VJing causes hair loss

[Arnie]

Ok so it's been 3 weeks since I discovered the phenomenon of VJing. In that time I've gathered together a large bucket of video clips, downloaded a load of VJing application demos, and ripped most of my hair out trying to get them to work! I'm tempted on splashing cash one day on a well supported VJ application, but until then I'm running OpenTZT which is fine for now.

Anyway to get to the point...

I need some friendly guidance: My issue is that I can't understand how you can cue clips up ready when the majority of them are no longer than 10 seconds? That's 10 seconds to pick a suitable clip, put it in the relevant buss, beat match it, apply any FX and parameters to it, then cross-fade before the previous clip finishes. How is that possible in such a short space of time?? And then to have to repeat the process for a whole evening? Your fingers must be on fire!
I find that I'm mid-way through beat matching or tweaking the FX of a clip and then unable to get the next clip ready. Panic sets in, wrong buttons are pressed and the whole thing becomes one big mess.

I'm coming from an amateur film making background and love the idea of being able to edit on the fly. The examples I've seen on the internet of VJing are very impressive, but I find it hard to believe they're live as most of them claim.

Do I have the wrong end of the stick? What am I missing? Where am I going wrong?

[kallisti]

looping is your friend.

try putting your clips on repeat....

[DrEskaton]

try the 30 day demo of resolume out....

and many people use longer loops than that, most of mine are several minutes long, but doesn't tzt repeat automatically?

loop, cross fade apply fx repeat.

thing of a loop as like a bar of music, one loop is good for many repeats as long as you keep jamming on the fx, changing speed and cross fading different over clips.

[Arnie]

So I won't get marked down for repeating clips? Even if they don't loop cleanly?

I guess to answer my own question; the art is to pick suitable clips that loop well with the particular music being played - a problem with the limited number I have currently.

I didn't download Resolume even though it looks like a top VJ App because the trail period is only for 15 days. And after that I couldn't afford it... I did find their link to video resources though, which has been most helpfull. More random footage, woohoo!

Thanks for the tips

[asterix]

I guess to answer my own question; the art is to pick suitable clips that loop well with the particular music being played - a problem with the limited number I have currently.

Bingo!

[LEVLHED]

Originally posted by Arnie
So I won't get marked down for repeating clips? Even if they don't loop cleanly?

nope, you won't get marked down.
one little trick for loops that don't have a seemless start/end is to "ping pong" it...that is to have it play backwards once it reaches the end, then fowards once it reaches the beginning.
does that make sense? forth, back, forth, back, forth, back

[Rovastar]

Originally posted by LEVLHED

nope, you won't get marked down.
one little trick for loops that don't have a seemless start/end is to "ping pong" it...that is to have it play backwards once it reaches the end, then fowards once it reaches the beginning.
does that make sense? forth, back, forth, back, forth, back

Actually I would say yes you could well be marked down.Espically if it is a harsh join of a small clip.

The 'bounce' effect is one way around this like Lev expalins.

[LEVLHED]

OK, "I" won't mark you down, but some "professors" might :P