Control PYXIS Cameras with ATEM

The Problem

Some Blackmagic cameras — most notably the Pyxis 6K and Pyxis 12K — cannot be controlled via the ATEM SDI/HDMI camera-control sidechannel.

The good news: Pyxis was built as a network-first camera. There are four different ways to bring it into your ATEM workflow, all using the network rather than SDI/HDMI camera-control. The same approaches apply to other network-capable Blackmagic cameras such as the URSA Cine 12K LF / 17K 65, URSA Cine Immersive, and Studio Camera 6K Pro.

This page walks through all four methods so you can pick the right one for your setup.

Method 1 — Native ATEM Network Integration

Some ATEM switchers can connect to Pyxis cameras natively over the network and receive both the video feed and the camera-control commands as if it were a regular video input.

At the time of writing, this is supported by:

• ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2
• ATEM Television Studio HD8 ISO

If you're on a different ATEM, skip to Methods 2, 3, or 4.

How to set it up:

1. Connect the Pyxis and the ATEM to the same network. A simple network switch with manually-assigned IPs works, but a router with DHCP is easier.
2. Download and install the latest Blackmagic Camera Setup utility, connect the Pyxis via USB-C, and update the camera firmware if prompted.
3. In Network Access, enable Web Media Manager (HTTP). Optionally enable File sharing (SMB) for remote file access from your laptop, and Allow Utility Administration via USB and Ethernet to make future settings changes more convenient.
4. On the camera, swipe right on the LCD → Project, and set a camera name.
5. In the camera menu, go to Setup → ATEM Camera ID, and set the camera number to match the input you want it to occupy in ATEM.
6. Go to Streaming settings, set the streaming platform to your ATEM model, and start streaming.
7. In ATEM Software Control, go to Settings → Sources and replace the HDMI/SDI input with your camera by name. The video feed will appear in the multiview, and you can control the camera from any standard ATEM control surface.

Works beyond Pyxis

This method works with any Blackmagic camera that supports SRT streaming, not just Pyxis. The Studio Camera 6K Pro is a good example.

Method 2 — External Hardware: ATEM Streaming Decoder

If your ATEM doesn't support network video sources natively, the Blackmagic ATEM Streaming Decoder can act as a bridge.

• The Pyxis connects to the Streaming Decoder over the network.
• The Streaming Decoder converts the network feed and outputs SDI to your ATEM, while passing ATEM Camera Control back to the camera over the same SDI link.

Pros:

• Everything runs through the network — video and control. Pair with a Wi-Fi bridge for a fully wireless rig (monitoring, control, everything over IP).
• Works with any SDI-equipped ATEM.

Cons:

• You need one Streaming Decoder per Pyxis camera, so costs add up fast on multi-camera shoots.
• The Streaming Decoder is built around SDI workflows; HDMI camera control compatibility is not guaranteed.

A solid choice if you have the budget and an SDI-based ATEM. If you'd rather not invest in extra hardware, see Method 3.

Method 3 — External Software: Middle Control Pro

Our in-house software, Middle Control, sits between your ATEM and your Pyxis cameras and acts as a software bridge. It runs on macOS and connects to any Blackmagic ATEM on one side and your network-capable cameras on the other. No additional hardware is required, and it works with almost any ATEM.

This feature is part of the Pro extension of the app — a one-time license available on our website. You can also start a fully functional 30-day free trial directly within Middle Control to experiment.

How to set it up:

1. Activate Web Media Manager on the Pyxis using Blackmagic Camera Setup (covered in Method 1, step 3). Make sure the ATEM, the camera, and your Mac are on the same network.
2. Pair the camera to Middle Control — see the Blackmagic Cameras setup guide. The Pyxis will appear automatically in Middle Control's left sidebar; click it to pair, then click its name to assign a Camera ID.
3. Connect Middle Control to your ATEM switcher by entering its IP address in the Preferences page.
4. On the Camera page, toggle ATEM Link.

Done. Any change made in ATEM Software Control or on a hardware control panel is now reflected on the Pyxis in real time, and any change made on the camera flows back into the ATEM.

You can drive everything from:

• ATEM Software Control
• ATEM Camera Control Panel
• ATEM Micro Camera Panel
• ATEM Advanced Panel
• Bitfocus Companion using the Middle Control plugin
• The Middle Control camera page itself (with built-in Live View and a custom Multi View for any camera mix)

Not just Pyxis

Middle Control isn't limited to Pyxis. It also handles other Blackmagic cameras (Pocket, URSA, Studio Camera, Cinema Camera 6K) and Sony cameras (FX3, FX6, A7-series, Burano, BRC-AM7, FR7) — all from the same control surface.

Method 4 — Via APC-R or APC-R Mini

If your Pyxis is mounted on a DJI gimbal driven by an APC-R or APC-R Mini, there's a built-in path that uses the APC-R as a Wi-Fi-to-Bluetooth bridge.

This is especially useful when you want to control both the gimbal and the camera through a single Ethernet connection on the gimbal head.

How to set it up:

1. Pair the Pyxis to the APC-R / APC-R Mini over Bluetooth using the Middle Setup iOS app.
2. Connect the APC-R to your network. Middle Control discovers it automatically — assign its Camera ID.
3. In Middle Control's Preferences, enter your ATEM's IP address and connect.
4. Once paired, controlling that Camera ID from ATEM Software Control sends the commands straight through the APC-R to the camera.

→ Full setup in Wireless Control with APC-R. For the gimbal side of the rig, see Turn your Blackmagic PYXIS into a PTZ Head.

Which method should you pick?

Method	Hardware needed	ATEM compatibility	Best fit
1. Native ATEM Network	None (just the camera + ATEM)	ATEM Mini Extreme ISO G2, Television Studio HD8 / 4K8	Studios already on the latest ATEM hardware
2. ATEM Streaming Decoder	One decoder per camera	Any SDI-equipped ATEM	SDI-based broadcast workflows with budget for extra hardware
3. Middle Control Pro	None	Almost any ATEM	The most flexible path — multi-camera, multi-brand rigs; software-only
4. APC-R / APC-R Mini	APC-R + DJI gimbal	Any ATEM	Pyxis on a remote-operated gimbal head

Who this is for

• Live event producers running Pyxis as a primary cinema look in a multicam rig
• Houses of worship and venues that already have an ATEM control room and want to add a Pyxis to it
• Broadcasters standardising on the ATEM workflow but invested in network-capable Blackmagic bodies (Pyxis, URSA Cine, Studio Camera 6K Pro)
• Operators building remote / PTZ-style camera positions with a Pyxis on a DJI gimbal

→ Learn more in the ATEM Link guide, the Blackmagic Cameras setup guide, and the compatibility section.