Hi all,

I've built my first prototype of an 8-input remote control surface that controls ATEM switchers. I'm getting ready to add vMix control and am considering my approach. I'm trying to decide between:

o MIDI-over-USB (if vMix can do that);
o HTML over Ethernet, or;
o the protocol used by the cancelled vMix Control Surface (http://www.vmix.com/help17/index.htm?vMixControlSurface.html).

Any thoughts which way I might go?

The CS-8 currently controls ATEM switchers over EtherNet. It has an Arduino/Ethernet innards with USB and EtherNet ports and the Skaarhoj ATEM libraries.(https://github.com/kasperskaarhoj)

FEATURES:

o 8 input buttons light green (preview) and red (program)
o MP1 & MP2 buttons light green (preview) and red (program)
o TAKE button
o AUTO button
o FTB button
o 60mm slider for manual fades
o MENU button glows RED while waiting for ATEM connection
o MENU button activates configuration menu
o IN1 activates CS8 IP address entry
o IN2 activates ATEM IP address entry
o IN3 toggles between PREVIEW select and BUSS TAKE
o IN8 reboots CS8

And easy reprogramming via the Arduino programming environment.

VERSION 2 WILL INCLUDE:

o an i2c 3-wire buss and button/LED matrix chips to replace the heavy internal wire harness
o a little more room between buttons for better ergonomics
o an aluminum enclosure
o dual operating modes for ATEM and VMIX switchers

Oh! There it is. Very cool.

$1800 is an alright price for that functionality. If it could be switched over to control ATEM or TriCaster as well, then it would be a no-brainer solution.

I built the CS8 for my own use. I'm also exploring the market to see if it has a niche. It's inspired by the Skaarhoj Pocket Controller series:

http://skaarhoj.com/

Skaarjoh is doing some amazing things with multi-protocol devices. Check out their UniSketch approach to re-programming their units:

http://skaarhoj.com/support/unisketch/



I'm personally interested in ATEM and vMix control. What protocols would you want in a one-solution control surface?

Michael