Camera Switcher

AVE Standard | 1 Day | In-Person

Overview

Live switching is one of the most demanding real-time jobs in production. The person on the switcher makes decisions every few seconds, and those decisions are immediately visible on screen. This course covers the fundamentals of live camera switching for corporate and live event environments: ME architecture, bus management, keyers, DVE, transitions, macros, and the discipline of building a switch plan before the show starts. The focus is on operating with intention and confidence, not reacting in a panic. Participants leave with a structured approach to switching that translates across systems.

This Class Is Right For You If...

• You're a video technician ready to move from supporting roles into the switcher seat.

• You've operated a switcher on shows but want structured training to build a more disciplined, confident workflow.

• You're a technical director looking to develop your team's switching capabilities.

• You're newer to live production and want to build camera switching as a core technical skill.

Career Level

Mid-Level to Operator: Designed for technicians with foundational video signal knowledge who are ready to develop live switching as a primary operational skill. Some prior exposure to live production environments is recommended.

What You'll Learn

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Navigate a 1 M/E switcher and understand the system's architecture.

• Manage program, preview, and bus routing for clean, intentional live switching.

• Use keyers, DVE, and transitions effectively in a corporate live production context.

• Build and execute macros for repeatable, efficient show execution.

• Develop a switch plan before a show and execute it cleanly under live pressure.

• Troubleshoot common switcher issues during a live production

A Day in Class

Participants spend the majority of the day on the switcher, working through structured exercises that progress from basic bus management to full show-execution scenarios. Instruction covers the thinking behind each switching decision, not just the button sequence, so participants develop real operator instincts rather than memorized workflows. Instructors observe each participant's switching approach directly and provide feedback on decision timing, transition choices, and macro structure.

What You Leave With

Participants receive an AVE Camera Switcher certificate of completion, a pre-show switch plan template, and a reference guide on switcher architecture and macro building. The practical structure of this course means participants leave having made real switching decisions under simulated live conditions, not just having watched someone else do it.

Reducing Risk

A switcher operator who is unsure of the system under pressure will make visible mistakes: incorrect inputs, unintended cuts, missed graphics, and transitions that do not match the program's energy. These errors are difficult to recover from in a live environment. A trained switcher operator with a clear switch plan and a confident understanding of the system keeps the production running smoothly and responds to changes without losing the show.

Instructor

Omar Colom, AVE lead instructor with extensive live switching experience across corporate AV and live event productions.

Course Details

Duration: 1x day (typically offered across two consecutive sessions)

Format: In-Person, Hands-On

Class Size: Maximum 10x students

Equipment: 1x M/E switcher, AJA recorder provided