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Basic Operation of the Vision Mixer
Basic Operation of the Vision Mixer
The aim of this document is to give the reader a clear understanding of the basic functions of the Vision Mixer console. The topics that will be covered in this document are:
Introduction
Basics
P/P (Programme/Preview) Bank
Monitor Stack
Programme/Preview Transitions
Which Transition?
Auto Transition
Wipe Patterns
DME Wipe Patterns
Vision Mixer Introduction
Vision Mixer Introduction
The ‘vision mixer’ is either the set of buttons and other controls which are used to change the pictures on the screen, or the person operating it.
The VM can choose from studio cameras, moving video pictures, graphics & still picture sources, other studios, text generators, outside broadcast feeds…in fact any TV signal.
It can also layer these feeds in almost any order, creating effects which might put multiple feeds on screen at once or shrink one picture and fly it off the screen.
Usually the VM works to direct commands from the Director.
Basics
Basics
The mixer in Studio A has two sections or ‘banks’ – rows of buttons which can create cuts, mixes, wipes and other effects.
The bottom bank is the most important as it directly controls which picture sources are ‘on air’. This is the PROGRAMME / PREVIEW or P/P bank of the mixer. (Outlined in red.)
Above this is an identical bank called MIX EFFECTS, or ME1, which is used for presetting effects.
The P/P bank goes directly to air.
The ME1 bank feeds into the P/P bank as an extra source.
P/P (Programme/Preview) Bank
P/P (Programme/Preview) Bank
The PROGRAMME/PREVIEW bank is the most frequently used part of the mixer.
It has two rows of source buttons with labels above. They are operated with the left hand.
The first button is for Black.
Then come the cameras; 1, 2, 3, etc.
Monitor Stack
Monitor Stack
The screens in the Gallery are arranged so that the Director, Vision Mixer and others can see the various sources which can be used in the programme. The two big, central screens show what is on the PROGRAMME and PREVIEW sections of the vision mixer - which source is ‘On Air’ and which is coming next. They are arranged like this:
The top row of buttons is labelled PGM, meaning PROGRAMME.
If you press Cam1 on the PGM row you immediately put Camera 1 on air.
The button will go red to show it is live and you will see the picture on the PROGRAMME MONITOR.
You can switch between cameras simply by pressing buttons on the PGM row.
Practice hot cutting between cameras. This is called ‘hot cutting’ because your cuts are live ‘On Air’.
It can help to ‘preview’ the upcoming source, if there is time, so that the Director can check it before it goes live. To do this it is selected on the lower ‘Preview’ (PVW) row of buttons.
By pressing Cam 3 on the PVW row, the button turns red and Camera 3 is shown on the large PREVIEW (PVW) monitor for all to see.
It is not on air yet. It is what will be shown after the next transition - cut, mix. wipe etc.
Programme/Preview Transitions
Programme/Preview Transitions
By your right hand is the Transition area of the P/P bank, including the Fader Lever and the ‘CUT’ button.
The CUT button puts the source selected on PVW (Cam 3) on air with the same transition as ‘hot cutting’.
The source that was on PGM (Cam 1) goes to PVW in case you need it for the next transition.
Next to the CUT button are two other ways of starting a transition.
Select MIX or WIPE and slide the Fader Lever to MIX or WIPE from the PGM to the PVW source at any chosen speed.
AUTO TRANS will instantly MIX or WIPE using the duration displayed in the window (in frames). This is set elsewhere.
Which Transition??
Which Transition??
Mixes are good for:
Slower transitions
Matching slow music
Dissolving between wider shots
Poignant moments
Wipes come in many patterns/directions, but are far less common.
WATCH some television and you will see…...
The CUT is by far the most commonly used transition - 90% of transitions. It is equivalent of blinking - a near-invisible change of view.
MIXES probably account for 9% of transitions.
Only 1% of transitions are WIPES or other types. They can be a bit naff.
Auto Transition
Auto Transition
To adjust the duration of a mix or wipe when using the AUTO TRANS button:
On the ‘Flexi Pad’ at the top of the vision mixer panel -
press the white P/P button
then press TRANS RATE
dial in duration you want
press ENTER
Selected duration is shown next to the AUTO TRANS button.
Numbers are in frames:
25 frames = 1 second
Wipe Patterns
Double press the WIPE button in the TRANSITION panel, and the menu screen will display lots of different wipe patterns - see below. Touch one to select it.
(The white area represents the new picture coming on air.)
Each movement of the paddle will produce a new wipe in the direction illustrated.
DME Wipe Patterns
Double press the DME button in the TRANSITION panel, and the menu screen will display the different Digital Motion Effect (DME) patterns available. Touch to select.
There are more under the buttons in the lower half of the screen.
These are often best performed using AUTO TRANS with careful setting of the duration.
BEWARE: Most DME wipes are NOT subtle.
Great for Light Entertainment shows but not used much elsewhere.
What's next?
In other guides on this site you learn about:
Green Screen - setting up cameras using Chromakey / green screen
Lower Thirds - how to prepare and get name supers / lower thirds on screen
Go to the Vision Mixer Green Screen page to find out about setting up a Chroma-Key
Go to the Vision Mixer Aux Outputs page to find out about how to set up additional output sources (e.g. in-vision monitors)
Written by PS
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