ProPresenter + ATEM: Complete Integration Guide for Churches

ProPresenter is the presentation software most churches rely on for lyrics, sermon slides, and announcements. The ATEM Mini is the most popular video switcher in church production. Connecting them properly transforms your production from "a volunteer clicking two things at once" to a seamless, automated workflow. Here's how to set it up.

How ProPresenter Connects to the ATEM

ProPresenter sends its output as a video signal — just like a camera. You connect the computer running ProPresenter to one of the ATEM's HDMI inputs. The ATEM treats it like any other video source. When you want to show lyrics or slides on stream, you cut to that input.

The basic connection chain:

1. ProPresenter computer → HDMI cable → ATEM HDMI input (usually Input 3 or 4)
2. ProPresenter sends its "Output" screen to that HDMI — configure this in ProPresenter's Screens settings
3. In the ATEM, label that input "ProPresenter" or "Lyrics" so your volunteers know what it is

ProPresenter Screen Configuration

ProPresenter supports multiple outputs. For church production, you typically use:

• Audience screen — The main display facing the congregation (projector or TV). Shows lyrics, sermon slides, announcements.
• Stage display — A confidence monitor facing the worship leader or pastor. Shows current/next slides, notes, timers.
• Stream output — The HDMI feed going to your ATEM. This can be identical to the audience screen, or a separate "stream-friendly" layout with different formatting.

Many churches send the same output to both the audience screen and the ATEM. This works, but you lose flexibility. A dedicated stream output lets you adjust text size, add lower thirds, or show different backgrounds optimized for the stream.

Resolution and Frame Rate — Get These Right

The ATEM Mini requires all inputs to be the same resolution and frame rate. If your cameras are sending 1080p at 59.94fps, ProPresenter must output the same. A mismatch causes the ATEM to show a black screen on that input.

• Set ProPresenter's output resolution to 1920x1080
• Set the refresh rate to match your cameras — usually 59.94 Hz (NTSC) or 50 Hz (PAL)
• On Mac, check System Settings → Displays for the HDMI output going to the ATEM
• On Windows, right-click the desktop → Display Settings → Advanced Display Settings for the output going to the ATEM

If the ATEM shows a black screen on your ProPresenter input but other inputs work fine, the resolution or frame rate is almost certainly wrong. This is the #1 troubleshooting issue with ATEM + ProPresenter.

Using the ATEM's Upstream Keyer for Overlays

Instead of cutting fully to ProPresenter, you can overlay lyrics on top of a camera feed using the ATEM's upstream keyer. This gives you a professional look — camera footage of worship with lyrics floating at the bottom.

1. In ProPresenter, use a black background for your lyrics slides
2. In ATEM Software Control, go to the Upstream Key section
3. Set the key type to Luma Key
4. Set the fill source to your ProPresenter HDMI input
5. Adjust the clip and gain until the black background disappears and only the white text remains
6. Toggle the key ON during worship — lyrics appear over your camera feed

This is a huge visual upgrade over cutting back and forth between cameras and a full-screen lyrics slide. Most viewers won't even notice you're using a keyer — it just looks like a professional broadcast.

ATEM Macros for ProPresenter Workflows

ATEM macros let you record sequences of actions and replay them with one button press. Combined with ProPresenter, this eliminates multi-step operations during service:

• "Worship" macro — Switch to Camera 1 wide + enable luma key overlay from ProPresenter. One button for the entire worship look.
• "Sermon" macro — Switch to Camera 2 close-up + disable keyer + set a transition to a 1-second mix. Clean transition into sermon.
• "Announcements" macro — Cut to ProPresenter full screen + disable keyer. ProPresenter fills the stream with announcement slides.
• "Offering" macro — Switch to Camera 1 + enable downstream keyer with a giving URL lower third.

Train volunteers to press macro buttons instead of making multiple switcher changes. Fewer steps means fewer mistakes during a live service.

Common Integration Problems

• Black screen on ATEM input — Resolution/frame rate mismatch. Check ProPresenter output settings match the ATEM's video standard.
• Lyrics look blurry on stream — ProPresenter is outputting at a lower resolution than 1080p, or the ATEM is scaling it. Match resolutions exactly.
• Keyer shows a green/gray border around text — The clip/gain settings on the luma key need adjustment. Increase the clip value until the background is completely clean.
• ProPresenter freezes but the ATEM still shows the last frame — This is a ProPresenter crash or the computer went to sleep. Set the computer to "never sleep" and check ProPresenter for updates.
• Audio from ProPresenter leaks into the stream — The ATEM is picking up audio from the ProPresenter HDMI input. In ATEM's audio mixer, mute the ProPresenter input channel.

Taking It Further with Tally

Tally integrates deeply with both ProPresenter and your ATEM — connecting them through a single control layer:

• Advance slides from Telegram — Type "next slide" or "go to slide 5" and Tally sends the command to ProPresenter. No need to be at the computer.
• Trigger looks remotely — Activate ProPresenter looks (screen layouts) from your phone. Switch between "worship mode" and "sermon mode" without touching ProPresenter.
• Send stage messages — Type a message in Telegram and it appears on the stage display for your pastor. "2 minutes left" or "communion after this song."
• Start and control timers — Launch countdown timers on the stage display from your phone. Great for keeping the service on schedule.
• Autopilot rules — Set up automations like "when ProPresenter triggers a worship look, switch ATEM to Camera 1 and enable keyer." Your production runs itself during predictable moments.
• Crash detection — If ProPresenter crashes or becomes unresponsive, Tally detects it and alerts your TD immediately. No more finding out when the lyrics don't appear on screen.

Start a free trial and connect ProPresenter + ATEM in a single unified dashboard.