Video
Synthesizer Prototype
Hardware
The prototype was developed on an AMD Sempron 64 bit
2.7 GHz with 1 gig of RAM. The live video is captured by
four Logitech QuickCam 4000 Pro web cameras connected via
USB 2.0. Web cams were used because they are very compact,
inexpensive, and provide overall good video quality. I have
detailed control over the various software parameters with
an M-Audio UC-33e - a MIDI control surface with 47
assignable knobs, sliders, and buttons.
Software
My video synthesizer is modeled primarily using
software components created using PureData (Pd), an
open-source, graphical programming environment developed by
Miller Pucket at the University of California San Diego. Pd
Provides a rich toolset to express almost any creative
concept the design can conceive in the area of signal
modulation. Pd is primarily an audio application, but there
are a number of external libraries enabling the creation of
control devices and filters to manipulate video such as
Pure Data Packet (PDP), Graphics Environment for Media
(GEM), and "PiDiP is Definitely in Pieces" (PiDiP). Pd uses
a free, GNU-licensed c code as well as an already available
packet protocol for communicating between the modules. It
runs on all platforms, but I found Linux to be the most
processor-efficient and the most stable. I developed my
software using Debian Ubuntu (Dapper Drake).
Performances
The prototype was used in for live performances during the
spring 2006 semester. These performances featured the
Fairmount String Quartet, WSU's faculty string ensemble,
playing Bela Bartok's String Quartet No. 5, movement 1.
Future performances planned include a collaboration between
College of Fine Arts Dean Rodney Miller for his recital in
2007. Dean Miller will be performing Franz Schubert's
Winterreise Op. 89, a song cycle on poems by
Wilhelm Müller. He will be joined by Steve Wilson
performing a live video interpretation.
Check out some
stills from performances
Check out some
movies of the performances
