New Vizzie Kit and Modules Available

In Max/MSP 5.1.8, you will find exciting additions to Vizzie. First, at the release of Vizzie a few months ago we heard from many of our users: We want to build modules, too.

Now, with the new Vizzie Kit, there are templates and information for making your own Vizzie modules. This is your opportunity to not only build modules for your workflow, but you can also share them with other Max/MSP/Jitter users. In conjunction with this release, take a look at our tutorial Creating a Vizzie Effects Module Using the Vizzie-Kit. (Download the incremental update in addition to Max 5.1.8.)

Next, like our users, we are inspired by creating new, interesting and useful tools. As a result, we put together a new set of Vizzie modules for you.

2DEALR, a control module that routes data based on a breakpoint value.
JITTR, a module to adds random "noise" to a data stream.
MEDIATR, a decision-making module that works with two data streams, outputting the average, a random or an alternating value from the two inputs.
ZAMPLR, an idiosyncratic up- and downsampling effects module.
CYCLR, a step sequencer that produces output in the 0-1 data range that Vizzie uses.
MOVIEFOLDR, a movie selection module that allows you to select from a folder of video content.

by Cycling '74 on April 14, 2011

Frank Shwa

Very cool! Is there a way to do this with an HD video camera? Resources are pretty taxes with just a webcam, but with a better comp, I'm sure its possible, no?

Dave Holton

Yes, you could, but Vizzie modules are set at 640x480. Your higher resolution video will get scaled to that resolution, or you can open up the modules and manually set the dimensions of the relevant objects to avoid this scaling. Using higher dimension Jitter matricies will increase RAM and CPU usage.

Frank Shwa

Thanks Dave! My MacBook is baking cookies at 640x480, but my buddy could run it on his gaming rig with probably no problem :D

dgeers

I have some beginner students who want to play with Vizzie. I told them to check out the help files, but it seems that there are none for the Vizzie thingies, since they are bpatchers.

Is there documentation that I'm overlooking? Or has anyone put together a "Vizzie overview" for newbies? If so I'd love help finding these. Even a list of them in the Extras menu with a short definition of what each does would be great for the students.

Gregory Taylor

You can certainly manually set the matrix size manually in all the objects - just pop 'em open, change the values, and jigger with the module layouts a bit to accomodate the 16:9. Given that you'll be processing somewhere between 6 and a half to 7 times as much data in every single frame of video (640x480 vs. 1920x1080), you um... might see a certain hit to your CPU :-)

Max Gardener

Hi, Doug.

If you're using the Max browser when you patch, there's already an extras-type listing of all the modules. Open the file browser (Window > File Browser) and click on one of the four Vizzie folders at the bottom of the browser listing). After you click on Vizzie Controllers/Vizzie Effects/Vizzie Generators/Vizzie PVR, you'll notice that the Description column of the browser contains that basic info - hovering over the Description will open a hint window that shows the longer text entries, if you haven't widened your browser.

The basic overview of how Vizzie works is covered in a series of video tutorials

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4TfdPHrbgg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2On-3lSATE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2KYmDWgr7Q

Descriptions of anything on a Vizzie module can be found by putting your cursor over the control. A hint window will open and explain what the control does.

Finally, you'll also find a folder of example Vizzie patches in the examples folder found in the Max applications folder. The VIZZIE-EXAMPLES folder contains some things you might find interesting.

I hope you find these to be of some help. We always welcome your suggestions for future improvements.

Florian

I'm using the Vizzie-modules since a few weeks now and I'm really fascinated!! :-)
Just one question:
Is there the possibility, to send messages like 'bypass' , 'clear' or 'fold' (In this case, I mean the ZOOMR-module) to the modules?

Dave Holton

Hi Florian,

The Zoomr module doesn't currently have inlets for controlling bypass and the menu items, but you could pretty easily make your own mod of Zoomr that adds these features.

The basic process would be as follows:

First, right click on the Zoomr module in edit mode, choose Object > Open Original...

Second, make your modifications to the patch. Save As Zoomr-MOD-patch.maxpat (or whatever you like) in the Max5/patches/VIZZIE-PATCHES folder. You might want to change the title of the module in the patch as well, to avoid confusion.

Third, open a new patcher, instantiate a new Zoomr module, go to its inspector, and change the 'Patcher File' to the modified Zoomr patch you just made. Save the patcher as Zoomr-MOD (or whatever) in Max5/patches/clippings/VIZZIE-CLIPPINGS/VIZZIE EFX

Fourth, restart Max and your new module should be available with the rest of Vizzie

For the full story on creating your own modules, check out the tutorial discussed at the top of this article, "Creating a Vizzie Module Using the Vizzie Kit", found here:

https://cycling74.com/tutorials/vizzie-tutorial-1-creating-a-vizzie-effects-module-using-the-vizzie-kit/

Florian

Hi Dave,
thanks for your fast reply!
best,
florian

Sean

Hello, Is there a way to input audio (being played in another application : abletonLive, traktor, itunes etc) and send it to Vizzie 2SwitchR module to synchronize video to the audio beats? (Didnt find it in the video tutorials); Thanks for your answer.

Max Gardener

Hello, Sean.

At the moment, the only object that turns audio input data into 0 - 1.0 control signals for use with other Vizzie module is the FOLLOWR module.

Adding a module that would react to Soundflower input isn't a bad idea - I'll add it to my list. Of course, if you've got any facility with Max yourself, it'd be an easy first project. :-)

ChuckEye

Gregory, what's the best way to route an audio signal other than a file (say, for instance, the built-in mic on the MacBook) to FOLLOWR?