Abstract: A digital video production switcher processes a plurality of video signals in a production environment. The switcher includes a control panel for receiving operator inputs and switching unit for receiving video input signals and for providing video output signals. The switcher also includes a pair of tightly coupled, independent processors synchronized to the video frame rate: a control processor and a general purpose processor. The control processor controls the "live critical" production functions. The control processor provides control signals, in response to operator inputs, that program the switching unit to provide desired video output signals in real time. The general purpose processor runs an open architecture operating system and provides control signals, in response to operator inputs, that cause the switching unit to provide desired video output signals in real time.

Abstract: A video switching system particularly adapted for use in a small studio environment includes a group of independent selection switches that enables a user to select any one of a plurality of different input video signals and route that signal to a preview output for display on a preview monitor. When it is desired to switch the previewed signal to a program output for actual broadcasting, the user activates a take switch. The system, however, does not abruptly switch the previewed signal to the program output, but rather automatically generates a mixture of the previewed signal and old program signal and automatically adjusts the mixture so that the old program signal is uniformly faded out and the previewed signal is uniformly faded into the program scene. The effect of the transition to the previewed signal is thereby automatically softened.