One of the common types of image filters that are found in the workflow for photo and video editing are LUTs, also know as "Look Up Table" based FX. LUT FX are used to change the color palette of an image to create a different stylized look or feel, or in some cases to mimic the look of different print film types.
In this video tutorial we'll be looking at how to use each of the three different ways to use LUT FX in VDMX and how to add your own ".cube" LUT files.
Read MoreOne of the best things about being a VJ on the Mac these days is Syphon which makes it possible for all of the different tools that are available to work together in countless ways. Within VDMX it is possible to have as many Syphon inputs and outputs as your computer can handle, which allows for it to be used as a source, mixer, FX processor or final output for other software you may want to work with.
In this video tutorial we'll look at a simple use case for connecting several Syphon enabled applications to and from VDMX by creating a two channel mixer that fades between two Syphon sources and publishes back out for other applications to use.
Read MoreProjectMilkSyphon is a free standalone app for the Mac that can be used alongside any Mac VJ application that support Syphon inputs. In this video tutorial we'll begin by looking at the options available within ProjectMilkSyphon and demonstrating how to receive the video feed in VDMX.
Read MoreOne of the common things you may want to set up using media bin plugins is the ability to trigger multiple clips to different layers at the same time. Within VDMX this can be configured in a few different ways depending on your use case.
Read MoreWhen creating new ISF based generators and FX for use in VDMX or other supported applications, one of the most useful tools is the free ISF Editor. In this video tutorial we'll be looking at the basics of using the ISF Editor to create a basic generator and FX.
Read MoreOne of the popular controllers used by VJs is the Korg nanoKONTROL, a versatile set of sliders, knobs and buttons that can be easily mapped to different setups. The goal of this more setup is to provide a good standard VJ rig for this controller that includes 4 layers with playback / mixing / color adjustment, clip / page switching along with a set of both manual and audio reactive FX that can be individually enabled.
Read MoreFor musicians working in Ableton Live or other multitrack production software one of the most useful tricks for driving real-time visuals is to output each sound track on a different set of audio channels before they are mixed together to get more accurate results for each sound when performing audio analysis in VDMX.
Read MoreThis guest tutorial from the DocOptic team goes over some of their favorite tips to improve our workflow while using VDMX including keyboard shortcuts, BPM automation, presets, and more. Also covered are a few techniques using features of VDMX such as the Alpha Mask effect and using application windows as media sources.
Read MoreWhile mainly designed for cross platform game development many Mac VJs take advantage of the Unity3D engine for the purposes for creating 3D worlds and other real-time generated graphics for use in visual performance. By connecting these environments to other VJ applications like VDMX over Syphon and OSC we can control these worlds and mix, process and output the virtual camera signals from a scene like any other live media source.
Read MoreOne 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 MoreWhile 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 MoreLike 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 MoreWhile 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 MoreOnce 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 MoreUsing 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 MoreAlong 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 MoreAlong 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 MoreFor 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 MoreWhen 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 MoreUsing 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.
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