Hardware FX unit

[MoRpH]

OK also restarting this thread with description of the item (and no comments about you can use a laptop and software, thanks). And yes I know a lot of this functionality is in the fairlight CVI and I already have one but I would like something more upto date and smaller.

I'm thinking of a unit similar in design and build to the Pioneer EFX500.

I'm thinking a single video in so no mix functions, just FX.

1. Record button to sample uncompressed live video into ram, sampled video can be switch too instead of live video. Pressing again stops sample, pressing again starts sampling again clearing previous sample.

2. Scratch and loop functions on sampled video from ram.

3. RGB intensity knobs for picture tweeking (like low,mid,hi EQ on audio mixer).

4. Invert button

5. Freeze button

6. Colourize with a number of style options like solarize, spectrum, contour, etc. controlled with HSV (hue, saturation, value AKA intensity) knobs.

7. Rate knob/slider to control on/off rate off above functions (eg. so you can strobe invert and adjust strobe rate, just like the CVI) and a tap button to set it up.

8. Momentary on switch, so the FX is only active when you hold down the activator control for the effect or, it locks on and only stops when pressed again (see the concept on the pioneer site )

9. Kill all button, to remove all FX @ once and just give straigh uneffected video.

10. Mirror functions, possibly with mirrors controlled by sliders commin in from each of the 4 sides, and then rotated by knobs... this would give unlimited mirroring functions and really make all the trance/kaliedascope folks shit themselves in delight

11. Zoom slider to zoom image.

12. Maybe a 3d engine for mapping the incoming video onto 3d objects that can be controlled in realtime with a track ball or point. On a black/white (selectable) background, for keying out.

With the exception of the last thing they can all be done with ICs/Eproms as far as I know and thats the way I want to do it... nothing that can crash and cause problems live, instant on/off.....

Electronics wizards out there start your engines..... I know we can do it

[Awax]

Just take a basic general purpose interface (like MidiMan SurfaceMan http://www.midiman.net/products/midiman/surfaceone.php), plug an Video Input card on your laptop/PC, hook a scan converter at the end : your the king.

That's my dream machine !!!!

But as I'm a newbie and the site crashed (the database actually), I won't post any more nonsence :-)

[MoRpH]

I know your a newbie (and never ready the old thread) so I'll try not to get to annoyed..... I have already been through all the reasons I don't want to use software/latop.

Yes I have USB video in on my laptop and yes I plan on getting a surface1 (watch for my review) and I will be using them with software but thats not what this thread is about.....

[HuoLong]

i'm also VERY interested on a PURE hardware FX unit... (i've build a composite video enhancer 2 shear 1source 2 2sources)

well, the quality is not so PRO, but if you want yuor source @ the same luminance for 2outputs @ VERY low cost, i can send you the scheme...

i'm (sadly) no electronic-genie, but with the help of internet i was able to build that thing when only having the "blue-prints"...

-huolong

[LEVLHED]

my thought?
take the picture Morph posted and just make it play VCD/DVD.
Keep all the "pitch" control, any A-B looping, scratching, etc. Maybe throw in a delay effect or something.
this would make LEVLHED very, very, very happy.

[MoRpH]

Hmmm that would be cool LEV, but why not just make the unit work with ANY video input..... and buy a $50 VCD discman player to run into it... much more flexible

[LEVLHED]

$50!?!
where?
send me a link!!
levlhed@wi.rr.com

because thats one more thing to bring..... and have cords for.....
and I think someone will make a VJ VCD/DVD player sooner than the efx box you're dreaming of.......I mean I think its going to be easier to make........

[MoRpH]

Well that was in US$ and it was secondhand..... but there were some very good cheap ones coming out of SE asia with a brand name something like NAVA??? I think....

[wellREDman]

its napa I think, the link got posted here a while back but apparently they're shit, pitch control is advertised but is in fact just 1x 2x etc. and they dont loop properly.
what we need is a dvd/vcd version of the pioneer cdj, pitch shiftable scratchable portable yeah
I do agree with ya tho MoRpH, the hardware side is def. behind the software all these things are technically possible but until some manufacturer see the possible money to be made we're gonna have to keep using puters (with the inherant instability)

but just for a moments dream, imagine a unit, combining 2 of the above with a 4 channel vga enabled mixer something like per's baby, and the fx capabilities of morphs dream unit both pre and aftermix, all built into a 4u 19" box, with lcds for each channel and output, and a fold out knob and slider interface .....aaaaaaaah

[MoRpH]

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!

*MoRpH goes into a techno freak/VJ lust fit.....*