What Is the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2 and Who Is It For

The ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2 is an 8-input HDMI live production video switcher with integrated ISO recording, manufactured by Blackmagic Design. It is the second generation of the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO and the highest-specification model in the ATEM Mini product line. The device switches between eight video sources, records each source as an isolated file, streams the program output directly to online platforms, and mixes up to 26 audio channels — all from a single desktop unit without requiring a connected computer.

The “ISO” designation refers to isolated recording. Unlike standard video switchers that record only the final switched program output, an ISO switcher records each input as a separate file simultaneously. This capability enables full post-production editing of a live event after it concludes.

Release History

Blackmagic Design announced the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2 on April 4, 2025, ahead of NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas (Blackmagic Design, April 2025). CEO Grant Petty introduced the product during a pre-show livestream. The unit was demonstrated at NAB 2025 booth #SL216.

The original ATEM Mini Extreme ISO launched in 2021 with a retail price of approximately $1,295 to $1,425. Blackmagic Design discontinued the original model upon announcing the G2, which carries a manufacturer-announced price of $1,995 (Blackmagic Design, April 2025). Retail pricing at major dealers including B&H Photo and Sweetwater lists at $2,195 as of early 2025 (B&H Photo, 2025). Availability began in July 2025.

Grant Petty stated during the announcement: “A lot of customers have been building high end studios with ATEM Mini Extreme so we wanted to give those customers some of the broadcast features of our ATEM Television Studio switchers” (Blackmagic Design, April 2025).

Technical Specifications

Video Inputs and Outputs

The ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2 accepts eight HDMI Type A inputs at 10-bit HD resolution with 4:2:2 YUV color sampling in Rec 709 colorspace. All eight inputs include automatic standards conversion, accepting sources at different resolutions and frame rates and converting them to match the program format. Supported formats include 1080p (23.98 through 60 fps), 1080i (50/59.94/60), and 720p (50/59.94/60). Each HDMI input carries two channels of embedded audio.

The switcher provides three independent HDMI program outputs, a USB-C webcam output using the UVC protocol, and a multiview display showing all inputs simultaneously. The three HDMI outputs enable flexible routing to monitors, projectors, confidence displays, or recording devices.

Connectivity

The rear panel provides the following connections:

• 2 x USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports for external drive recording, webcam output, software control, and panel connection
• 1 x Thunderbolt port for fill/key video output, video input, ethernet-to-storage access, and trickle power delivery to a connected computer
• 1 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet port for streaming and control panel connectivity
• 1 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet port for high-speed recording to network-attached storage

Audio System

The built-in Fairlight audio mixer handles 26 inputs across 2 output channels. The 26 inputs break down as follows: 8 from HDMI embedded audio, 16 from MADI digital audio, plus XLR and Thunderbolt sources.

Analog audio enters through two XLR Combo connectors with switchable 48V phantom power, suitable for condenser microphones or balanced line-level feeds from an audio console. Digital audio enters through a single BNC MADI (Multichannel Audio Digital Interface) port carrying 32 channels. MADI is a broadcast-standard digital audio transport protocol used in professional audio consoles and routing systems.

Each mixer channel supports on/off/audio-follow-video switching with independent gain control. Fairlight processing on each channel includes a compressor, gate, limiter, and 6-band parametric equalizer. A Fairlight status display on the front panel shows metering and mixer parameters. A 6.3mm headphone jack provides monitoring output.

The MADI port also connects to the ATEM Microphone Converter accessory, which provides four analog microphone/line inputs per unit. Multiple converters can be daisy-chained to expand input count.

Switching and Effects

The processing engine supports up to nine layers with four upstream keyers and two downstream keyers. Up to four of the upstream keyers can operate as Advanced Chroma Keyers for green/blue screen compositing. Up to four linear keyers are available for graphic overlays. Two DVE (Digital Video Effects) engines provide picture-in-picture with border and drop shadow options. The SuperSource processor enables multi-source compositions within a single output frame.

Two media players access a pool of up to 20 still images for titles, lower thirds, logos, and other graphics. Five pattern generators and two color generators provide additional visual elements. Stinger transitions and macro recording/playback are supported.

Streaming Engine

The built-in hardware encoder supports H.264 and H.265 compression and transmits directly to online platforms without requiring a connected computer. Supported protocols include RTMP (Real Time Messaging Protocol) and SRT (Secure Reliable Transport). SRT is a newer protocol designed for low-latency video delivery over unreliable network connections. It adds forward error correction and automatic retransmission, making streams more resilient to packet loss and network congestion.

Streaming operates over the 1G Ethernet port or through a shared internet connection via USB-C.

Control Panel

The G2 features a redesigned professional-style control surface with large NKK red/green source select buttons, multiple rotary knobs, and a built-in hardware T-bar fader for manual transition control. The hardware fader allows the operator to control the speed and position of transitions by hand rather than relying on auto-transition timing.

G2 Upgrades Over the Original ATEM Mini Extreme ISO

The G2 revision adds the following hardware and capabilities that were absent from the original 2021 model:

CFexpress Recording. The original Extreme ISO recorded only to external USB drives, which sometimes failed to sustain the write speeds needed for eight simultaneous ISO streams. The G2 includes a built-in CFexpress card slot. CFexpress is a high-speed removable storage format used in professional cinema cameras, capable of sustained write speeds exceeding 1,000 MB/s. This eliminates dropped frames during multi-stream ISO recording.

SRT Streaming. The original supported only RTMP streaming. The G2 adds SRT, which provides error correction and resilience on unreliable internet connections. This is particularly relevant for venues with limited or shared bandwidth.

XLR Audio Inputs. The original provided only 3.5mm microphone inputs. The G2 includes two XLR Combo connectors with 48V phantom power, accepting balanced microphone or line-level signals. XLR is the standard professional audio connector used in broadcast, live sound, and recording studios.

MADI Digital Audio. The original had no digital audio expansion capability. The G2 adds a 32-channel MADI input via BNC connector, enabling integration with professional audio consoles and the ATEM Microphone Converter system.

26-Channel Audio Mixer. The original provided a 12-channel mixer. The G2 expands this to 26 channels to accommodate the additional MADI, XLR, and Thunderbolt audio sources.

Hardware T-Bar Fader. The original had no physical fader. The G2 integrates a manual transition fader directly into the control surface.

Thunderbolt Port. The original lacked Thunderbolt connectivity. The G2 Thunderbolt port supports fill/key video playback for virtual sets, video input capture, ethernet access to the CFexpress card from a connected computer, and trickle power delivery.

10 Gigabit Ethernet. The original included only 1G Ethernet. The G2 adds a 10G Ethernet port for recording directly to network-attached storage at speeds sufficient for multi-stream ISO capture.

Third HDMI Output. The original had two HDMI outputs. The G2 adds a third independent output for additional monitoring, recording destinations, or venue display feeds.

H.265 Encoding. The original supported only H.264 encoding. The G2 adds H.265 (HEVC), which achieves higher video quality at lower bitrates.

Headphone Jack. The G2 adds a 6.3mm headphone output for direct audio monitoring, absent on the original.

ISO Recording Capabilities

The ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2 records all eight HDMI inputs simultaneously as individual H.264 .mp4 files at up to 70 Mb/s with AAC audio. The switched program output records as an additional file at the configured streaming quality. The total simultaneous recording capacity is up to ten streams: eight isolated inputs plus the program output and an optional clean feed.

The switcher automatically generates a DaVinci Resolve project file (.drp) during each recording session. Opening this file in DaVinci Resolve — Blackmagic Design’s free post-production software — loads all eight camera angles synchronized on a multicam timeline with the original switching decisions preserved as edit points. An operator can then re-edit the production, change camera angles, correct switching mistakes, or create derivative edits such as highlight reels and social media clips.

CFexpress cards serve as the primary recording medium. The 10G Ethernet port enables simultaneous recording to network-attached storage. USB-C and Thunderbolt ports provide additional recording paths to external drives.

The Thunderbolt port also enables live-action replay integration with DaVinci Resolve. A connected computer running DaVinci Resolve displays a live video input from the switcher. Pressing the Point of Interest (POI) button on the G2 causes DaVinci Resolve to switch to playing all eight ISO files, allowing the operator to select cameras and run instant replays during a live production (Blackmagic Design, April 2025).

Target Users

Houses of Worship

The ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2 addresses the operational requirements of medium-to-large church productions. Eight HDMI inputs accommodate multi-camera setups (wide shot, pulpit, stage left, stage right, choir or worship team) alongside presentation slides, pre-produced video packages, and graphic overlays. The ISO recording function enables content teams to re-edit services for sermon archives, social media excerpts, and devotional clips without re-shooting. XLR and MADI audio integration connects directly to existing church sound systems. The built-in streaming engine eliminates the need for a dedicated streaming computer, reducing points of failure during live services.

Churches operating with volunteer production teams benefit from the automatic DaVinci Resolve project file, which reduces post-production from a manual multi-track synchronization task to a single file open. SRT streaming provides resilience for congregations streaming from buildings with shared or inconsistent internet service.

Multi-camera PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) kits designed for church streaming pair directly with the ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2. The PTZOptics Move-4K 4-Camera Kit with ATEM Mini Extreme bundles four 4K PTZ cameras with an ATEM Mini Extreme switcher in a single package. The AIDA 4K 4-Camera PTZ Kit with ATEM Mini Extreme provides a comparable configuration using AIDA Imaging cameras. Churches with fewer camera positions or smaller budgets may consider the PTZOptics Move-4K 3-Camera Kit with ATEM Mini Pro or the ATEM Mini Pro 4-Camera Streaming Kit as entry points.

Broadcast and Production Facilities

Small broadcast studios, podcast networks, and production houses use the G2 as an affordable multi-camera production hub. The 8-input count, ISO recording, and Thunderbolt connectivity for fill/key graphics provide broadcast-grade functionality at a fraction of the cost of traditional broadcast switchers. H.265 encoding reduces bandwidth requirements for distributed production workflows.

Education and Distance Learning

Universities and school districts deploy the G2 for lecture capture, campus event production, and remote learning broadcasts. Eight inputs handle instructor cameras, document cameras, presentation feeds, and pre-recorded content simultaneously. ISO recording creates a complete archive of each session from every angle.

Corporate Events and Communications

Corporate AV departments use the G2 for town halls, shareholder meetings, training videos, and hybrid events. The combination of streaming, recording, and professional audio handles the requirements of corporate communications without requiring a production crew or rental equipment. The 10G Ethernet recording path integrates with existing enterprise storage infrastructure.

Comparison Within the ATEM Mini Product Line

The ATEM Mini lineup as of 2025 includes the following active models, ordered by price:

• ATEM Mini Pro ($295): 4 HDMI inputs, 1 HDMI output, H.264 streaming, USB recording, 12-channel audio mixer
• ATEM Mini Pro ISO ($795): Same as Pro with ISO recording of all 4 inputs and DaVinci Resolve project file generation
• ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2 ($1,995): 8 HDMI inputs, 3 HDMI outputs, CFexpress/USB/Thunderbolt recording, H.264/H.265 streaming with RTMP and SRT, 26-channel audio mixer with XLR and MADI, hardware fader, 10G Ethernet

The G2 occupies the top of the ATEM Mini line and bridges the gap between the compact desktop ATEM Mini form factor and Blackmagic Design’s rack-mount ATEM Television Studio series.