a) The immediate switching from one video source to another during the vertical blanking interval. The visual effect is an abrupt change from one picture to another.

b) The nearly instantaneous switch from one picture to another at the on-air output of the switcher. The switcher circuitry allows cuts only during the vertical interval of the video signal so as to prevent disruption of the picture. On the Vista, the Cut push-button in the Effects Transition control group activates an effects cut. The DSK Cut Key-In pushbutton cuts the downstream key on or off air. On AVCs, this is performed by a zero time auto transition.