OT: VeeJay software?

BrianStanding wrote on 8/16/2005, 11:41 AM
So, I've recently been doing this volunteer gig as a VeeJay, playing weird little video clips, archival movies, trippy visuals, etc. during and between a band's live performance. This is the first time I've ever done this kind of thing, but it's loads of fun and looks like it might turn into a regular gig.

I've been using my 2.8Ghz P4 laptop and WinAmp, which works great for straight playback of video clips from a playlist. But I'm starting to get interested in doing live mixing, FX, backwards and forward play, etc. I thought about using Vegas for this, using the Windows secondary monitor preview feature, but I think it might be a bit slow loading new video files to the timeline or preview. I notice on Google that there is a plethora of V.J. software to do exactly this, but I don't know where to begin.

Anyone have any experience with this kind of things? Any suggestions for what to look for?

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 8/16/2005, 12:22 PM
You certainly would not want to use Vegas. I've had to make changes in front of clients, and the Vegas interface gives you too many ways to screw things up to be something you want to use regularly when the pressure is on. When you are by yourself, it is no big deal to hit the "undo" button, but in front of an audience, it would be tougher.

Also, most fX do NOT preview in real-time, so you'd be pretty limited in what you could do.

I'd recommend spending the money for the dedicated hardware and/or software.
ricnev wrote on 8/16/2005, 2:25 PM
One MIDI compatible real time VJ software progam I have dabbled wih is Arkaos. It has recently progressed to version 3.5 which looks to be a very capable and professional way of doing live VJ work. It is also available in a version which can control DMX lighting rigs.

http://www.arkaos.net/

Richard Nevill.
rs170a wrote on 8/16/2005, 2:54 PM
No experience whatsoever but VJ Central appears to be a good site to do some searching on.

Mike
murk wrote on 8/16/2005, 3:44 PM
I am a part time VJ, and I use a program called visualJockey. I do not recommend this software as it is out of production. It is more of a tool for VJ geisers. But it is fast as heck and allows for very complex compositing and music reactivity.

Arkaos is likely your best bet. I took a look at version 3.5 beta and it is perty sweet. They are moving to 100% Hardware acceleration for effects and Arkaos supports Freeframe plugins too.
Jeff_Smith wrote on 8/16/2005, 5:01 PM
I just came across this, software and hardware.
http://www.edirol.com/products/info/mdp1.html

oops, maybe this is not out yet.
musicvid10 wrote on 8/16/2005, 5:47 PM
One that I had a lot of fun playing with at home is called Aestesis. Although the interface is a bit strange, I could do some amazing things with their free version. I see they have a full-featured commercial version called Elektronica at http://www.aestesis.org

Really, though, a lot of VJ's do just what you are doing with Winamp. I'm sure you know you can also run Milkdrop and other viz's with line-in from your DJ mixer. I even saw a live concert done this way with a Milkdrop backdrop.
MichaelS wrote on 8/16/2005, 5:59 PM
Take a look at Resolume.

www.resolume.com

I've never used it professionally, but it has a cool demo.
musicvid10 wrote on 8/16/2005, 7:40 PM
I came upon these forums through a google. Talk about too many choices! There seem to be a few dozen softwares competing for different niches of the market...
http://www.vjforums.com
BrianStanding wrote on 8/17/2005, 7:31 AM
Thanks for all the tips. I have a lot of reading and downloading to do.