The title post actually fits the whole idea of my project, somehow. I wish to portray the sense of escape from all point of view in my final broadcast. Randall even suggest that this whole process is an escape itself, so here I am, getting away with the technical realisation, escaping all the technical aspect and letting the ‘feel’ of an artist finish the job for me. Not quite? Yeah I figure.
Firstly, looking back at my previous hyperessay post,I want to mix videos together like a VJ and I want to do this process live. I also want to include that my final broadcast will be a kind of performance as I am mixing everything live and improvising my every move. Improvisation. I think that is actually a big word here in terms of the idea of a live broadcast. You see, whenever there is a live show, the host will follow the script but when unexpected things happen, the host is force to improvise but at the same time, maintain the programme and transition the next segment fluidly without jeopardising the audience’s attention. That’s the whole point of live broadcasting and in our final project, I feel this is no different. Having to mix videos live, there could be many different combination that I can make at each moment but there will never be the same combination for each time I rehearse it.
I would also like to add that improvisation of my performance will be visible as viewers are also able to see it live. Like how Nam June Paik did Good Morning Mr. Orwell, I do feel a sense of improvisation when he mix the clips from different part of the world despite it looking flawlessly. Taking the seat of a producer is never easy but I will attempt to create a performance which will be easy for the eye and also for the heart.
I also have decide to add another video element in my project. These flashing lights depicts a sense of rupture into the audience which may symbolises an escape into a dream light state or into reality. The flashing of lights almost as blinking, has the ability to disturb the eye and thus has hypnotising capability that enable the audience to be immerse with the screen.
In order to mix videos and layering it on top of each other, like the video above, I used max/msp. I use this application because it allows me to control the amount of effect that I need at a particular moment of time. I am also able to add effects such as zooming in and out, putting noise, changing the hue and to top it all off, I am able to alpha blend the different videos together. I am planning to use the Arturia Beatstep sequencer as my main controller. I would able to programme the buttons and knob on my machine to control the effects and also to play the videos.
Arturia Beatstep
Now on to the broadcast side of things. After last week’s Broadcast Workshop With Prof. Randall, after giving some thoughts, I actually have multiple options to do my final broadcast. Firstly, using Desktop Presenter. As Desktop Presenter is able to hook my desktop directly to Randall’s Wirecast Pro, it is no problem that I will able to edit anything on my screen and show the window that I have chosen onto Wirecast. I am able to choose the Application and the Window. Randall suggested that I make a jit.window on max msp so that I am able to show only that particular screen onto Wirecast. However, Desktop Pro have some difficulty in detecting the max window sometimes. Overall, this is definitely a good option for my final broadcast.
Desktop Presenter
Secondly, I can also consider using Randall’s laptop and open max/msp. This way, I can cut down any lagging comparing to using Desktop Presenter as my laptop is an old macbook with only one graphic card. In my Max Msp Patch, I have different element in it. This is also relevant to the above, in using desktop presenter. I have a live camera, jweb(where I stream live youtube pages onto max msp), pre-recoded videos and lastly, jit.desktop, where the window will show wherever my cursor move. Combining them together in one patch seems very messy and complicated. I will also need to sequence them in perfect order in order to know which part I am going to play first.
Updated max patch
Lastly, I may not even need to use max/msp for my final broadcast as Wirecast Pro has all the features that I need to layers all my videos and play them at different interval. However, it is more difficult as it needs planning onto Wirecast Pro itself.
Right after my meeting with Randall yesterday, it makes me think on how I want to broadcast my final broadcast. I agree with Randall when he suggest that I have different parts to my broadcast. Breaking it to different act like a 3 act play will make my broadcast more systematic and organised. For now, I have ideas on how to package my final broadcast however, I need to get more materials in order to make it as a whole broadcast that gel together.
Equipments needed:
1. Laptop
2. Extra Screen
3. Logitech Camera
4. Tripod
5. Max/MSP Software
6. Desktop Presenter
Great to see you working your way through both the conceptual and technical complexities of the escape project. I suggest that you consider mapping the work in two ways:
1 – the linear flow, breaking up the performance into segments, transitions and some form of conclusion. This will provide you some necessary structure while still allowing for improvisation and the unexpected. You will want to rehearse through these sections, and as you say, see how each time is new and different.
2 – the layering, this organization of the project is concerned with the many elements/layers of the work, how they combine together, which are recorded, which are live, which take place on your laptop, which on mine. You might want to consider having different amounts of layering in each section, so that there is variety and contrast in terms of the depth and complexity of the work. Perhaps it builds up over time, much like the Cates pieces? Or maybe there is an explosion of layers intermittently throughout, adding an element of surprise.
These are the kinds of compositional strategies that will give the piece more variety and richness, and also make your own performance more interesting from your perspective.