One of the most powerful techniques for combining multiple layers of video into an output is the use of masking, also known as luma keying. With this process, two video sources are combined to create a "cut out" layer that can be composited over others image like a collage instead of simply blending them together. This style is commonly found in music videos, graphic design, and by VJs for live performance. Masking is also an important technique used when projection mapping video onto surfaces.
Read MoreUsing Video Game Controllers With VDMX
While many VJs and musicians use equipment designed to look like a traditional instruments for running their visuals, another great way to have gestural control during a live performance is by using setups normally used for gaming.
In this tutorial we'll look at three different types of game controllers that you can use with VDMX.
Read MoreSending DMX From a VDMX Color Picker
Like most interface items in VDMX, the Color Pickers can send their current state the DMX protocols for syncing with lighting consoles and fixtures making it possible for a VJ to control both the visuals and lights at a live event. In this video tutorial we'll set up a DMX controllable lighting fixture and set up a Control Surface plugin with interface items for adjusting each of the available parameters.
Read MoreManually Setting a MIDI, OSC or DMX Address for a Slider or Button
While the Hardware Learn Mode and detect methods are often the fastest way for a VJ to connect sliders, buttons and other elements from a physical controller to their corresponding UI items in VDMX, sometimes it can always be useful to manually enter in these addresses. You may need to do this if some item on the controller sends multiple MIDI values at the same time, or when attempting to set up a project working from a spec sheet when the device isn't actually plugged in.
Read MoreVideo Fundamentals – Part 3 – Visual FX
Once a video is playing, the next step in the process of visual performance is to apply real-time FX to each frame to change the way it looks before it is shown to the audience.
In some cases the FX being used are in a utility function, for example a Color Correction filter makes it possible to adjust the contrast, saturation, and brightness levels when calibrating projectors. Others are designed to stylize the image to match a particular aesthetic such as glitch or film.
Read MoreMore Fun Audio Analysis Techniques
Using individual plugins to directly automate the control of different aspects of a video performance or interactive installation can create some pretty awesome results, but one of the most powerful capabilities of VDMX is the ability to connect these plugins to each other to create more complex behaviors and visual effects that can be switched between during live VJ performance.
For this set of tutorials we'll look at a few ways that the Audio Analysis plugin can be used alongside the LFO plugin and standard interface controls as a demonstration of this technique.
Read MoreVisualizing Audio Analysis FFT and Waveforms
Along with the produced control values that are used to directly automate interface controls like sliders and buttons, the Audio Analysis plugin in VDMX provides its input waveform and FFT values encoded as grayscale video streams that can be used to create real-time music visualizers and advanced sound reactive effects.
Read MoreUsing a Step Sequencer to trigger media clips
Along with being able to control any standard UI elements like sliders, buttons and color pickers, tracks in the step sequencer plugin in VDMX can be used to automate the changing of the media files playing back on a layer and create visuals rhythms. This general technique can be useful for a lot of projects such as VJ performances and building interactive video installations.
Read MoreConnecting the x-OSC wireless I/O board to VDMX
For this guest tutorial we are joined by Will Reardon, a motion designer and artist, currently developing video art objects. Currently Will is using VDMX and the x-OSC I/O board to create a device similar to his previous ‘Compendium’ with added interactive functionality.
We'll start by making a basic test connection between the software and hardware over WiFi, then begin to add a series of sliders and knobs to VDMX that receive values from the I/O board analog inputs.
Read MoreSetting A Movie to Resume Last Playback Position
When preparing movie files for a performance, one of the more subtle controls you may want to customize on a per clip basis is the start point of individual clips when they are triggered. While the default behavior is to playback from the first frame of the video, it may be necessary to have a clip resume playing from the last time it was used. This is accomplished in VDMX by using the Files section of the Workspace Inspector where you can specify custom playback behaviors of individual clips.
Read MoreApplying Math Expressions to Slider Receivers
Using control data from other applications, external hardware, and internal providers like LFOs or Audio Analysis is a major component of VDMX- every UI element is capable of being controlled via MIDI/OSC/DMX/other data sources. The procedure for doing so is consistent across all UI items- you add a receiver (which receives data from things) to the UI element you're working with using the UI Inspector.
Typically the range of numbers being received can be automatically translated by VDMX to cover the local minimum and maximum envelopes of a slider UI item. However in some situations you may want to override the default number mapping behavior by using the settings in the sub-inspector panel for receivers. In this tutorial we'll look at some of the common cases you may run into and how to handle them.
Read MoreIntroduction tutorials translated to French Part 2
La compositions de calques qui couvre les modes d’opacité et de fusion et Appliquer un masque sur un calque.
Read MoreCreating and Installing ISF FX
An ISF, or “Interactive Shader Format” file is a GLSL fragment shader (.fs) that includes a small blob of information that describes any input controls that the host application (such as slider, button, and color picker controls in VDMX) should provide for the user when the FX is loaded for use, as well as other meta-data including the authorship, category and a description.
In this two part tutorial we'll cover the basics of applying ISF based FX to layers in VDMX and how to install new example ISF files you may download from the Internet, followed by a quick introduction to creating your own image processing GLSL fragment shaders.
Read MoreCreating and Installing ISF Generators
An ISF, or “Interactive Shader Format” file is a GLSL fragment shader that includes a small blob of information that describes any input controls that the host application (such as slider, button, and color picker controls in VDMX) should provide for the user when the generator is loaded for use, as well as other meta-data including the authorship, category and description.
In this two part tutorial we'll cover the basics of using ISF generators within VDMX as sources for layers and how to install new example ISF files you may download from the Internet, followed by a quick introduction to creating your own GLSL fragment shaders.
Read MoreOverview of Available Data-sources in VDMX
A big part of using VDMX is taking advantage of the ability to automate any of the standard interface controls (sliders, buttons, color pickers, pop-up menus) which are used to control everything including things like the opacity of a layer, the volume or rate of a movie, the intensity of a blurring FX being applied, or even the settings of any of the automation plugins themselves.
For this quick reference tutorial we'll look at all of the available data-sources that VDMX publishes internally for automating controls. These can all be used on their own, or together, and in some cases you may have multiple providers of each type.
Read MoreInstalling and using FreeFrame Generators and FX
Video Fundamentals – Part 2 – Media Types
For part two of our video fundamental series we'll be looking more in depth at the four main types of video sources that you'll encounter in the world of VJing and video production.
Read MoreUsing a mask to apply an FX to only part of a layer
In this guest tutorial we're joined by the Rockwell Group's LAB division who work as an interactive design team within a larger architecture firm where they focus on projects that blend physical and virtual spaces.
For a recent projection mapping installation in NYC, one of the techniques used by the LAB was to apply a real-time video FX on to a specific portion of one of the pre-rendered movies so that part of the image was left unprocessed in the main output while another section was color shifted to match the lighting effects in the room. Today we'll show you how that was accomplished.
Read MoreCreating a multi-channel live camera video sampler
For this technique video tutorial we'll be looking at how to use VDMX to create a multi-camera video sampler setup with the ability to record movie clips from a live feed to be immediately remixed and saved for later editing. As movie clips are sampled they will be automatically added to the bin page where they can be triggered for output making this simple example useful either on its own, or added on to an existing project.
Read MoreVideo Fundamentals – Part 1 – General Workflow
Since the first introduction of our new blog almost a year ago the number of topics covered has grown to include a wide variety of subjects that at this point you could almost write an entire class on VJing and live video techniques from our tutorials.
With this in mind, rather than trying to teach how to use VDMX to new potential users, we've started to put together a new “Introduction to Video Fundamentals” curriculum that focuses on the basic knowledge needed to get started. While these ideas are usually demonstrated with VDMX, a lot of the underlying techniques are generally translatable to other software and hardware for video and lighting production.
In part two of this series (stay tuned) we'll start to look at some more advanced topics for putting all of this together along case studies and tips from the pros in the field.
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