HELP! Show on 23Aug12 and need a full set up!

[deezy55]

Hi All,

We have a big show on 23Aug12 playing electronic and I need a whole VJ set up. tired of the two of us up on stage with only one person actually mixing songs. We want something awesome. For the record i'm not a After effects artist - more of a video guy - went to film school and have some ideas for shooting some scenes - that may not happen quite yet so - here are the details.

We are running Traktor using the S4 off a PC

I have a separate Mac with a Midi controller - we want to be able to sync the two systems - perhaps sync with the other DJs so i can run graphics for them too.

I've played with Resolume, looking at Modul8 and MadMapper?

Looking at a 5K lumens projector

What size screen do i want. looking for something huge but easy to set up. also what's up with the "manfrotto truss stands" what are those? model numbers, names? etc?

Another post mentioned reflectors on lighting stands - is there anything else that's "easy" that makes a big splash.

What is this noob VJ really going to screw up? What am i missing?

THANK YOU!

[jimmyogenic]

[PCProject]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Please dont take this the wrong way but let's approach this from a different angle!

"Hi I am a VJ and I am fed up with me and my mate looking bored whilst playing so I thought we would make some awesome music for a show on the 23rd August. What this thing about a Nord Lead?........"

I guess you can see where there is going! Best advice off the top of my head is that your deadline is far too short to get content prepared and rehearsed but thats only my opinion.

In answer to your questions.

Midi Yoke (or similar) would allow you to control video from audio

Given enough space and the abilty to rig said 5k lumen projector and a bit of budget I would hire a fastfold screen 12'x9' would be nice.

What are you missing? Hard to say from here but I would suggest time!

Manfrotto truss stands do what they say; they are a stand (normally telescopic) that supports a truss, truss being that framework you tend to see lights and stuff hanging off at gigs/events.

[shudder inc]

You have 2 different projects to look at here. The first one being your performance. You need to determine, and quickly, which software you intend to go with. Along with that learn to sync, practice and build your clip library.
I don't know what you do for a living but if this is your source of income and have time to focus only on this it could be possible. I should probably emphasize 'possible'.
The second project is the install of the projector and screen. Unless you know what you're doing, have the spatial specs of the venue and can calculate your lens and screen size requirements or possibilites this is really the part of your project that should be left to a professional a/v company.
Is this something you've run by the organizer/promoter? Do they know you would like to have this set-up?
Especially if this is a set-up that would run the duration of the event, this is really the job of the party organizer (unless this is you).
As a performer that should be your primary focus and leave the install to someone who already knows how, at least for this one.
Either way best of luck and welcome to the forums.

[Anders]

MONEY ! It makes everything easy ! And if you dont have that look into something external like a soundbite micro, check out how much light there are going to be on the stage maybe you need more or less then 5k. Good luck, i think its no problem getting ready in time as long as you dont go crazy with making your own content

[deezy55]

Hi - thanks for your replies - many apologies - i know this is an art form and my post did not really address that! - whatever i come up with - will most likely be shit at first. lol... BUT. I'll be working toward incorporating original video clips and getting really creative with that.

We are the promoters - we're running the show. We have a lighting guy that's coming. I have a 8X8 midi harness - but people have told me SMPTE is better? how does that hook up?

I guess my main questions are - which software should a guy like me use,
and is any high lumens projector going to do the job? They talk about Short-throws - is that so the projector can be much closer to the screen? How do you guys stand up your projectors? i imagine 'stands" lol.

Thanks for the tip on the 12x9 fastfold - that's exactly what i was missing/looking for. Thanks for your help - again - this an art form and I completely respect that! (i played with G-force in 1999 so this should be a piece of cake right? LOL!) have a good day guys.

[PCProject]

I dont think anybody thought you were 'dissing' the art form, normally people know when the members here have something to say!
If anything from my perspective you have garnered respect for asking the right questions and listening to the answers.
Resolume 3.xx or Arena (maybe overkill for your needs currently) or Modul8 are 'mostly' the first points of call for vj's.
Hopefully somebody with better timecode (smpte) skills than me will be along to explain shortly.
Projectors can be put on stands as you quite rightly say OR hung from a flying frame if it is a larger projector or clamp if a smaller device and then in either case hung from the truss. Thats always assuming there is a lighting truss in the venue though AND the truss has spare loading capacity (amount of weight that can be flown).

[madsmeskalin]

Ita nothat bad, just lower your expectations a little. And I agree with Anders: MONEY! Hire a guy for that show and see how he works. Learn from him. I often do rigups for more novice VJ's for a small price and help them with technical difficulties. Make it as simple as possible for this show. Download content. Ask for a projector cradle togo with the projector (if you are renting) and if possible hire in a guy to give you a few pointers. You can do it!

Whats the size of the stage, how much is your budget, is there any lightning truss on top of stage/front of stage? I can give you a few tips on how to make a low budget mapping setup