Z-Axis features four free workshops in audiovisual performance art, one focusing on audio, one on video, and two on performance.The goal of these workshops is to provide an opportunity for people to gain awareness of all the components that go into an audiovisual performance art piece, share programming and performance skills, and enjoy doing it!
Instructors Leeane Berger and Jeff Morton will introduce and explain the technical side of how audiovisual performance art can be facilitated by using open source software and a sensitivity to the dynamics of group improvisation. The instructors will show the participants how build and modify the software for their own aesthetic and functional criteria and collaborate with others to create complex live sound and video performance pieces where all members of the group can contribute with their unique strengths. Leeane and Jeff's workshops will use the open source programming environment Pure Data (PD), which allows people to build and customize their own software for new media projects. It is commonly used for audio and video manipulation and synchronization, but it can also be used to control other electronic devices, like lighting arrays, kinetic sculptures, and robots.
Andrew and Deborah O'Malley will also be instructing a workshop in performance, more oriented at VJ-DJ teams. This workshop will be using Mixxx and Resolume to show participants the plethora of performance options that these types of software afford. They will also do a presentation on the current state of VJ - DJ collaboration and where it is all going. This workshop offers another perspective on audiovisual collaboration, and is highly recommended for DJs, video artists, and anyone else interested in electronic music and performance.
Andrew and Deborah O'Malley (The Latest Artists)
Instructor: Jeff Morton
Produce, collaborate, and perform with disco-DIY interactivity and simple tools for electronic music!
Participants use open source software PureData, aka PD (a kind of akin to visual ("flow-chart") programming), to build drum machines, synthesizers, and samplers for live electronic music. Learn to program through deconstruction of working example programs. Participants develop performance technique in live electronic music, work in ensembles, and present collaborative jams in hi-fidelity digital "computer" sound. Everyone welcome! Bring a computer ready for PD. Participants are further encouraged to attend others in this series of Z-Axis workshops.
Participants in Pure Data Dance Party must bring either a PC or Mac computer with PD Extended (0.4.x) installed, or ready to be installed. For software information and download, see http://puredata.info and http://puredata.info/downloads.
Novices, beginners, and the uninitiated welcome! Pros too! All ages! Bring your friends and be famous band!
Instructor: Leeane Berger
Build and customize a mixer for real time video mixing and recording using opensource software
Create your own custom video mixer using GEM and PureData while learning and discussing the rise of VJ culture and do it yourself technology. VJ equipment (hardware and software) can be costly, but this workshop focuses on using the free, open source software Pure Data. The workshop will begin with the basics of patching in Pure Data (Pd), participants will then use these basic tools to create a unique video mixing interface. Participants will assemble a software patch to be used in a performative setting. The workshop will also include an overview of several VJing techniques and other free resources. Leeane will provide handouts, media files, and a folder of patches to use and create from, but feel free to bring your own video content as well!
Participants are requested to bring a laptop capable of running real time video. Please have Pd Extended installed http://puredata.info/downloads as well as GEM (unrealeased version), found here: http://gem.iem.at/releases/0.91).
Instructors: Leeane Berger and Jeff Morton
A/V like a star! Perform! Video mixing! Electronic audio! Discuss!
Leeane Berger and Jeff Morton take you deeper into software design and performance with Pure Data, exploring techniques and implications of simultaneous audio and video. Participants will work in groups to produce cohesive and inter-related collaborations through discussion, jamming, rehearsal, and presentation of their ensemble. Participants who attended either A/V Workshop 1 or 2 are encouraged to further develop software they previously built, and/or any new and different audio/video sources, instruments/tools, interfaces, and ideas for incorporation into the electrified environment of live A/V performance with Pure Data.
Participants are requested to bring a laptop capable of running real time video and audio. Please have Pd Extended installed http://puredata.info/downloads as well as GEM (unrealeased version), found here: http://gem.iem.at/releases/0.91).
It is highly recommended that participants for this workshop to take at least one of the previous workshops so that they have a basic working knowledge of the software being used.
Instructors: Andrew + Deborah O’Malley (The Latest Artists)
Learn to develop and perform a collaborative, improvisational audio/video set!
Through this hands-on audio/visual (A/V) workshop, Ottawa’s DJ/VJ duo, The Latest Artists, will help participants access the dynamic world of live A/V performance by facilitating a 4 hour interactive session, using freely available DJ and VJ software tools.
To set the context, the technical portions of the workshop will be preceded by an interactive discussion directed toward the current state of audio/visual performances and the collaborative roles between DJs and VJs.
For the audio (DJ) portion of the workshop, participants will learn the basics of DJ mixing with Mixxx, an open-source DJ application. The fundamental concepts taught with Mixxx will be transferable to other DJ and real-time mixing scenarios, regardless of platform. Legitimate (legal) sources for online music source material will also be discussed. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops (and mouse) with Mixxx (http://www.mixxx.org/download.php) installed, along with any sound files (songs or loops, or content created in previous workshops) they would like to work with; iTunes (http://www.apple.com/downloads/) or another music organising program is also recommended.
For the video (VJ) portion of the workshop, participants will learn video mixing with Resolume 3, including concepts such as set organisation, clip management, footage sources and generation, and how to merge feeds with other VJs to create multi-performer VJ sets. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops (and mouse) with the demo of Resolume 3 (http://www.resolume.com/download/) installed, along with any video files they would like to work with (such as content created in previous workhshops; short clips are best, but functional clips can be derived/sampled from longer pieces).
Lastly, the workshop culminates with some A/V open jam time, guiding participants to work in teams to develop and perform their own collaborative real-time A/V mixes.
*all of the software used in the Z-Axis workshops is either open-source (free) or a demo version is available (also free!. Please bring your laptop with the appropriate software for the workshop (listed above) already installed on your computer to save time getting started.
Pure Data http://puredata.info/downloads
Gem: http://gem.iem.at/releases/0.91
Mixxx: http://www.mixxx.org/download.php
Resolume: http://www.resolume.com/download
MPEG Streamclip (free video compressor and basic editor): http://www.squared5.com