the panning knobs in the ATEMS software, making changes to Left and Right channel
- Splitting the audio channel in the ATEM software, making it mono
- Streaming to MS Teams instead

I'm out of ideas how to solve this. Anyone?

Thanks in advance,
Martijn

Your streaming bitrate is too low. Move to a High preset and make sure you have at least 20 Mb/s Upload via wired connection to the Mac.

Hi Jim,

Where to set this bitrate? I'm streaming directly to Youtube as webcam. I've never seen any quality presets. Also, I am using a wired connection of 50mbit to my Mac.

Hi Jim,

Where to set this bitrate? I'm streaming directly to Youtube as webcam. I've never seen any quality presets. Also, I am using a wired connection of 50mbit to my Mac.

You can set the 'bit rate' in the 'output' tab of the Atem Software Control, Martijn. HyperDeck High, Medium, Low / Streaming High, Medium, Low. When streaming I usually set it to Streaming High, however of it is depending on the internet speed. Fiber will do best, of course.

Happy streaming!
Peter

I am using a wired connection of 50mbit to my Mac.

Is that down or up?

Up is what matters for streaming.

Hi Jim,

Where to set this bitrate? I'm streaming directly to Youtube as webcam. I've never seen any quality presets. Also, I am using a wired connection of 50mbit to my Mac.

You can set the 'bit rate' in the 'output' tab of the Atem Software Control, Martijn. HyperDeck High, Medium, Low / Streaming High, Medium, Low. When streaming I usually set it to Streaming High, however of it is depending on the internet speed. Fiber will do best, of course.

Happy streaming!
Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your reply.

I do not see this option. Perhaps there's a difference between the ATEM Mini and ATEM Mini PRO features?
This is what I see:



And I think this is the setting that you mean:


Am I missing something here?

I am using a wired connection of 50mbit to my Mac.

Is that down or up?

Up is what matters for streaming.

50 up and 50 down, very stable.

Hi Martijn,
Indeed, the output option is not available on the Mini, only on the ISO's of the Pro and Extreme. So my suggestion isn't really helping very much. I don't know what would at the moment. Up/down speeds should be fine. Sorry for the inconvenience.

I'm running into the same sound distortion issue.

1) I'm running Pro presenter for streaming.

2) I'm inputting my Audio from my "Allen & Heath SQ-5 48-Channel / 36-Bus Digital Mixer" via USB-B to USB-A (USB 3.0).

When I solo the output bus of the SQ-5, the audio is perfect.

3) I'm inputting my Video from the ATEM Mini Pro via USB-B to USB-A..

The distortion appears to be originating from the ATEM Mini Pro, because when I power down the ATEM the distortion disappears.

I'm experiencing a flange effect in the stream, as well.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

You say you have tried a different laptop for playing the video, but have you tried using two separate laptops, one for video playback and one for streaming to YouTube?

Reason for asking: maybe the audio from the video is going directly to YouTube while you play it on the laptop, but also via the ATEM Mini. The audio from the ATEM Mini will be slightly later and could cause phasing issues if both audio paths are combined.