Blackmagic Design ATEM 2 M/E Advanced Panel 40

Blackmagic Design ATEM 2 M/E Advanced Panel 40

The Blackmagic Design ATEM 2 M/E Advanced Panel 40 is a professional, high-capacity hardware control surface designed for complex live production. While the "2 M/E" designation indicates it has two physical rows of buttons, its "40" designation means each row features 40 dedicated input buttons, allowing for instant, non-shifted access to a massive number of sources.

It is physically as wide as the 4 M/E model, providing a spacious layout for Technical Directors who need to manage large-scale switchers like the ATEM Constellation 8K or 4 M/E Constellation 4K without the vertical height of a 4-row panel.

Core Functionality

• Dual M/E Control: Features two independent M/E rows. However, because each row can be "bank-switched," a single row can control up to 4 M/Es in larger switchers, effectively allowing this panel to manage even the most complex 4 M/E Constellation setups.

• 40 Direct Inputs: With 40 buttons per row, you can access 40 sources directly and another 40 via the shift button, providing immediate tactile control over 80 total sources per bank.

• Independent System Control: Equipped with four independent system control LCDs (two per row). This allows you to adjust keyers, transitions, and DVE settings for multiple M/E banks or different switcher functions simultaneously.

• Custom Labeling: Features high-resolution LCD "scribble strips" for every button. These automatically update with the source name and color from the ATEM switcher, ensuring you never hit the wrong camera in a dark control room.

Key Hardware Features

• Dual Fader Bars: Two independent, weighted T-bar faders allow for manual control of transitions across different M/E banks.

• 3-Axis Joystick: A professional-grade joystick for real-time positioning of DVE effects, sizing PIPs, and controlling PTZ cameras.

• Dedicated Macro Buttons: Quickly trigger complex pre-programmed sequences. With 40 buttons per row, you have a vast surface for "one-touch" triggers for graphics and complex stinger transitions.

• Ethernet Networking: Includes 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports with loop-through. This allows you to chain multiple panels (like a Camera Control Panel) together without needing an external network switch in the rack.

Technical Specifications

Operational Insight

In professional production environments, the 2 M/E Advanced Panel 40 is the preferred choice for wide-desk installations where vertical space is limited (e.g., in a mobile broadcast truck). It provides the exact same source-access speed as the top-tier 4 M/E panel but takes up significantly less vertical room, making it easier to see over the panel to the multiview monitors.

Redundancy Note: Like all high-end ATEM panels, this unit features dual internal power supplies. For mission-critical broadcasts, you should plug each power cord into a separate circuit (or one into a UPS and one into mains) to ensure the panel stays live even if a power phase fails.