I punch barefooted. I also have two left feet, therefore it is an absolute necessity that the switcher be layed out where I can recline while punching. You may have seen my work in the past on the "Monkey Tape". I got some face time but no lines. The director was yelling at me to "GET OFF THE SWITCHER!!!" Sincerely, Simian Primate

As a lefty I tend to think I'm at an advantage. With P-bus and GPI's I find its not too often that I have to touch a piece of outboard gear so it could really go on either side and I'd be ok with it. With the addition of macros I've attatched all the functions that would involve me reaching with my (considerably less coordinated) right hand to buttons on p/p so my right hand hardly ever moves. My left is doing all the hard work punching cameras and everything else.

I switch and direct news. I'm right handed. My preference is having external devices that are triggered manually controlled by my left hand. I have a mos controller, remote cam controllers, dekocast switch, telephone all controlled with my left hand. I have learned how to control a mouse with my left hand. Although I'm sure if it was all on my right side I'd learn to adapt. I do like having my right hand available for the cut button or fader bar. Left handed-right handed debate shouldn't be an issue, it may be awkward at first, but you "learn"... (Although now that I think about it would I think this if I was a lefty?) The only time it gets hard is if I try to pan a remote camera and fade up from master black at the same time. We also use a foot pedal for the bug which you can put anywhere on the floor. I use my left foot everyone else uses their right. I do agree though when I TD, I like to be able to see the director and like it best when I sit to the left of the director.

If you're concerned about the "right-handed, left-handed" debate, there are a couple of ways around this: If you've got a modular panel, then you can more easily configure the panel to fit the needs & wants of your TD's. If not, then there are still workarounds: You mention being able to get at the Auto Trans & Key in/out controls. A simple box with a few buttons that sends out GPI closures would solve that problem - almost all switchers have GPI IN controls that would let you add or drop keys & do Auto Transitions. With either a 6-foot cable or with separate connectors on either side of the switcher, you'd be able to make all of your TD's happy. You could also put separate drops for keyboards and other equipment on either side of the switcher, which would allow every TD to position the necessary equipment where they want it, as long as you left some room for the various component's footpriints. However, I am reminded that while there are lots of left-handed pianists out there, no major manufacturer makes a left-handed piano - unless you're in certain parts of Europe, you can't get a left-handed car - I have yet to see a "left-handed" qwerty keyboard. The "lefties" out there have adapted quite well, and of the "lefty" TD's that I know, not one has ever complained to me about a switcher layout not being "lefty-friendly". What is more important is communication and the ability to make decisions on-the-fly. Putting a switcher to the right of center is how most entertainment control rooms are designed...this is because it puts the TD physically closer to the Director (for better communication), and puts the TD's line-of-sight closer to that of the Director's - in this way the TD is an active decision-maker in looking at sources, making sure that they're ready for air, or has a line-of-sight to help them override the Director if a better or more appropriate shot is available. If the TD is nothing more than a button-pusher who doesn't do anything without 1st being told to do so, then it frankly doesn't matter if they're even in the same control room as the Director - you could put them in a closet & get the same result, and it is this "button-pusher" that's going to get replaced with Ignite or Overdrive. Even if the switcher is on the right-side of the control room, I've seen lots of places that put an island of equipment to the TD's left - this pushes their viewing position further away from center, and creates a barrier between them & the Director, which influences both communication as well as the TD's ability to perform part of their job - I maintain that the "D" in TD still stands for DIRECTOR...if the TD isn't doing some sort of directing, then they're not a TD; they're just a vision mixer. Thus I favor putting ALL ancilliary equipment to the TD's right (going up the wall if necessary), leaving their left side open - for the sole purpose of communication with the Director. If the Director is switching their own show, then by all means put stuff on both the right & left sides...whatever they feel comfortable with.

Yeah - I know there is not going to be a 100% concensus...wouldn't that be a wonderful world! Anyway - we are finally getting a new switcher - which is larger and won't fit in the standard space we have now! - So boot the producer up a level and slide the TD and director over - and you have all the pieces for a great argument about new layouts of equipment on counterspace and a new monitor wall layout!!! let the debate begin! -Clint

Rule #1, even if you poll your current staff and you follow those views/thoughts someone will complain after the project is finished. Heck, you could use data patch fields and KVMs and build in all the routing you think anyone could need or want and someone will find fault. Is there any major flaw with how your current layout is implemented? "If it isn't broken, why fix it" comes to mind?