Variables can be used for instant and differentiated dissolves of parallel track contents during playback - these can be pictures, video or sound, as well as data and switch objects. They link up the alpha of a number of tracks with variable A and that of some other tracks with variable B. During playback the tracks with the variable A start and, after a while, you fade over spontaneously to the tracks with variable B. It is also possible to set up more complex groups and combine them arbitrarily.
The track contents can be executed or controlled in different ways:
Via triggers containing instructions as to which mix group is to be faded in in what way. For trigger execution all the possible options are available. See Executing triggers.
Via data objects linked up with variables. Value (opacity, volume, etc.) and the duration of the fade is controlled via the ramp bands in data objects.
Via formulas which change the variable value. See Formula parser.
Via slider controls on external controllers, e.g. Behringer BCF2000 or Mackie Control. Here the variables are assigned to a slider control and can be controlled live similar to a video mixer.
All these functions are very well suited for live presentation of very complex contents, i.e. also in combination with live video imports. However, mix-groups can also be used for elegantly changing over between different contents of information systems. The mix group function requires the Pro License or higher. See Licenses and functions.
See
Control via trigger (first option)
Control via data objects and slider controls (second option)