Using the Switcher Operator

The Switcher operator accepts up to 20 inputs. You can add a Switcher anywhere in the process tree, and you can add it before or after the inputs and output are ready to be connected.

The procedures for adding Switcher operators assume there is an original operator in a branch, and you want to add a Switcher so you can use an alternate operator instead.

To add a Switcher using the Workspace panel:

1. In the Workspace panel, select the original operator in the branch.
2. Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Macintosh) and choose Add Operator | Channel | Switcher.

The Switcher operator is added above the original operator.



3. Select the Switcher operator in the Workspace panel.

The Switcher Controls panel appears. The original operator is listed as the first (and only) input, and it is selected as the output.

4. To add another input, click Add Input, select the alternate operator from the Select Source dialog, then click OK.

The operator is listed as the second input in the Switcher Controls panel.

Note: In the Select Source dialog, you can also click Open Footage to open footage into the workspace.

5. To switch inputs, click the button corresponding to the alternate operator.



The preview on the Switcher Controls panel shows the enabled input.

6. To change the source for an input, double-click the button for the input. In the Select Source dialog, select a different operator and click OK.
7. To remove an input, double-click the button for the input. In the Select Source dialog, click None.

The input is removed from the Switcher Controls panel.

In the Schematic view, the main input for a Switcher corresponds to the enabled input in the Switcher Controls panel, and the other inputs are all secondary inputs.

To add a Switcher using the Schematic view:

1. In the Schematic view, select the node for the original operator in the branch.
2. Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Macintosh) the node and choose Add Operator | Channel | Switcher.

The Switcher operator is added between the original operator and the downstream node.

3. Drag an edge from the output of the alternate operator to the secondary input of the Switcher, then choose New Input Source from the context menu that appears.

The two nodes are now connected.

4. To switch inputs, double-click the Switcher node to display the Switcher Controls panel, then click the button corresponding to the alternate operator.
5. To change the source for an input, drag the edge to another operator's output.
6. To remove an input, select the edge and press Delete, or drag one end away and release.