Many event producers need to grab a freeze frame of a PowerPoint deck, so they can change decks while a freeze of the title slide is broadcast. vMix does this through the "Snapshot" function in "Shortcuts". Two Shortcuts are needed: one to capture and one to display. But a slight bit of pre-work is needed when you open vMix and before you make the Shortcuts.

Step 1: Using the same PC for vMix over and over: Create a folder for your freeze frame on the hard drive and load it with one PNG file. Rename the file "freeze.png" (or whatever you want).

Step 2: Add a "List" input and preload it with the freeze.png you made above. Give the input a name, such as FrameStore.

Step 3: In Shortcuts, choose a key control. In this example, I'll use "N". For the function: choose Output, then Snapshot. In the "Value" field, type the path for the freeze.png you made above, e.g., c:\vmix\freezes\freeze.png. Then, click "ok". This completes the first shortcut.

Step 4: In Shortcuts, choose another key control. In this example, I'll choose "M". For the function: choose Transition, then Quick Play. In the Input field, choose the input from the drop-down list called FrameStore.

Step 5: You are ready to use the two Shortcuts! Press "N" and a freeze frame will be grabbed of whatever is in the Output. It will replace the picture in the file called "Freeze.png". Press "M" and that freeze frame will now be displayed in the Output. For event producers, this frees up the PowerPoint deck.

Your can now press "N" and "M" whenever, and as many times as you want, to change the image that you captured, e.g., the title slide in a PPT deck.

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