Long Weekend Inspiration: flight404 Particles and Magnets and Lyrics FTW

Solar, with lyrics. from flight404 on Vimeo. People can argue and theorize about digital art as a medium all they want. The answer is as simple as a simple word: Iterate. Do it over and over and over again in little bits developing techniques. Start small, add small, but keep adding over and over and […]

Weekend Inspiration: Putting it Together with artificialeyes.tv Live Visualism

In case you haven’t noticed, a theme has been emerging on CDMotion: alternative interfaces geared for performance, software that expands the range of expression, and projection that gets visuals out of the 4:3-ratio box. There’s no one solution, and the expense involved in the tools covers quite the gamut. (I may have to personally start […]

Hands On With Ohm, Wood and Blue Backlit MIDI Controller

I got to get up close and personal with the just-deliver Ohm from Livid Instruments. It’s a new MIDI controller with a 6×6 grid of on/off pads, two times four knobs + four faders (that is, eight total of each), lots of custom buttons, and a DJ-style crossfader with a lovely wooden handle. Price is […]

Hands-On: Livid's New Ohm Controller, Custom Control Geared for Visualists

  As digital musicians have realized for some time, working with computers is all about physical control. It’s the difference between feeling like you’re operating software and playing an instrument. So it’s no accident that Jay Smith is quick to call the Ohm, a new hardware controller for visuals and music, an “instrument.” I got […]

Hands-On: Livid’s New Ohm Controller, Custom Control Geared for Visualists

  As digital musicians have realized for some time, working with computers is all about physical control. It’s the difference between feeling like you’re operating software and playing an instrument. So it’s no accident that Jay Smith is quick to call the Ohm, a new hardware controller for visuals and music, an “instrument.” I got […]

Flame-Throwing Keytar; Players, Not Instruments, Are Cool

Not just any keytar: this one shoots fire. And you can make music by punching the dummy on the right in the crotch. No, really. Photo: Jeremy Mullis. As a follow-up to my controversial defense of the keytar attempt to get people to stop complaining in comments that they can’t buy a keytar and excuse […]

Keytar Komeback: You Don’t Love It Until It’s Gone, An Open Letter to Roland

Find a friendly leprechaun, and you might get a deal on a Roland AX-7 keytar like this, which is apparently now ridiculously hot. Just don’t go to your Guitar Center, because Roland thought you didn’t them any more. Photo: Bombardier, via Flickr. I love you, Roland. I really do. But it has to be said: […]

Cornelius in LA: Visual Refreshments

I was first introduced to Cornelius in Film School, where the buddy I often shared a dark editing room would play ‘Count Five or Six’ while I attempted to count and mark 16mm frames on the tiny strips running through our moviolas. This January, I jumped on the chance to see him at the awesome […]

Livid Union 2.5: Mac/PC VJ App Does FreeFrame, Audio Response, More

Livid’s Union VJ software has been steadily adding features. The latest upgrade may be a “point-five” release, but it’s got some pretty significant additions, mostly along the lines of “stuff Union lovers were asking for.” Among what’s new: Audio-responsive tools: audio filters, audio-aware effects, and an audio waveform generator Video captioning FreeFrame plug-in support for […]