Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to vision mix television productions.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application of the unit 

Vision mixers apply the skills and knowledge described in this unit. They work closely with, and often but not always, under the direction of a director or producer.

Vision mixers operate in a multi-source environment from a studio control room or an outside broadcast van. They carry responsibility for creating required composite images, transitions and effects for television productions.

Productions utilising the skills of vision mixers are often live. They can include variety, music, comedy, drama, news, sport, current affairs, live events broadcasts (e.g. concerts, New Year's Eve celebrations), children's programs, lifestyle productions.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Prepare a script or production schedule for vision mixing

1. Liaise with relevant production personnel to confirm production requirements  and recommend creative solutions where appropriate

2. Analyse production requirements to determine quantity, nature and style of effects and processes 

3. Mark known effects and processes on production documentation  according to enterprise procedures and confirm accuracy with relevant production personnel 

4. Prepare contingency plans for unscripted effects and processes that may arise during recording of productions  in consultation with director or producer

5. Contribute to creative process as required and explore potential for creating original ideas and proposals

Set up for vision mixing

6. Select vision mixing methods to achieve creative and technical output  for productions

7. Negotiate alternative strategies with relevant production personnel where designated effects and processes are beyond the capability of available equipment 

8. Check that identified effects and processes are fully functional and monitors are working within specifications

9. Check and assign or route required vision sources so they are accessible on the vision mixing unit and can be previewed on monitoring equipment

10. Identify and note key reference points and complexities requiring special attention during production

11. Ensure equipment is tested and confirm it is capable of meeting production requirements

Mix vision

12. Ensure that actions throughout productions are correctly identified on scripts or production schedules

13. Communicate with relevant production personnel throughout the mixing process to achieve the desired effect

14. If appropriate, preview sources  throughout the production process and put to air on cue 

15. Respond promptly to cues received from relevant production personnel and ensure consistency of timing

16. Perform planned transitions between vision sources, reassign sources as and when required, and perform effects transitions to ensure production requirements are met

17. Assign effects and processes to appropriate storage  device

18. React to equipment failure by applying alternative effects and processes as necessary

19. Monitor quality of creative and technical output during productions

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication and organisational skills sufficient to:

• liaise with relevant production personnel
• plan and schedule relevant aspects of video mixing processes
• communicate effectively and efficiently using two-way communication devices
• organise television and interactive media content logically and accurately
• utilise relevant file management protocols for specified operating systems

• initiative and enterprise in the context of:

• achieving creative outcomes within technical constraints
• visualising and interpreting creative concepts
• responding appropriately and effectively in unanticipated situations

• technical skills sufficient to:

• operate specific vision mixing equipment
• work in both non-linear and linear configurations
• judge picture-to-sound synchronisation
• check and test that equipment is working to specifications
• undertake basic maintenance of a range of mixing devices and equipment

• self-management skills sufficient to:

• prioritise work tasks
• work calmly under pressure and to tight deadlines
• make decisions within level of own responsibility
• seek expert assistance when problems arise

• literacy and numeracy skills sufficient to:

• interpret scripts and other relevant documentation, e.g. equipment specifications
• prepare and write reports
• document, log and file source materials, e.g. composites, video digital effects
• record durations of sequences and measure timings for transitions and effects

Required knowledge 

• industry knowledge, including:

• roles and responsibilities of personnel in broadcast operations and production
• basic understanding of the characteristics of television standards, e.g. PAL, NTSC, SECAM
• basic understanding of television broadcast systems and transmission facilities
• nature, function and limitations of video mixers
• nature and purpose of test signals
• sources of advice, information, and technical support
• issues and challenges that arise in the context of vision mixing television productions

• broadcast terminology
• concept and judgement of image and audio broadcast quality
• OHS standards as they apply to working in broadcast operations

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the following is essential:

• correct interpretation of pre-production documentation to meet vision mixing requirements
• collaborative approach to work
• ability to mix a range of vision inputs according to production requirements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• practical demonstration of skills through a range of vision mixing tasks in a television production environment
• access to broadcasting facilities
• access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required
• use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method of assessment 

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance
• evaluation of a selection of television programs for which the candidate mixed the vision
• observation of the candidate in a vision mixing role
• written or verbal questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit.

Guidance information for assessment 

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

• BSBCRT402A Collaborate in a creative process.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Production requirements  may include:

• back-ups
• blue screen/green screen
• compiles
• deadlines
• edits
• production style
• production type
• recordings
• replays
• retakes
• schedules
• transfers.

Effects and processes  may include:

• backgrounds
• borders
• captions
• digital video effects
• dissolves
• drop shadows
• fades
• jump cuts
• keys - chroma and external
• linear and non-linear moves
• mattes
• mixes
• picture composites
• reveals
• split screens
• stills/graphics
• titles
• transitions
• tumbles
• wipes
• zooms.

Documentation  may include:

• computer generated
• cue sheets
• enterprise procedure manuals
• equipment manuals
• fault reports
• information sheets
• logging sheets
• manually generated
• schedules, e.g. production, transmission
• scripts.

Production personnel  may include:

• camera personnel
• director
• floor manager
• graphics personnel
• lighting personnel
• producer
• sound personnel
• special effects personnel
• technical director/producer
• video operators
• other technical personnel, e.g. maintenance.

Productions  may include:

• live-to-air
• live-to-tape
• news and current affairs programs
• pre-recorded
• sport programs
• variety programs.

Creative and technical output  may include:

• artistic style
• audio levels, e.g. mono, stereo
• black levels
• burst phase
• chrominance gain
• colour balance
• colour bars
• luminance
• quality of image and sound
• rhythm
• timings
• tone.

Equipment  may include:

• monitors
• still stores
• talkback facility - intercom
• vision mixers, e.g.:

• key bus
• hot bus
• auto buttons
• downstream key
• chroma key
• luma key
• matte key
• T-bar.

Sources  may include:

• cameras
• character generator
• local feed
• overseas camera feed
• pre-recorded video material
• satellite feed
• stills.

Cues  may include:

• by hand signal
• computer automated cues
• countdowns
• ready calls
• roll cues, e.g. roll tape
• script references
• stand-by cues
• talkback with floor manager
• time calls
• verbal
• written messages.

Storage  may include on:

• computer hard drive
• disks
• servers
• videotape.

Unit sector 

Competency field 

Media and entertainment production - broadcasting

Co-requisite units