Blackmagic Design today announced that Polytechnic University (PTU), Japan, is using a number of Blackmagic Design products to provide training classes on conducting online class and video production.

This includes ATEM Mini live production switchers, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K digital film cameras and DaVinci Resolve Studio editing, color grading, visual effects (VFX) and audio post production software. With the introduction of Blackmagic Design products, 62 vocational training facilities across the country are now also using ATEM Mini for online classes.

PTU is a core institution for vocational training in Japan, established by the government to perform three core tasks: training of vocational training instructors, constant retraining of those instructors and survey and research on the development and improvement of vocational abilities. About 5,000 instructors receive training at the school every year. Since the COVID 19 crisis, PTU has quickly introduced ATEM Mini and started teaching how to conduct online classes at vocational training facilities across Japan. It has since continued to introduce Blackmagic Design cameras, DaVinci Resolve Studio and DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor keyboard into classes.

“This school provides training to instructors at vocational facilities throughout the country. Even during the quarantine period, we couldn’t stop classes at those facilities because unemployed people needed to take classes. At the request of the government, we had to make the classes at the vocational facilities online,” said Keigo Hara, a professor at PTU. Hara learned about the ATEM Mini and began teaching online classes using it with vocational training instructors across the country.

“Before we installed the ATEM Mini, we had actually purchased a much larger switcher. But it was very difficult to handle, and it would have been impossible for me to operate while teaching a class by myself,” added Hara. “But the ATEM Mini is simple to operate and allows me to do everything I want with such a small unit. I like the compactness as I can use it any classroom, rather than installed in a specific room and not able to move anywhere.

“As we have been conducting more training with online classes, we have learned that there is a growing need for video production. Some people want to produce their own PR videos for their schools, rather than hiring a contractor to do it for them. So, what they needed was a camera and editing software, and when I learned about DaVinci Resolve Studio, I was convinced that I could use it and started training on DaVinci Resolve for video production as well.”

Hara also uses DaVinci Resolve Studio daily to edit archived videos after his online classes. “I need to upload the archive videos immediately for students who couldn’t attend that day, and with DaVinci Resolve’s cut page and Speed Editor, the editing is really fast.”

Hara now uses an ATEM Mini Extreme ISO, Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera digital film cameras as well.

“ATEM Mini has been updated with more features that I’ve been waiting for in newer models. The ATEM Mini Extreme ISO model I now use has two USB ports, so I can record while streaming my class, and it is very convenient that it also works well with DaVinci Resolve. I used to use a simple webcam, but with Blackmagic cameras, I can show much a better quality picture. It is especially useful if I want to film a craftsperson’s hand movement for technical training classes,” Hara concluded.

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