One of the first and most popular apps on iOS for remotely controlling the visuals running on your Mac is TouchOSC from Hexler which allows for customizing which controls are accessible from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, and configure their layout. In this tutorial we look at the 'Sync UI' option in the Media Bin for updating the display of buttons and button grids in TouchOSC as movies are triggered in VDMX.
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 MoreReceiving MIDI SMPTE Time Code (MTC) in VDMX
MIDI Time Code (MTC) is a specification for sending SMPTE values from a master playback application such as QLab or Apple Logic to keep the play time of other real-time music and visuals software in sync over MIDI. While MTC has a few drawbacks it can be very useful when setting up live performances where VDMX is being used alongside audio software that can send it.
In this tutorial we'll look at how to receive MTC in VDMX in two ways: First, the classic example of syncing the time position of a QuickTime movie to the incoming timecode. In the second case instead of a traditional movie, a simple Quartz Composer patch will receive the MTC and render a real-time animated read out of the values in standard SMPTE format.
Read MoreMaking and Installing GLSL Composition Modes for VDMX
To get the best performance out of using the Hap codec within VDMX we also recently added another new feature making it possible to use GLSL shaders to perform composition between layers. While the standard 'OpenGL- Add' and 'OpenGL- Over' modes are the absolute fastest when it comes to rendering, when more complex composition modes such as 'Difference' or 'Multiply' are needed shaders are the best alternative when playing back movie files, particularly when you're not using CoreImage or Quartz Composer based FX on the layer.
In this two part tutorial we'll look first at the basics of adding new 3rd party shaders to the assets folder, and then move on to the intermediate level step of creating new custom blend modes.
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 MoreExporting Motion projects as Hap Alpha movies to use with VDMX
While VDMX itself is an application for creating real-time visuals, eventually most VJs and other visual artists have some use for other types of video software such as non-linear editors (iMovie, FCP, Premiere) or motion graphics generators (Motion, After Effects) to create pre-made footage to use during performance.
In this tutorial we look at exporting movies from Apple Motion to use in VDMX and including the alpha channel by using the 'Hap Alpha' codec. The same basic idea can be used with other motion graphics software such as Adobe After Effects.
Read MoreConverting movies to the Hap video codec
Hap is a new video codec for Mac OS X that performs image decompression on a computer's video card, substantially reducing the CPU usage necessary to play back a movie- this is useful in situations where CPU power is a limiting factor, such as when working with high resolution movies.
In this tutorial we'll look at when it is appropriate to use Hap encoded files and how to convert movie files using the free Vidvox batch exporter utility, or your other favorite QuickTime enabled applications.
Read MoreThe 9 Layer 3x3 HD Video Wall
In this intermediate level tutorial we'll be taking 9 standard definition movies (640x360) and combining them in a 3x3 grid layout to make a single 1920x1080 HD output image in the style of a video wall on your Mac.
Read MoreBeginner Quartz Composer tutorial with guest Minuek
For this guest tutorial we're joined by Jim Warrier, aka Minuek, who has been sharing his awesome Quartz Composer compositions and VDMX tutorials on the Vidvox forums for the past few months, to the point where we had to invite him to do a guest tutorial with us featuring some of his work and to help other people get started with Quartz Composer. Read More
Valentines Day Starter Project
Getting ready for your Valentines Day gig?
Here's a quick starter project for VDMX that includes a simple particle generator Quartz Composer composition that rains down hearts over a live camera input or movie loops to add an extra bit of special something-something to the visuals.
Read MoreChroma Key Basics
Chroma Keying is an image effects technique for compositing multiple video streams on top of each by applying a hue based masked to the foreground images. Commonly a blue or green screen is used in production for these purposes.
Within VDMX, using the 'Chroma Mask' FX on a layer will create a color-based mask that is applied within the FX-chain. Pixels in the input that are within the tolerance range are set to become transparent through the usage of alpha channels.
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 Advanced Two Channel Mixer with Downstream Key
For this tutorial we'll be looking to replicate more functionality commonly found in professional hardware video mixers including making use of a Downstream Key for masking the final mix and a variety of preset transitions and standard effects that can be easily accessed via a main control panel. Read More
Setting up Media Bin UI sync with the APC20 / APC40
This tutorial covers the steps needed to set up UI sync with the APC20 and APC40 controllers, and the technique is very similar for other hardware devices such as the Launchpad and Ohm-64, as well as touchscreen apps like TouchOSC. Read More
Building a 4 Channel Video Mixer with VDMX
In this tutorial we look at how to create a 4 channel video mixer that has two separate sub-mixes. Read More
Setting up VDMX as a DMX controlled media server
This tutorial explains how to setup VDMX to receive DMX over ArtNet to perform basic media server capabilities such as triggering movie files and adjusting FX parameters.
Read MoreHow to do the Deadmau5 End of Year Tour visuals by Momo the Monster
Thanks to guest poster Momo The Monster currently on tour with Deadmau5 for a special round of holiday shows in North America to take the time to make a blog post and tutorial with us from the road.
Read MoreUsing Window Inputs to capture Google Chrome
With the Window Input sources, the output from applications that aren't Syphon enabled can still be used by VDMX as a video source for a layer. This is particularly useful with Google Chrome which can be used to playback specialized WebGL visualizations and other web pages that may not work in other browsers.
Read MoreAssigning A Custom FX-Chain to a Clip
Using the File Inspector section of the Workspace Inspector individual clips can be tagged with attributes that override the source, FX, and composition settings of the layer that they are triggered on to. In this walkthrough we'll focus on the basic task of previewing a clip in the inspector and setting it to use a custom FX Chain.
Read MoreStep Sequencer Color Tracks
In addition to standard number values, VDMX supports the special OSC color type for quickly passing around packed RGBA values between data senders and receivers. This is particularly useful in the Step Sequencer plugin which has a color option for tracks, making it easy to automate changes and fades between colors for generators and FX that use color swatch UI items. Read More