When compositing layers of video together in VDMX or another VJ application, one of the standard techniques for combining images is the use of “masking images” which black out parts of an image by setting its transparency (alpha channel) to less than 1.0, allowing it to in front of content behind it instead of simply blending the two together.
This template is a variation on the technique described in the four channel mixer example in which we have two groups of layers (left and right bus) set up making it possible to preview and transition between mixes on the fly. Here the idea is similar, but instead of two mixes that use separate sets of clips, in this template each bus shares the same set of four clips, each with different controls for layer opacity, FX and blend modes. For an added twist, the four source for this template is used as a mask overlay for each bus that can be used in a variety of ways to combine the two separate mixes together in the main output.
In this video tutorial we quickly go through the design of this template and how it can be used to mix two movie clips along with an audio reactive or LFO driven Quartz Composer composition as an overlay or mask.
Read MoreAs part of our series on different techniques for VJs and visual artists to create their own content for performances and installations, today we are featuring the “Dot” camera attachment from Kogeto which lets you easily shoot panoramic video from an iPhone that can be loaded into a VDMX for real-time cropping and panning for adjusting the point of view as the movie plays back or is remixed during a live performance.
In this video tutorial we'll look at some tips for working with movie clips shot using the Dot in VDMX, including setting up seamless 360 rotational loops, syncing the POV angle to the movie time, and how to fade between two different panorama clips.
Read MoreToday we are joined by Roger Sodré, creator of Blendy VJ which is an advanced tool for working with multiple projectors in situations where there is an overlap that needs to be smoothly blended to appear as a single continuous output. In this guest tutorial Roger demonstrates how to set up VDMX to send video over Syphon to Blendy where it is split into two separate signals that then have a soft edge blend applied over the section that will overlap when projected.
Read MoreEventually when creating live visuals, particularly for a high profile event or tour, you may find the need to add to your setup some kind of very specialized custom image processing, source generator, or information feed that really sets the show apart with its own unique style or effect.
For this set of video tutorials we'll be taking a look at how to use one of our favorite languages, Cycling74's Max/MSP/Jitter which has been around for over 20 years as the tool of choice for creative coders experimenting with music and visuals.
Read MoreAmong the many uses of Quartz Composer, and perhaps one that is often overlooked, is the ability to make visualizations of data and other information. Since the compositions are rendered in realtime, when creating them for this purpose it can be helpful to make the patches reusable with published input values for use in other environments, or replicating within QC itself.
In this two part video tutorial we'll first create a composition in Quartz Composer that renders a simple bar graph data visualization with inputs for changing its labels and values that can be used in other applications. Once the patch is completed it can be loaded into VDMX and set up to respond to a variety of different inputs as a visualizer of tempo or audio levels as part of a VJ set, an on screen display of MIDI / DMX channels, or any other arbitrary data that you can get into your computer by OSC.
Read MoreIn this quick tutorial we'll be looking at how to use the Audio Analysis plugin instead of the typical keyboard MIDI, OSC, or DMX shortcuts for triggering video clips in a media bin. This can be a particularly useful technique for using VDMX to run interactive installations that respond to sound and other inputs, or for automating and beat syncing parts of a VJ setup.
Read MoreOver the last few years artist / programmer Mattijs Kneppers has been developing “Livegrabber,” a set of plugins that can be used to easily sync Ableton Live with other applications by echoing out actions in Live over the OSC protocol. For the release of the newest version of the plugins, we're joined by Mattijs and Studio Rewind for a demonstration of how to use the Livegrabber plugins with VDMX.
Read MoreFor 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.
Read MoreBuilding 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 MoreWhen 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 MoreSince 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 MoreAlong 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 MoreOne 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 MoreToday 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 MoreIn 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 Morence 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 MoreOne of the most powerful tools available for Mac VJs is Waveclock, a beat tracking application designed to listen to music from a microphone or line input and convert it to standard MIDI Clock that can be used as a master to drive VDMX and other VJ software.
Read Morehis 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 MoreIn 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 MoreOne 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.
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