No one ever replied to this one? Well, I would build a timeline, but keep in mind that I don't know your setup and my way of doing it might conflict with it. Your timeline should recall the correct still, turn on the keyer, run the animation, trigger a macro (built separately) that will dissolve, and then turn off the keyer. I'm not sitting in front of a Zodiac, but you can look in the DAILY SETUPS - EMEM PREFS menu to see what controls what on the delegation panel (or assign them any way you want). Since I cut my (sports) show on ME3, I would run my animation on PGM (or I believe the Zodiac has some true DSK keys you could use). So I would delegate PGM (controls the keyer and puts the background to ME3) SS-A (recalls, runs the still) and Misc 3 (Kalypso default for Macro control). First, build a macro to hit the dissolve button on ME3 (in the MACRO menu: select any empty macro, hit record, press RUN on ME3, hit stop on macro menu - name it ME3 MIX) The effect: kf 1 - recall still kf 2 - turn key on and run animation (go to SS menu, and turn on the "start at kf" button) kf 3 - (turn off "start at kf" button), then go to the MACRO menu and ENABLE macro (and select the correct macro) kf 4 - turn off ENABLE, and turn off keyer edit your keyframe durations til it lines up perfectly. Done. You could also do it all using a big MACRO: Record a MACRO, recall the still (insert small delay) turn key on, run animation (insert small delay) mix ME3 (insert small delay) turn key off. The only downside to that is you can't edit a macro, and you can't see what you've done. So if it ever gets corrupted, or you want to tweak it down the road you'll have to start from scratch. The beauty of either method is you can still choose to transition adding or losing keys on ME3. the macro just tells the switcher to hit the button. Whatever you see in preview is what you'll get. Very flexible, and you never leave the ME. And to clear up what seems to be a bit of confusion: A GPI trigger is when the switcher sends a pulse to an output. Other machines understand that when they receive that pulse, they are supposed to do something. Very simple, no choice in the matter. If you want to send specific commands (run, stop, reverse, slo-mo, etc) you use PBUS. It basically works the same way - a pulse is sent down the line with instructions on what to do. A Macro just records whatever buttons you push. When you trigger the MACRO it hits those buttons in order -really really fast. Lots of applications. A timeline gives you a lot of control and is most commonly used for building effects, but they are very specific and you have to make sure they are all compatable, because they WILL do whatever you tell them to. And go ahead and convice the PA to stand on one leg to make the effect work, they can't be sure you're joking. And for gods sake, don't let the engineers anywhere near the switcher, unless it breaks. Mike