@ calamityjane
Not sure how much help I can be with your ATEM issues (I'm not a big fan of integrating the two workflows as you lose so much of vMix's functionality, but you "gotta do what ya gotta do" and I get that).
I guess the best thing to do is experiment with different options to figure out what is gonna work best for you, my understanding is that the ATEM will give the best results with both a KEY and a FILL input, but I am not sure how you would accomplish that with vMix.
On the second point, what are the 'restrictions' you feel you have with vMix HD (other than perhaps an additional external output)?
The scoreboard and clocks in hockey are undoubtedly one of the most frustrating hurdles to deal with if you are not plugged in to the actual game clock (which usually only happens with high end broadcast productions).
I can't exactly remember what I suggested to you before, but I am pretty sure it was along the lines of "keep it as simple as possible".
My number 1 recommendation would be to isolate a camera on the entire scoreboard if at all possible and use multiple 'Virtual Inputs' to break it down and 'crop' into it's various components (Score/Time/Penalty clocks). This removes all of the complexities of having to manually 'keep up' with your own scoreboard clock which can be a headache at the best of times. The downside to this is that it may not be very graphically appealing or fit well into your graphics and may take considerable time to actually set-up before a game. There is also software that can assist with this, but that adds even more cost and complexity to your set-up.
The second suggestion is to go about it much the same way as you already have, using shortcuts and timers in vMix to 'mimic' the actual game clock. The complications arise when trying to deal with the penalty clocks. 80% of the time, you won't have to worry about more than 1 or 2 penalties, but you will have to have contingency plans for those times when 3 or 4 penalties come into being.
For me, the Scoreboard and game clock are on one graphic. The penalty clocks are separate, I have 5 different penalty clocks, but only ever overlay one of them and change the team highlight and penalty subscript accordingly (POWERPLAY/4 on 4/5 on 3 etc.). My shortcuts are designed to trigger subsequent start/stop functions of the clock before it, so I am always (knock on wood) in sync.
It is a slightly more complex set-up than I describe (as much of it is done with a couple 'Multiview' inputs and overlays), but that is the gist of it.
I've tried many different approaches and have found this to be the most manageable and effective when dealing with my own unofficial timers, but invariably, there is bound to be a screw-up somewhere and why I suggest off-loading that to an image of the actual game scoreboard if at all possible.
Ice
