VJing - Ableton Live + Controller + WHICH VJ SOFTWARE???

[Richard Ellis]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking to start toying with VJing alongside Ableton DJ Sets using a single, very high spec Macbook Pro and APC-40.

I'm looking at Resolume Avenue & Modul8.

Max For Live doesn't seem to have brought much in the way of video processing beyond some rudimentary patches - No offence intended to their creators - I couldn't design anything of that calibre.

Resolume have recently brought out a Max For Live Patch which greatly simplifies the setup between the 2 apps. However, Modul8 has been highly recommended by people I know and trust.

Ideally, I'd like to have a setup where the APC is mapped to both Ableton and the chosen VJ software so a turn of a filter knob in Live would perform a related visual function in the VJ app.

Can anyone offer any suggestions on this?

[rikhyray]

Hi Guys,

I'm looking to start toying with VJing alongside Ableton DJ Sets using a single, very high spec Macbook Pro and APC-40.

I'm looking at Resolume Avenue & Modul8.

Max For Live doesn't seem to have brought much in the way of video processing beyond some rudimentary patches - No offence intended to their creators - I couldn't design anything of that calibre.

Resolume have recently brought out a Max For Live Patch which greatly simplifies the setup between the 2 apps. However, Modul8 has been highly recommended by people I know and trust.

Ideally, I'd like to have a setup where the APC is mapped to both Ableton and the chosen VJ software so a turn of a filter knob in Live would perform a related visual function in the VJ app.

Can anyone offer any suggestions on this?

Each VJ software has its own advantages over others. Arkaos rewired (actually IAC works better than Rewire) works great with Live, might be the best for what you want.
Module8 might be the best choice. I think that company is the most professional in this underpaid, low budgets market. Most of the VJ apps developers are passionate freaks, unfortunately the market is too small, so you cant really blame them for too many bugs, weak support etc, they really try their best, fanatically dedicated to what they do.
What you should never fall for is the spammer who shows here every now and then with his "just ad music" for Ableton. He is fraud. Took peoples money then disappeared for few years - no product, no refunds. Appeared here few months back again with excuse "I was busy with more important things" and new "promise" of his groundbreaking software.
Check http://vjforums.com/ you will notice that Module8, Arkaos, resolume are the most widely used, specially by professionals but there are some alternatives, many of them free.

[Richard Ellis]

Hi rikhyray,

Thanks for writing.

I have seen JAM punted around all over the place - Looks very interesting, but I had read many sad, angry stories related to 'itsthejay' - Super villain.

Will test out Resolume and Modul8 to see what gives.

[suspended childhood]

I have M8, a CG8, Live 7 and an Edirol V4. works sweet. I dont use it much...thinking about unloading the V4 and CG8.

[rikhyray]

I have M8, a CG8, Live 7 and an Edirol V4. works sweet. I dont use it much...thinking about unloading the V4 and CG8.

I see the future, and today as computer only, VJ hardware are 5 years or more obsolete the moment they release new products. I want to dispose all my s-video standard gear when it is still worth something, for the jobs worth doing there is always Folsom or similar so I never actually used my own for good jobs. CG8 is something else, I dont think there will be ever anything of the kind, remember Roland guys telling me years ago it never brought any profits, just whim of some big shot @ the company who wanted it to happen, so it is potentially or maybe even already is classic gear.

[suspended childhood]

everyone has their own opinion. I know I dont want to be in a position where I rely on a computer 100%, so I have an option to switch over to the CG8. I also know I can do more on the CG8 onboard with the pad, buttons, and knobs that I could ever do with just a computer. Everything is right there onn the CG8.

I also think looking at just on source for several hours can get boring quickly, so I like to mix up different sources such as M8 on the laptop, the CG8, dvd, and a video camera all connected through the V4. I can loose a few of the sources and still have interesting visuals.

As far as the outdated efffects, we can always opt to not use certain features, use the V4 options, or even throw an additional piece in the chain somewhere.

[f.poce@tiscali.nl]

If you have Max for Live, you may have a look to these tools (they are free):

V-Module (tool I develope personally) = http://www.fabriziopoce.com/max.html
VIZZable from Zeal = http://zealousy.com/2011/01/vizzable/

V-Module tutorials: http://www.vimeo.com/june74
Some productions / live performances in V-Module / VIZZable: http://www.vimeo.com/groups/jitterinmax4live

Gr.
Fabrizio

[Michael Hatsis]

Just to throw out a different opinion -
I tried pretty much all the other big vj programs out there, resolume, m8, arkaos, livid(dont remember what they called it back then- thought most of them were wierd - vdmx is where its at though.
Really depends what you are trying to do - if u just want to fire off video clips then sure you can do that with all of them- sorta - they all have they're quirks. But if your looking to dig in and use something thats flexible as hell without having to program anything ala jitter or processing, go with vdmx. You have infinite clip bins, layers, groups, lfos, step sequencers, preview windows- or as many of each as your computer can handle and its super light weight.....its nuts.
Again, it might not be what your trying to do, and there is a touch more of a learning curve for about 10 mins, but id say to download the demo and see if it makes sense. The demo comes with some really good tutorials to get you going. It's light years ahead of the rest of em in terms of flexibility and workflow.

Also, i remember midi was wierd in m8. I think i had version 2.6, don't know what they are up to now, but if i remember correctly, if you wanted to send midi from live to m8, m8 hadto be the app in focus, could be differnt now, but def check this out with the demo.