FINAL PROJECT
assessment 2Posted by Lukas Birk Thursday, May 24 2007 12:44:46
Project Documentation for Final Project “Quartz Conductor”
PDF version of documentation :
PDF version of self evaluation:
Download Quartz Composer file:
Watch Video - Quartz Coductor in action:
Short statement of intentions which are already outlined in etude IV documentation:
Quartz Conductor is animation tool for a gallery or club installation. The viewer in a gallery or “Visual Jockey” in club can conduct a live animation,for example to music. This project is created in Quartz Composer with Wii controller, mouse, keyboard, video files, live camera and audio input.
I use the Wii controller as a tool of direct expression. I can express movement through visual information. This conducting tool is a real time tool and is only possible through new real time programs such as Quartz composer. Key and centre of the animation is the movement of the hand. Technology, in this case quartz composer and wii, allow me to transform this movement into a live animation. I see this animation as an abstract painting of movement. A virtual abstract painting of my movement which takes place in this three dimensional reality. But this abstract painting is concerned with movement of the past as a traditional painting would be, this painting is only concerned with the now and will not remember any happening. This device has no memory or conscious of the past. Neither does it calculate future events. This tool processes only the present.
Documentation:
I installed Wii to quartz program and attached my Wii controller.
I started creating particle systems in Quartz Composer. I really like the look of them - but I didn't know how they work. But I was soon able to manipulate and arrange them for my needs.
I also wanted to have different backgrounds but again didn’t know in the beginning how to create them.
1) x rotation and z rotation control x and y position of particle system
in between is a math tool to divide the rotation information by 90 (original information is -180 to 180 now -2 to 2)
2) I created an identical particle system which (except colour) which can be switched on with the keyboard (key 1)
(the image is a simple
circle - blending ADD - I played around with the functions till they were visually pleasing)
3/4) – that’s the way it looks
5) I created two similar particle system (smaller different colour) and connected them with x and z rotation - but used a math tool to change the initial position
- also these particle system are not active - I connected the X position with max size/size delta so when I use the x position on the controller - the
extra particle system turn on and I can control the size .....
..but I can also switch them of with the x position (as soon as I am in the minus area) they move the same way as the main particle system.
6) image of it
7) I created a third one small p.s. and change the position to the top ( it reacts the same way as the others but can be switched on and of with a key (2)
8- (I changed the delta size information - that's why it is smaller)
9) the switch I used was given to me by Ian and I already used it successfully for my other video to wii etude
10) I copied the three small particle systems , changed the colour and enabled them through another key (3) and a switch
11) all together. moving wii fast .
12) rotating the prospective through the mouse. ( as everything is inside a trackball)
- it works already in a very satisfying way
but I think I have to change the scale /// maybe with the z position on the wii
13) I created a new background animation
a particle system with a halo as image.
14) - key (q) enables the background
- key (w) activates a counter - this goes to a math patch which multiples by 3 and
15) hits the maximum size which creates a huge halo flash - key (e) resets the signal in the counter.
16/17 I created a new background with smoke effect ( the idea is from another project I saw in the internet)
18) more background smoke...
19) created lightning called new stuff
- key d for new trackball
- creating new source images for particle systems drop flame shape egg shape
20) New Trackball with f key – flame shape picture as input
21) new background on key c funky smoke
22/23) new particle system which reacts to audio input. Chages colour through audio (maths and rgb colour transformer) maximum size is also changeable through audio key H
24) Key G triggers audio sensitive particle formed out of a wave like image… when the particle system is small (audio silent) a drop is visible behind the waves)
25)
Key J is a fog patch with a psychedelic patch inside. The image reacts to a Video Input scale is changeable via audio input and the colour changes through audio input/math patch/RGB patch.
26/27) I used Zugakusaku’s flag patch and manipulated it for Key K. the little squares is a video input. The flag movies the way Zugakusaku programmed it. Audio input controls the colour and width of the patch. The whole patch is inside a trackball so that I can rotate around the flag.
28/29) Key L – another audio sensitive particle system. The minimum size is sensitive by audio impulse and so is the maximum size. Colour changes through audio as well. The input image is a round star. I think this patch is particularly good for picking up the bass in music.
30/31) Key ; - audio sensitive particle systems with auto rotation – friction sensitivity, input image on particle system I –
a green egg like shape – on particle system two a white star – on particle system III a orange ball. Size/lifetime/colour change via audio input. The inputs are controlled through math patches .(32) particle systems are inside a trackball and I can change there position with the Wii.
33/34) I created a sphere inside a trackball – a videofile is attached to it – size, colour and depth are controlled by audio signals. The audio is controlled via math patches.
I created over the last two months more than 100 different patches which function in diverse ways in combination with over 20 keyboard keys and the Wii. I will in my selfevaluation point my achievements and what I want to do with this project in the future.
Command list:
s - start basic particle in the middle
- rotation move basic particle
cross right/left - switch side particle on and off/extend
cross up/down - z position of middle particle
d trackball slow red drop shape
f trackball faster flame shape
g trackball sound big ugly
h trackball sound smooth with functions for 4 5 6 make bigger
j – video audio fog patch
k – video flag
l – audio particle system for bass
; - audio sensitive particle systems (3 systems different shapes)
‘ – is a sphere with a video file attached reacts to audio as well….
q- start - halo (rotate halo through x/z rotation)
w- extreme halo
r- stop extreme halo
in combination of particle S
1- change colour of middle particle
2- switch top particle on (reacts like side particles)
3- change colour of top and side particle
in combination of particle H
4- change colour of middle particle
5- switch top particle on (reacts like side particles)
6- change colour of top and side particle
wii button A - psycho rings
wii button B - yellow fire
mouse click and move changes middle/top/side particles
z - background with smoke
x – different smoke
Self-evaluation – “Quartz Conductor”
Throughout the process of creating my “Quartz Conductor” device I felt that I was producing a device for somebody else. I believed - and still do- that “Quartz Conductor” is a tool especially for VJ’s at clubs or raves. The visuals are very “techno”. This is not my kind of music but the visuals I created suit electronic music much better than Jazz or Blues. When I started creating the tool my knowledge of Quartz Composer was still very limited. The interface and object controls in Quartz Composer were frustrating at the beginning of the process. As soon as I understood the concept however, it started to become easier. These moments somehow encouraged me to continue working on the tool. The playful development enabled me to create even pre-visualised ideas after a while.
I used Video files, live video input, live audio input, photos and graphics to create my patches. I was inspired by Quartz Composer artists like Zugakousaku for some of my patches. Others were entirely my own idea and composition. The most important thing in the development of this device was concentrating on its purpose. I had a lot of different ideas for good-looking patches but most of them would not fit in a club environment or would not fit with the previous patches. The most difficult device to work with was the live video input. It was difficult to control the input with particle systems or other 3D render patches. But as all my problems I was able to solve them through trying and trying differently. If I had known already from the beginning of the semester that this was going to be my final project I could have experimented in the studies with different things. I really wanted to include a midi device and more live cameras but time and money did not allow me to take this step. If I had to give advice to someone who wants to do something similar to me I would say: write down the locations within Quartz Composer and name all the patches in a logical way. Half way through the process I stopped working on the project for two weeks and when I returned to it I did not know what was what. This is also advice I would give myself: better structure!
Conclusion:
“Quartz Conductor” is not only a fun tool but a device that works with new technology and combines the physical and virtual world. A 3dhybrid! I think I fulfilled the requirements of the assignment by creating an original tool which combines the two worlds. It also has artistic as well as commercial values. I want to work on it in the future and try to develop a perfectly working tool!
