For this A/V performance technique lesson we'll be taking a look at some of the introductory tools that are used by musicians and DJs to make music, followed by creating video loops from scratch. To top it off the two separate tracks will be combined into a single A/V movie file for use in VDMX or other VJ software for live remixing.
Making a customized version of 'Grid Pro' in VDMX
Building on the previous template and tutorial on recreating the classic VIDVOX Grid using VDMX, in this video walkthrough we'll show how to turn the basic triggering and scrubbing app to it's big brother Grid Pro, which added a number of powerful features like transitions for fading between clips, image FX processing, audio analysis, a text generator layer and direct to disk movie recording.
Read MoreMaking a customized version of 'Grid' in VDMX
When creating new performance interfaces from scratch using VDMX it is often useful to look at the layouts of other VJ tools as a starting points. In this video tutorial we quickly recreate the main features of the classic 'VIDVOX Grid' including most of the keyboard shortcuts, playback capabilities, and general UI layout. The completed version is available for download and just like the original app it is based on, this example template can be used out of the box with your own clips for performances.
Read MoreGuest Tutorial with Shakinda of iLoveQC
Since it was started about a year ago the iLoveQC website has become one of the top resources and community sites for Quartz Composer developers and Mac VJs using the node based language. If you haven't already taken the time to check out the site, they've got some great interviews with artists, tutorials to get started, FX for download and even Final Cut Pro plugins for non-realtime video production. For this guest tutorial we're joined by iLoveQC founder Graham Robinson, also known as Shakinda who has been part of the in the VJ community for quite some time and is an all around QC guru.
Read MoreMulti-display video mixing with VDMX on a Retina MacBook Pro
Along with being able to work with more layers at higher resolutions, faster computers and more powerful graphics cards make it possible to output to multiple projectors or monitors from a single machine. In particular, the new 15" Retina Macbook Pro features a combination of a fast SSD hard drive along with two Thunderbolt and one HDMI port making it possible for a VJ to power 2 or 3 different HD displays from a single Mac laptop.
In this video tutorial we'll walk through the basic steps of preparing VDMX projects with a double-wide and triple-wide design to output with separate source layers for each display.
Read MoreCreating Video Feedback Loops on a Mac with VDMX
One of the most powerful techniques used to create real-time visuals and computer graphics going back to the early days of video is the use of feedback loops - the method of taking the current output and using it as a source frame in part of the next rendered frame. This incredibly useful process is particularly useful for Mac VJs and other graphic artists looking to find a unique look or style for their visuals, and is easily simulated within VDMX by using layer groups.
Read MoreVJ Spain Guest Tutorial Part 3 - Usando Quartz Composer en VDMX
Today we are once again joined by guest poster Marcos Prack with part three of his series of Spanish video tutorials for a lesson on using Quartz Composer iterators and using compositions inside of VDMX: "En este tutorial os muestro como crear una composición en Quartz Composer y publicar parámetros que controlaremos luego en VDMX."
Read MoreAuto loading media from a Dropbox folder to VDMX.
In this video tutorial we'll look at using the popular file sharing service 'Dropbox' to transfer images from an iPhone to a Mac, and then have those images automatically loaded into VDMX where they can be triggered and remixed. This same basic idea can be used with any folder on disk, whether the media files are manually moved, copied over a network, or downloaded over the Internet.
Read MoreVJ Spain Guest Tutorial 2: El plugin Step Sequencer + Ableton Live
nce again in the lead up to his VJ Spain workshop later this month we are joined by guest poster Marcos Prack with another Spanish language tutorial: "Segundo tutorial de VDMX, esta vez os cuento una forma de utilizar el plugin Step Sequencer, que es usarlo para disparar los clips del Media Bin a través de diferentes presets. Todo esto utilizando Ableton Live que a través de notas MIDI activa Presets, FX y dispara los clips."
Read MoreUsing Waveclock to send MIDI clock to VDMX
VJ Spain Guest Tutorial: El plugin Control Surface
his special Spanish language guest tutorial on using the 'Control Surface' plugin comes from Marcos Prack of VJ Spain who joins us with a preview of his upcoming 4 day workshop on using VDMX and Quartz Composer in Madrid this April.
More information about the course can be found on the VJ Spain website: http://vjspain.com/blog/2013/03/20/workshop-quartz-composer-vdmx-integracion-y-flujo-de-trabajo/
Read MoreConverting a single DMX channel to a range of MIDI notes to trigger movies in CoGe
In this tutorial a DMX channel will be received over ArtNet in VDMX where it will be converted into a range of MIDI notes that will be then sent to CoGe to trigger movie files.
Read MoreThe Quartz Composer Interaction object and VDMX Preview Windows
One of the newer features added to Quartz Composer is a new 'Interaction' object which allows for mouse clicks in the QC Viewer, as well as Preview Window plugins within VDMX, to be detected when billboard and sprites are clicked, making it possible to control patches in a variety of ways not possible with standard input splitters.
For this tutorial we'll first create a basic Quartz Composer composition that makes use of the 'Interaction' object and then import it into VDMX where it can be manipulated directly from a Preview Window plugin.
Read MoreVDMX into Millumin via Syphon
In honor of being the first third party developer to support the new Hap codec family natively, today we're joined by by Phillipe Chaurand who writes Millumin, an awesome piece of real-time visual software with a focus on theater, dance, and mapping installations.
Along with Hap, Millumin also shares support for Syphon, which allows for making layers in VDMX directly available as inputs to Millumin. In this quick video tutorial Phillipe explains how to set up this connection between the two applications.
Read MoreReceiving MIDI Clock from Ableton Live in VDMX
In this tutorial we'll first cover how to set up VDMX to receive MIDI Clock from Ableton Live to keep the measure position perfectly in sync.
Read MoreThe ECLECTIC METHOD REMIX, Part Three - Working with Ableton Live
In part three of our series looking at how to make an Eclectic Method remix with Jonny Wilson we'll be looking at using Ableton to control video triggering using MIDI notes.
Read MoreThe ECLECTIC METHOD REMIX, Part Two - Jamming
This is part two of a series with guest instructor Jonny Wilson of the Eclectic Method. You may want to start with the introduction post covering the overview of the workflow and the first topic on creating A/V samples.
In this tutorial we'll be looking at loading movie clips into VDMX and jamming on them using a MIDI controller.
Read MoreThe ECLECTIC METHOD REMIX, Part One - Making Loops
In the introduction of this series we went over the big workflow steps involved with making an Eclectic Method Remix. For part one we'll start with a more in depth look at how Jonny goes about cutting up and preparing his A/V samples using Sony Vegas.
Read MoreThe slider UI item in depth
Sliders are UI items that describe a value within a specific range. This is one of the most common UI items you'll encounter in across VDMX including FX parameters and playback controls.
Read MoreChanging the size mode of a layer
The sizing mode determines how the media on a layer is automatically sized to fit within its parent group. Choose between fit, fill, stretch and copy options. Read More