The Blackmagic Design ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP is a professional live production switcher designed entirely around native SMPTE-2110 IP video, eliminating the need for traditional SDI infrastructure in high-end broadcast environments. Announced at NAB 2026, this switcher represents a significant departure from the standard ATEM Constellation SDI models, built specifically for broadcasters migrating to IP-based workflows while maintaining the familiar operational features of the ATEM series. The unit features a completely redesigned chassis with front-to-back cooling, four silent fans, and extensive redundancy including redundant PTP clock connections, dual 10G Ethernet control ports, and redundant AC power supplies.

The ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP supports 32 standards-converted SMPTE-2022-7 inputs via four sets of dual redundant 100G Ethernet connections, along with 24 SMPTE-2110 outputs, 16 ATEM Advanced Keyers, four independent multiviewers, and two SuperSource processors delivering a total of 12 DVEs. Each 100G Ethernet port handles eight video inputs and eight video outputs bidirectionally, meaning just four cables replace up to 60 individual BNC cables on an equivalent SDI switcher. Every video port features SMPTE-2022-7 seamless protection switching, sending duplicate streams across separate network switches and reconstructing frames from the first arriving packets to ensure uninterrupted transmission.

A critical feature for real-world production is the dedicated standards converter on every input channel. Unlike pure SMPTE-2110 environments where all sources theoretically share the same format, live productions often involve mismatched resolutions and frame rates. The ATEM 4 M/E Constellation IP automatically converts any incoming source to the switcher's working format, supporting 720p, 1080i, 1080p, and 2160p up to 60p. The built-in Fairlight Live audio mixer provides 132 channels of powerful SMPTE-2110 audio mixing with support for immersive formats and multiple talkback buses. Optional ATEM Monitoring Panel adds rack-mounted physical controls and simultaneous SMPTE-2022-7 to 12G-SDI/HDMI conversion.