Blackmagic ATEM switchers are powerful, reliable and widely used in live production. From small streaming studios to complex broadcast workflows, ATEM macros can save time, reduce operator mistakes and make repeatable production moves much easier to execute. But anyone who has worked seriously with ATEM macros knows the problem: once your macros become more advanced, editing them can quickly turn into a frustrating XML puzzle.

That is exactly why we built ATEM Macro Studio.

ATEM Macro Studio is a browser-based macro editor designed to make it easier to inspect, edit, duplicate, move and clean up macros from Blackmagic ATEM configuration XML files. Instead of digging through long XML documents by hand, you can open your ATEM config, see your macros in a structured interface, edit the actions inside them and export the finished config again.

The goal is simple: make ATEM macro editing faster, safer and more understandable.

The problem with ATEM macros today

ATEM macros are incredibly useful. You can use them to change program and preview inputs, trigger transitions, turn keys on and off, route AUX outputs, load stills into media players, animate DVE keys, add waits and much more.

The problem comes when you need to edit them.

Inside ATEM Software Control, macro editing is often limited and not always ideal for complex production workflows. If you want to make larger changes, duplicate a macro and adjust a few details, or insert a wait between two steps, you often end up exporting the ATEM configuration and editing the XML manually.

That works, but it is not pleasant.

A simple macro change can become time-consuming. You may need to find the correct <Macro> block, locate the right <Op> line, understand which attribute controls what, avoid breaking the XML structure, and then import the config again to test it. If something goes wrong, you may not immediately know whether the issue is a wrong input name, a missing attribute, a typo, a broken index or invalid XML.

For advanced macros, the problem gets worse. A macro might contain dozens or even hundreds of actions. A DVE layout macro can include key settings, size, position, masks, borders, fill sources, cut sources, transitions, media player commands and waits. Editing that manually is slow and risky.

ATEM Macro Studio is built to solve that specific problem.

What ATEM Macro Studio does

ATEM Macro Studio lets you open an ATEM XML configuration file directly in your browser. It reads the macro pool and presents the macros in a clean visual interface.

You can see all macros in a list, select a macro and inspect every action inside it. Actions are shown as readable steps instead of only raw XML. You can edit the macro name, description and individual actions. You can duplicate macros, delete macros, reorder them and add waits.

After editing, you export the complete ATEM config again. The important part is that the exported file is still your original config, just with the macro changes applied. The rest of the configuration is preserved.

That matters because an ATEM config file contains much more than macros. It can contain input labels, outputs, media players, multiview settings, AUX routing, key settings, transition states and many other switcher-specific settings. ATEM Macro Studio is designed around the idea that the macro editor should not accidentally rewrite the rest of your switcher configuration.

A tool that has been missing

There are many great tools around live production, automation and video switching, but ATEM macro editing has often been stuck between two worlds.

On one side, you have ATEM Software Control, which is excellent for operating the switcher and recording simple macros. On the other side, you have raw XML editing, which gives you full control but requires technical confidence and patience.

What has been missing is a practical editor in the middle.

A tool where a technical director, automation specialist, live producer or system integrator can open a config file and quickly understand what is happening inside the macros. A tool where you can make changes without scrolling through thousands of XML lines. A tool where simple tasks stay simple.

That is the space ATEM Macro Studio is designed for.

Example use case: cleaning up a sports production template

Imagine a sports production setup with an ATEM 4 M/E switcher. The production has macros for replay wipes, commentator shots, split screens, sponsor graphics, lower thirds, AUX routing and studio monitor layouts.

Over time, the macro list grows. Some macros are old. Some are duplicates. Some use the wrong media player. Some need a longer wait because the animation does not always trigger reliably.

Without a proper tool, cleaning this up means manually searching the XML, editing lines and hoping everything still imports correctly.

With ATEM Macro Studio, you can open the config, browse the macro list, inspect each macro and edit the actions in context. You can duplicate a working macro, change the media player source, insert a wait and export the corrected config.

That can save a lot of time before a production day.

Example use case: building consistent studio layouts

Another common use case is creating a set of layout macros.

For example:

50/50 guest split
70/30 presenter and guest
Picture-in-picture
OTS graphics
Full-screen server
Clean camera return
Program monitor routing

Many of these macros are almost identical. The differences may be input numbers, key indexes, DVE positions or AUX routes.

Manually duplicating and editing XML can be painful. One wrong value can break the intended result. ATEM Macro Studio makes it easier to see the structure of the macro, duplicate it and adjust only the required actions.

This is especially useful for productions where one template is reused across shows, clients or venues.

Example use case: adding waits safely

Waits are one of the most important parts of stable ATEM macros.

Sometimes a macro fires too quickly. A media player may need a few frames before playback. A key might need to be enabled before a transition. A DVE move may need a short delay before the next action.

In raw XML, a wait is often just a line like:

<Op id="MacroSleep" frames="25"/>

That is simple when you know exactly where to place it. But in a long macro, adding waits manually can be annoying.

ATEM Macro Studio makes wait actions visible and editable. You can add a wait, change the frame count and place it exactly where it belongs in the macro sequence.

Built for real production workflows

ATEM Macro Studio is not meant to replace the switcher. It is meant to improve the workflow around macro maintenance.

It is useful when you want to:

Edit existing ATEM macros more safely
Duplicate macros and adjust values
Add waits between actions
Clean up old macro lists
Inspect complex macro sequences
Prepare templates before production
Reduce manual XML editing
Understand what a macro actually does

It can also be useful alongside larger production systems. For example, Falcon Play supports ATEM workflows and is designed for professional playout and live production automation. ATEM Macro Studio fits naturally into that kind of environment, where reliable automation and clean switcher workflows matter.

Browser-based and simple to access

ATEM Macro Studio is designed as a browser-based tool. You do not need a heavy installation just to inspect and edit macros. Open the tool, load your XML, make your edits and export the finished config.

The idea is to keep the workflow fast. When you are preparing a show, fixing a template or cleaning up a macro set, you should not have to fight the tool before you can solve the problem.

We want feedback from ATEM users

ATEM Macro Studio is built around real production needs, and we want it to become even better.

If you use Blackmagic ATEM switchers and work with macros, we would really like to hear from you after you have tried the tool. What works well? What is missing? Which macro actions should have better visual editors? Which workflows are still too slow? Are there specific ATEM models or production styles we should support better?

Your feedback can help shape the next versions of ATEM Macro Studio.

Try it here: ATEM Macro Studio

And if you are also looking for a broader production and playout system with ATEM support, take a look at Falcon Play.