Events
Read more about recent events and conventions here.
Conventions:
VJ and Real time Video effects and camera feeds (also simulcasting).
For live video mixing and effects I use either Arkaos GrandVJ or Resolume Avenue (Whichever work best for the specific event, they both do many different things). For the pre-production stuff, I use Adobe Premier Pro and Vegas Video. Premier for the final stuff, Vegas for the “NEED IT FIXED NOW!” stuff. Lower thirds, transitions, backgrounds I use Digital Juice, a great collection built up over a few years. I also make some of my own with various programs like Maya, 3DStudio Max, etc. Hardware wise, I use a M-Audio Axium 25 (I think) and a Numark total control. Both act as standard midi devices, and I can mix with them, cue, apply effects, etc.
Lighting (Stage and Dance/Rave).
I use a custom built DMX – USB controller, some open source software for controlling the lights and a plugin that lets me control via the VJ software and my MIDI interfaces. Normally my lighting engineer (stage trained) runs event and stage lighting for me. It ends up being a pretty big task, and with my focus on video, it’s almost impossible to do both.
Lighting includes a set of LED wash panels and a 400Watt Black Light that travels with me, at Colossalcon though, and in the future, we are using scanners, pars and eventually moving heads and other stage and dance lights.
Custom video content is one of my key goals. As every event I do has some sort of custom artwork associated with it, I try and incorporate this into my production.
The above video shows some of the unique situations I encounter every time I do an event. In the main events room where the cosplay was held there were 2 large screens on either side of the stage and a outdoor room (tent) almost 300 feet away from the action. The setup included simulcasting audio and video to a screen in the tent, along with the video in the main events room. Two cameras were used to keep angle options open, this included a stationary cam that covered the front of the room / stage area and a close cam with a wide angle lens to follow the stage action. As this was one of the first events I had ever done anything this involved at, I feel it turned out very well, though there is room for improvement and note were taken to update the plan for next year.
Dances and raves are where my focus has been for the better part of these last 6 years. I love music, but I don’t feel I am on par with most of the DJ’s, so I fill that with video. Yeah, you can play some loops, or put on a visualization, but it doesn’t really do the music justice. I mix live (for the most part) at every event I go to. Using clips, loops, computer generated graphics, stills, live video feeds and even RSS and Twitter feeds to bring another level of “awesome” to any dance.
TO BE CONTINUED….
(Also, please excuse the kinda crappy videos, I haven’t made any of my own yet, these are what I found on youtube that include my work)
