If you’re on the go with your live streaming business, you know how much the Blackmagic ATEM Mini is both a blessing and a curse. It is small, compact, and uncompromisingly loaded with all the features Blackmagic could compress into its diminished size. It is frankly amazing to say the least. But not unlike all of the switchers and systems that came before it, it can be a total pain to power, wire, and even find a place to put these little guys.
Its size makes it a bit unwieldy, and the number of cables that have to run into it start to seem impractical. That’s why Caleb of DSLR Video Shooters has built one of the most detailed case systems that I have ever seen for the ATEM Mini with the goal of making setup times faster, easier, and the whole system more useable.
What’s more, Caleb has released his plans for what he calls the ‘ATEM Mini Jacket’ for FREE in the hopes that you’ll make one for yourself and maybe even product designers catch wind of his idea and bring a finished system to market.
Overview and Features
The entire ‘ATEM Mini Jacket’ system is built inside of a Pelican 1170 case that houses the ATEM Mini, a monitor, and all of the wiring for power and splitting the video signals as per Caleb’s requirements.
The ATEM Mini is held into place by two bolted clamps, and a 7” monitor is fixed to the inside of the lid.
Even though the monitor is a bit small for a switcher, it is the principal feature that allows for a speedy setup and breakdown. Bringing along an external monitor, mounting it, and powering and wiring it takes time. And if you need something bigger, the system even has a built-in splitter!
An external headphone jack, external power port, and external flip power switches for both the monitor and the ATEM Mini add a nice, professional touch. The entire case is powered through a single power port, and can work off of an outlet or an external battery.
The rear of the case has been cut out to allow access to the ATEM Mini’s ports, as well as airflow so the system doesn’t overheat.
A cheese plate has been bolted to the bottom of the case to allow the ‘ATEM Mini Jacket’ to be mounted with a variety of accessories or to a variety of places – even a c-stand to allow you to stream and switch from anywhere.
There are even little rubber feet on the bottom to lift it up a bit and keep it from slipping on a flat surface. He really thought of everything.
Build and Parts
This entire project only costs $375 to make (not including the cost of the ATEM Mini, of course), and one really refreshing thing is that Caleb isn’t selling these kits, he has posted detailed specs in this video and on his blog to help you build one for yourself.
Head over to his site for all the relevant links and parts lists you’ll need to get going. It is important to note that Caleb has constructed most of the inside of the case using a 3D printer. If you don’t have a 3D printer, you can always send his OBJ files off to a printing service but that will obviously increase your cost.
Conclusion
Honestly, I don’t know what else to say. Caleb has put together one of the most detailed DIY case systems I’ve ever seen. It’s compact, light, and very portable.
If I had to make any critique, I’d say that the build process seems rather time-consuming but the pay off in time saved is immeasurable.
As a person who is not at all fond to setting things up (and even less fond of breaking them back down), I absolutely love what he has done here and I can’t wait to see what his next case creation will be.
Nice one!
[source: DSLR Video Shooter]
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