One of the new features of 1.1 is support for Quartz Compositions which is the format that Mac screensavers, iTunes visualizers (at least 3rd party ones) are written in. Mix Emergency also supports this format.

As I've said in a few of the release notes I intended to create a few examples and upload them for those interested to check out and see how they work & how to create them.

To that end I've packaged up a few here: serato.com . This includes a pdf of part of a presentation I did in the office to explain how these things work and 16 compositions. These compositions are *not* mine or Serato's, they are modified versions of other's compositions and I don't pretend otherwise.

The compositions contained are as follows:

Examples from Apple:
Apple.qtz
Arabesque.qtz (is one of the screensavers)
Circles.qtz
Cube.qtz
RSS Feed.qtz (yes! you can now scratch RSS feeds)
Text Movement Demo.qtz (an easy way to get text effects)

Demos from the presentation:
simple.qtz (a rotating vsl icon that shows a simple way to make a workable composition)
speakers.qtz (real simple composition that shows how to hook audio info up to elements)

Compositions from the web modified to react to VSL: (from www.quartzcompositions.com)
AudioLines2.qtz
AudioSpectrumMask.qtz
Lines Position.qtz
rainbow.qtz (the period is 2 beats based on the pitched bpm)
wings visualizer.qtz

Compositions modified from ME to react to VSL:
AudioSpectrum_VSL.qtz
Heartbeat Velocity_VSL.qtz
Heartbeat Velocity_VSL 2.qtz (same as above but uses system time instead of song time)


NB: This is Mac OS only. It should work in both Tiger and Leopard but will be significantly faster in Leopard (they changed things so I can render directly to an OpenGL context shared with the rest of VSL)

A note about the Mac only nature of this feature:
There is and will likely never be QC support for windows from us or anyone else as it is built directly on top of the Mac OS Core graphics layer. If there *was* an equivalent for Windows I'd do that too, but there isn't...

As I see it VSL has 2 major software competitors: Virtual DJ and Mix Emergency. Mix Emergency is Mac only and one of its major features is support for QC. So we are directly competing and I'm not going to let platform constraints stop me from doing that.

We will continue to work on PC performance (VSL 1.1 sees a ~20% decrease in resources) but our competitors are focused on just one of the 2 platforms and thus have a major advantage.

For those that are interested, there is a less user friendly but equally as powerful cross-platform technology called 'FreeFrameGL' (freeframe.sourceforge.net) which, while I don't promise anything, I am looking at...

cool!

You are the man Nathan...do you ever sleep?

Just tried in offline mode...

SO FREAKING AWESOME!!! :)

Best part is that effects work just like any other video!

OK, video overlay....THIS IS NEXT LEVEL!!! There is a slight lag, but it will be nice to have the camera focused on your mixer/tables and broadcast that with whatever video is being played!

yeah. the vid overlay is just a proof of concept. There will be a better way of doing that in the future :-)

For Now Just Grab a V-4

What Am I doing wrong here ? Nothing moves in the quicktime movie window.

wow it's amazing !!
works smoothly on my mbp, simple and friendly..

Testing now

Pretty dam slick.
The ones that react to the audio (as opposed to only record control) are awesome for adding to existing songs. I'll take as many of those as you got!
A ton of songs suit rolling visuals far better than a blingatron video...
Plus I'd rather play high quality audio files with attached graphics than edit existing music videos & de-muxing because of god awful audio.

Questions...
Does the Apple.qtz move or is it static?
Can you change the colour on the Audio Spectrum Mask?

oh, and the webcam didn't turn off on my MacBook after I'd finished with the vid overlay effect.

www.geico.com Haha!

Substance, let me know if you need more...I got you covered until Nathan and nik39 come up with stuff to make me look like a noob.

hey, I played with the video stuff, managed to sync the beats and the faders to the video camera input !

Has everyone been able to get the quartz composer compositions to work? I can't get any of them show anything but a white screen. Any clues?

oh i think i have to be on 11020, nevermind. trying again.

working good here

Try to drag them into a crate, then drag to the running track video screen or use CMD + alt + direction.

rocked some quartz compositions all weekend. working very well.

good idea but with a few files my framerate breaks down (5 fps) :(

Works for now

Thanks Nathan! +111

I don't have a Mac *yet* and these quartz compostions sound freakin' amazing. I'm jealous, but I know if there's something for PC out there, I have full confidence that you'll find it and hook us PC users up. ;-)

it would be nice to have a list of keywords for serato input to quartz files.
like for example

what does "kSSV_SeratoDataOutputLevel" exactly give to the qtz? main output? output of the channel the video is mapped to? need documentation :-)

well these are obvious

kSSV_SeratoDataUpfader
kSSV_SeratoDataOtherUpfader
...

right now, i cannot see a preview in quartz composer, cause the input variables only exist when playing the file in scratch live.
i would like to do some composition with the >system sound< and maybe >keyboard or trackpad movement<, for preview in quartz
and when i'm happy with it, i would like to change the inputvariables so it works in SL

i'm just starting to understand everything regarding quartz, but as far as i can tell by now, i see that there is a lot of things that could be done with this. dynamic visuals, which change with the sound and every move you make on the mixer.
but to do that, we need to know the variables names.

it could even become possible to make an independent visuals plugin which could be controlled simultaneously to VSL,

an alternative to this would be to make a video and effects sampler plugin, similar to arkaos, but in QUARTZ.
that is controlled by some external midi device
the advantage is, that the result would be "video" that VSL can associate to an audio file.
then, every track with no video could use this plugin and you could create your visuals on the fly
i don't understand enugh of quartz yet, but im playing with "quartonian" right now, will see if i can change the triggers from keyboard to midi.
anyways, access to TTM57 controls for quartz files would be really nice.

Have you checked the pdf file in the example zip file in the first post? It has a list of all variables....

oops i didn't see that. will check :-)
thank you, nathan!
in the meantime i managed to trigger quartonian with a midi keyboard, but only while i ran it in quartz composer.
it does not work in Video SL
any ideas what could be the reason for this?

another question:
ist it possible to give data from the ttm57 SL panel to QTZ files?
like for example joystick movement or rotary knob turning?

and another ting... sorry :-)
i noticed that the "Wing visualization" has a mouse controlled part
just like the midi triggering, that part is not forwarded trough serato either. it is just ignored.
assumably because the controls are used in serato to scroll for example in the library.
it would be really nice to have a switch in serato to decide wheter the HIDs control serato or the quartz file.
is there anything you can do??
i don't care too much for the mouse part, but i think the ability to forward midi controls to quartz would be great!!

digging deeper :-) ....
i would need the member variables of each data point which itsself is a structure and not just a primitive.
for example
kSSV_SeratoDataOutputFFTBins
contains a lot of stuff but the only way i have right now to find out is by watching the examples and guess but not everything is self explanatory

bump

yea i found a better way here

www.serato.com

i made a LIVE_Feed_qtz file that takes a feed from my dv camera and renders it full screen. the qtz works great in serato for a bit but then i start dropping frames on the feed and the other videos playing until the feed/video stops playing all together. i'd really like to get a live feed working IN serato. any ideas on how to get this smoother?

and djcrap, the PIP app flickers when it's over the VSL output window. have you run into this?

yea this is how to fix the flickering!

after launching the application go to the drop down menu bar and click set up video device and then go to compression and select apple vc h. 263


note this is important cause it avoids the pip application out put window from flashing in the back ground after being laid over on top to the the vsl out put window

on the compression type scroll down to apple vc h.263 then click ok after and that will stop the flickering

works great thanks!

Is it possible to display .qtz compositions in 16:9?

Short answer: not really

Long answer: yes but it is a bit more complicated than that. QTZ files don't have dimensions so as a program that displays them, Video-SL doesn't know if they should be square, 4:3, 16:9 or whatever... Because it is more efficient to use squares or 2:1 we use squares which can then be cut to size by using the media options (i.e. center-cut).

ic....it makes sense to do it that way...sense i have you 'on the phone' Nathan are there anymore .qtz comps on the way from you guys? Are is this something you but in for mostly user created content?

I dont understand what i typed ...LOL

Or is this just something you Put in VSL for users to create there own content?

It is more for users to create their own content and while I'm not sure if/when we will have more example compositions it is a good idea :-)

No time to write .qtz compositions...I only have time to practice 3-4 hours ;)

maybe would could purchase full fledged tools (not examples) from you guys to help with the development cost?

to get an update - has this changed since this post? i would really like to see widescreen versions of the QTZ files.

I have a hard time fully understanding the way it works - but QTZ files dont have a 16:9 or 4:3 designation to them. The backgrounds are "infinite planes" so if you had a supper wide screen the background or some of the other 'infinite' elements would render across the whole screen. So the qtz will fill the entire screen, no mater what format.

(I think)

yea i think i get what you're saying about how QTZ dont have an aspect ratio to them

but whenever i load up the qtz in VSL all i get is a square output and i thought with the above post that it was a VSL setting that restricted it to a square output.

do your qtz files in VSL come out square or does it fill the screen?

I dont know the answer to that.

i cant believe i didnt try this before...... change the setting in VSL to Centre-cut (under media treatment) and it fills the screen output.... 'd'oh'

i guess aspect ration doesnt matter to me anymore!

actually - it still kinda matters as obviously centre cut affects all other videos

word


(we need more data points!)

you can write your compositions in a way that they always fit the screen. but you have to do it for each and every one.
example:
in the quartz composer, highligt a billboard (or sprite) patch
then klick on the patch inspector button in the upper right
one of the tabs from the dropdown allows you to change imaage behavior.
by telling the billboard patch to have auto height instead of auto width, you can ensure it goes from to to bottom
then set heigth to "2"
that way it should reach from bottom to top

if you tell the billboard patch to have both values, widh and height, and set them both to "2"
then the qtz gets streched, so it always fits without cropping but it becomes stretched if necessary. good for ambient visuals, bad for images that have a dimension.

don't know if this is what you want though.

and +1 to AKIEM.

*bump*

has anybody created some of these for video sl?

*BUMP* i wish i new about this long ago.... cant wait to get home and try it out... Anybody out there doing this????? and where to i find QUARTZ?

I will probably be showing/using some Quatrz Compositions at NAMM 2012.
Been messing with quartz for a while but tryin to up my game a bit now.
There are a few cats on the forum who have made some pretty ill stuff.

Get ready for some learning though. (if you want to get nice with it anyway)
It's not a DJ or VJ program. It's a developers tool so if you go into it thinking it's some kind of VJ/DJ type program you are gonna be confused.... you will probably be confused (a bit) anyway.

I've heard some guys tell people who are looking to get into editing and making their own content etc... that they should get into QC and that it's easy. That's a little misleading.
As a programing tool, it's easy (or at least easier than a lot of others) but as just a program or something in general, it's probably not going to be that easy for most or at least a lot of people to just jump in to. Especially beginners.

You should however be able to learn how to make some very basic/simple stuff pretty easily but it will most likely be the kind of content the majority of newbs will be making. It's not for someone who doesn't want to have to read, think, research or invest any amount of time for themselves to learn smething... like the guys who post questions in the forum like... "hey i have SSL and want to know if my particular midi controller will work with it or not" well, if you are one of those guys who are just too damn lazy to take all of 1 to 2 mins to open your laptop, start SSL, plug in your MIDI controller, click on the MIDI tab, click on a feature and press a button on your controller and see if it works or not for yourself... don't even waste your time. Instead, spend all of that time and more by reading all of this and then thinking of a great, clever response to properly tell me off and then compose it and keep coming back, checking, reading and responding to it for the next week or so and tell me how you are sooooo busy, you don't have the extra 2-3 mins time to spare testing your MIDI controller.

Sry... haha just had to get that out and try to dead a few issues before they start but... I know it wont really help... idiots will be idiots.... that's why they are idiots. Bring it on idiot brigade.

But YEAH, Quartz Composer is a great and powerful tool if you invest time into learning it and can push yourself to be creative and think outside the box.

Im no expert but i have done programming in the past in C++ and other stuff in school. Im pretty good at stuff like that so, i dont think i will have a problem. How do i get Quartz Composer? I though at first it was built into my mac (and yes im a mac noob, give me a pc and i will run circles around most people) I did a quick google for it, but im not finding the program.

It's on the install disc for your OS

I use Quartz in my sets for a long time and the possibilities are endless.

well you are obviously not the demographic I am referring to. But there are a lot of guys who are square one beginners at not only new to working with code programs but video editing and/or graphics in general. The larger percentage of people are not very tech savvy. That's not to say they are dumb, slow or that the ones who are tech savvy are better... it's just that that's not THEIR thing. Everybody is good at something. And even if somebody IS a tech savvy genius, that doesn't mean they are going to also be creative and can come up with great ideas and ways to cleverly incorporate those skills... so now we are talking about an even smaller percentile. A lot of people don't even know what QC is... they heard about it in relation to VSL or ME and think it's some kind of dedicated VJ software or editing suite.
Again, I'm sure pretty much anyone can learn to make some easy, basic stuff and the more you want to put into it, the more you're probably gonna get out of it but a lot of people are not that motivated. I'm not trying to discourage anyone form looking into this at all. I just want people to know that if they are new to this that they are probably not gonna just jump right in and start making all kinds of amazing stuff and understand that from the start so they don't look at it and get discouraged. But, like my previous scenario, if you are a guy that has a piece of equipment in front of you and you want to know if it can do something and you come to the forum to ask somebody else if your equipment can do this or that instead of taking an ounce of initiative and trying it out for your self.... QC is not gonna be for you.

now where the fuck did i put that disk....

now where the fuck did i put that disk....

No where the fuck did i put that disk.

so got any videos of what your doing live or anything?

I heard that Joachim Gerraud is using it for his live show.

serato.com

www.djtechtools.com

here you find a collection of examples. serato.com

Question is there a way to send the video from each deck in VSL via syphon (or syphon via quartz) to a 3rd party VJ software. Last night i got ME to send each decks video to 2 channels in Arkaos Grand VJ. Can Video SL do the same?

Big Wiz....hem ...when you finish YOUR Quarts Compositions I need them...ASAP. Also if its not too much to ask customized with DJ ACE effects ;)...

and graphics

Ace, check your PM

LOL... ummm ok

ahh ok ic it...you are the MAN!

Hello there i have downloaded the file and a few qtz files but where do i have to put these files for it to work etc and does it matter where i put the main folder cheers

I would makea folder and put all the qtz's you collect in it. then makea create in SSL, add the qtz's to it, then drag the qtz over a none video file just like you would link a video to some track without video. and BAM! your good.

Ok thats cool i was just confussed with the run thats html file everytime you use them so the qtz files are independent to another part of the folder ?

Where do i put the continuous fold and what sort of movie do i put in that folder aswell ?

seems you are referring to my composition "continuous movie"
serato.com
this is only intended for occasions where you want to show a full movie without interruptions, while the audio files you play are constantly changing.

i would propose we discuss it over there ;-)

Cheers

Oh right i see now makes sence now cheers :-)

Anybody know where someone could get some free (or paid for if there good) Quartz compostions that work well with ME?

yes please

Looking for that as well, and I'm ready to pay for it.

+1

serato.com some of them sure work for ME as well, some could be changed so they work easily...

other than that.
what are you looking for?

i want clouds and various types of ambient running in the dark or black areas of any video playing whilst changing colors to make it "psychedelic".

that one sounds cool :)

@radikarl i responded to your question in another thread.

hell yeah!