Troika Ranch

[jaqx]

Perhaps this one is a bit obvius but i thought it is definitely worth mentioning. I quote from http://www.troikaranch.org/company.html:

"...Founded in 1994, Troika Ranch is a digital dance theater company whose mission is to create live performances that hybridize dance, theater and interactive digital media, and to share information about their techniques with others. Based in New York City, Troika Ranch is the collaborative vision of composer/media artist Mark Coniglio and choreographer Dawn Stoppiello. Their work explores essential human attributes in a time of accelerating change and growing physical disconnection. Coniglio and Stoppiello are widely recognized as creative leaders in the field of dance and technology. Their innovative use of digital technologies and unique sensory systems has led to their being dubbed "interactive performance pioneers" by the New York Times and "multimedia mavericks" by the Village Voice.
In a Troika Ranch performance, sensory devices worn on the body link the performer's actions to interactively controlled video, sound and light. A bending arm can warp a video image; the kick of a leg can recall a musical phrase. Coniglio and Stoppiello have taken this approach because they believe that, as typically used, digital media is "dead" - its unrelenting precision is antithetical to live performance..."

Also worth mentioning that Mark has written one the most advanced live AV performance softwares ever. It is called Isadora and it is available to both Mac and PC platforms. And it seems to be free?!?!?!?

[murk]

Yeah Troikatronix does some truly amazing stuff. Isadora is one of the slickest A/V softwares I have used. The interface is first class and very flexible. I don't think it is actually free though.

[oxygen]

isadora is a great tool, i have used it for a while now.
one of the great things is that freeframe plug-ins work for this app. as well.
(I use mac)
it's not free, but there is a demo version, which you can use.

[murk]

I think that more Mac users should use Isadora instead of Max/MSP. Isadora is just freakin' cool! Max is too techy for most of the design-oriented Mac users. Isadora is visually pleasing as well as as functionally complete.

Isadora is the best investment a Mac-based VJ can make. It is for pros only though, newbies should stick to their little clip based apps.

[nickw]

and they are running workshops in june