The introduction of Pioneers DVD player for djs had everyone, including myself, drooling over the possibilities. It fast became apparent that moving MTV from the boob tube to the club was not exactly going to be the most revolutionary thing on the planet. Instead, guys like Mike Realm have shown how a little video editing can produce some really fun results that are totally original.
The very capable team behind Serato Scratch has made that goal even easier to achieve by rolling video into their ubiquitous DVS system. Dj Mei-Lwun, the face behind our now infamous Fisher Price review, gives us a quick run through and demonstrates a very cheeky home made video combo.
By Dj Mei lwun
Hold the presses, Serato now offers VIDEO. Video SL is a plug-in that is used with Scratch Live 1.8 and the TTM 57SL mixer to mix video along with your audio. It offers the standard laptop video mixer set of effects and transitions including exclusion, difference and chroma key, my personal all time rave fav. They’ve managed to mate the software quite well with 57SL mixer. The up faders and cross faders are linked to each channels respective video output and are exactly in sync with cuts and fades. The “P” knobs can be used to select and control video effects. The Joysticks and function buttons are used to quick cut the video independently of the audio. With a bit of pre production its possible to craft a VJ set that is compelling on both levels. Still it all makes me wish I could grow a set of chest hands to fully take advantage of what VIDEOSL can do.
I never thought about being a VJ until the first version Serato released peaked my interest enough to start playing with it and finding video content. In fact, after that- I couldn’t stop playing with it as it took me back to my rave days when all parties had visuals. The creative potential of this gear is awesome. You can use traditional music videos and you can also assign video loops to tracks in your library. By combining these two options its actually not as difficult as I initially imagined to create a compelling VJ set. After a few short hours assigning and organizing videos I was off mixing. When I mixed stock footage of some graphiti for a hip hop track and mixing it into a classic house track accompanied by oil and water style hippy visuals I was sold on the concept. I’m looking fwd to trying it out live and gauging the crowd response.
Here is a short combo I did that shows music videos are not the only way to match cool images to your audio set. A little bit of creative thinking and you can easily brand your own personal sound AND look.
[quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]
[quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]
[quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]
[quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]
[quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]
[quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]
[quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]
[quote comment=""][quote comment=""][quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote][/quote][/quote]
[quote comment=""][quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote][/quote]
[quote comment=""]<blockquote cite="#comment-5958"><blockquote cite="#comment-5956">
over done visuals are absolutely distracting BUT completely synchronized and tastefull visuals that are reacting to the music will increase the immersion and quality of the experience IMO.
I totally agree with Ean, this is the exact topic I did for my Honors.
The club environment is all about immersing the crowd in the whole environment and experience. This is done through stimulation of the senses, if there is little visual stimulation people can get 'bored'. Think about the Rave days where visuals were REQUIRED. I really want to sort of take music back to that, but more intense as we have better tech.
Cut Chemist / DJ shadow is a diff story.. its nearly not dance music, same with Scratch Perverts. People watch them perform cos its amazing, and a lot of the reason your there.
I'm currently working on some MIDI-Synced dynamic visual generation software (built in flash). Can link it to all the effects that you already use (ie highpass, EQs, crossfader) to effect colour changes, graphics, whatever. Will take a lot of work to get done, but should be sweet. Oh + the main functionality I want to get working is so that its all motion sensitive, so that the graphics are affected by people dancing (thus making people want to dance) :][/quote]
Forgot to put my name in, sorry! ^^^
I guess you’re right Ean, if done well and with a bit of taste, it can look good, but like anything i guess there will be a lot of people who over-do things.
These clips of DJ Yoda are amazing examples of what can be done with some creativity:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zybZCqzzbZ8
JAC i sort of agree with you – at the toronto show on that tour there was also no one dancing and i thought it was cause of the crowds here, but yeah overall i think that was an anomoly event cause what they were doing was so over-the-top.
i hope this addition to serato gives the syncroscience team a bit of a kick in the nuts to start adding video to torq, even though i’m not sure many laptops will be able to handle both audio and video at once safely.
I don’t think i stressed how resistant i was initially to the concept of Video SL. I consider myself a DJ and take a great deal of pride in my performance. Although not appropriate for every show, i will bust this out at special events. I plan on doing a 60’s visual inspired show at SF’s MATRIX soon. It’ll totally work there. In addition to the fact that the venue has a history in San Francisco Psychedelic rock scene it has HD monitors all over that play other visuals already.
As for the prep… its extensive and source material is difficult to find in any reasonable quality but i think as i get deeper into it the process will speed up.
Nope. If done right it will actually improve the atmosphere by giving you something more to look at besides the drunk girl in the corner. Seriously, the VJ scene is a world unto itself and its much larger overseas (Europe, Japan, etc) then in North America. Mixing music videos is just the tip of it.
If I was able to see them live I’d probably stand around watching them too. Cause they’re artists as well as DJs and how often do you get to see that.
Yes, using Virtual DJ which has had video capabilities for a long time now. You can use the VCI-100 by midi mapping it anyone you want.
As for using it with Traktor- no, cause Virtual DJ is a stand alone dj app, just like Traktor.
Does no one else think that this VJ stuff, despite being cool, will cause a worse atmosphere at gigs/clubs?
I was reading an interview with Matt Bellamy of Muse recently, and he was explaining that they are toning down their visuals heavy, over-the-top ridiculous show. The reason? Because with such an outlandish visual display, people would come to stand and watch, staring at the stage instead of participating and moshing etc.
I reckon a similar kind of thing could happen if Vj’ing becomes widespread in clubs. People will end up gazing at screens all night long, instead of dancing!
Last year I was lucky enough to see Cut Chemist AND DJ Shadow perform together live. They had lots of video cameras rigged up, constantly switching back and forth as they battled between each other. I remember thinking ‘Hey thats pretty class, but no one is dancing!’
And the reason for that? Everyone was so focused on their skills, and watching the video footage, that they just plain old forgot about dancing and having a good time!
Anyone get where I’m coming from?
Would we be able to do this using the vci and maybe another software connected to trakter or something else?
never have seen the point in doing my own visuals…
i already have plenty to think about when i dj, plus i bring lot’s of my own gear to a gig, so i can only imagine a projector and screen as well!
I would rather leave the job up to someone else, who would be midi synced to me…
i understand the total integration, but how much extra prep time is involved in finding/syncing video to music in your library?
just a thought.
Very good article!
I was wondering if maybe someone of you guys know a site or a place where I can find videos/clips for using like you have done in this set…
cheers
ethan