Back in the early days of desktop and laptop VJing, it was pretty standard to see software that could only mix between two or three video sources at a time. To work with more than this, separate hardware for mixing and compositing was often used to combine two sub-mixes created by computers or other equipment.
One of the benefits of this setup was the ability to juggle between the sub-mixes to create new improvised compositions that could be jammed on or automated using LFOs for a few minutes, then switching over to the next composition being prepared on the other system.
Now that computers are fast enough to run more than 2 or 3 layers of video at a time, a VJ setup like this can be run on a single machine without the additional hardware video mixer. In this tutorial we'll look at how to create a 4 channel video mixer that has two separate sub-mixes.
Next up see how to use Live Camera Inputs with this setup or record the output as a movie.
Our completed dual two channel mixer template for VDMX.
1. Set up the groups for the sub-mixes in the 'Workspace Inspector' under the 'Layers' tab.
Create four layers (two for each sub-mix) and use the 'Group Selected Layers' option.
2. In the 'Workspace Inspector' under 'Plugins' create three 'Two Channel Mixer' plugins.
One mixer for A/B, one mixer for C/D, and one to fade between the {A/B} and {C/D} sub-mixes.
3. Add Media Bins, LFOs, Preview Windows, FX-chains and other controls for each sub-mix.
The settings of plugins and UI items (sliders, buttons, etc.) can be copied and pasted for fast replication.
Creating a group in the Workspace Inspector 'Layers' tab.
Three 'Two Channel Mixer' Plugins configured to mix between four layers.
Tip: The 'Media Bin' sub-inspector under the 'Menus' tab let's you restrict a bin to trigger on specific layers.