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In this instructable, I will explain the system that I have set up to produce a real time, music/beat controlled visualizer that is projected behind a live band. The photos here are from a prep run I just finished in my backyard, but I may get to put this up at a show soon and pictures and hopefully video of that will be published here if I can get it.
Heres video of the visualizer running on the front of my house to give you an idea of what it is.
Heres video of the visualizer running on the front of my house to give you an idea of what it is.
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Signing UpStep 1Gather Materials
To pull this off you will need:
- A windows laptop, with Winamp and Milkdrop (included in the winamp download)
Ideally: something fast with dedicated graphics
I use: a Lenovo Thinkpad T61, not quite hefty enough but works kind of, again if you don't want it to crash in the middle of a show you'll need a fast computer, I'd say at least 2ghz preferably faster and if you want smooth video you'll need a graphics card with 8 or 10 mb of dedicated memory (you can find more on system specs in the software documentation links on the last step)
- A projector
Ideally: almost anything will do, as long as its bright and of reasonably high resolution, Remote is very good to have but not completely necessary
I use: A Sharp Notevision XG-C55X with the short-throw wide angle lens
- Microphone
Anything that will pick up the beat of the music will work, a shotgun mic for a camcorder would be perfect
I use: a regular old microphone
- Microphone Stand and boom arm
Needs to be sturdy and well weighted
- Amplifier and spare battery
Nothing big or fancy, just enough to pump the mic up to a strong line level input for winamp to use
- Tools
Screwdrivers and a knife should be all you need to fix any little hiccups with any cable or the mic stand, a flashlight will come in handy cuz it will be dark and you will need to see
- Clipboard, pens, paper, post-its
Clipboard makes you look legit, write down all you winamp shortcuts and presets here for reference, post-its on the laptop for frequently used keys
- Tape
To cut the edges off the projection and hold cables in place
-Various other connectors and adapters
nothing in the little baggie is used in the setup described here, but bring along extra parts and little bits for on the fly configurations and emergency set-up changes
- VGA/audio cable
A long (mine is 100FT) VGA cable with built in 3.5mm audio, video MUST be high quality, audio is less important here but if you're going to invest in a long, expensive cable you may aswell get one you'll be able to use for something else
- miniphone cable
3.5mm audio extension cable, again audio quality isn't super important but there's no reason to buy a bad one, they're cheap
- Microphone cable
XLR to miniphone cable for the microphone
- Extension cord
No brainer
- Projector power cable
No brainer
- Laptop charger
No brainer
- Laundry sack full of clean white sheets
most clubs and other live music venues will be mostly matte black, you may need to pin up something to project onto
- Thumb tacks
to hang the sheets
- Rubber bands
for cable management
- Ipod
To test visualizer and audio cables, record the band during the event, apps if you get bored
- A windows laptop, with Winamp and Milkdrop (included in the winamp download)
Ideally: something fast with dedicated graphics
I use: a Lenovo Thinkpad T61, not quite hefty enough but works kind of, again if you don't want it to crash in the middle of a show you'll need a fast computer, I'd say at least 2ghz preferably faster and if you want smooth video you'll need a graphics card with 8 or 10 mb of dedicated memory (you can find more on system specs in the software documentation links on the last step)
- A projector
Ideally: almost anything will do, as long as its bright and of reasonably high resolution, Remote is very good to have but not completely necessary
I use: A Sharp Notevision XG-C55X with the short-throw wide angle lens
- Microphone
Anything that will pick up the beat of the music will work, a shotgun mic for a camcorder would be perfect
I use: a regular old microphone
- Microphone Stand and boom arm
Needs to be sturdy and well weighted
- Amplifier and spare battery
Nothing big or fancy, just enough to pump the mic up to a strong line level input for winamp to use
- Tools
Screwdrivers and a knife should be all you need to fix any little hiccups with any cable or the mic stand, a flashlight will come in handy cuz it will be dark and you will need to see
- Clipboard, pens, paper, post-its
Clipboard makes you look legit, write down all you winamp shortcuts and presets here for reference, post-its on the laptop for frequently used keys
- Tape
To cut the edges off the projection and hold cables in place
-Various other connectors and adapters
nothing in the little baggie is used in the setup described here, but bring along extra parts and little bits for on the fly configurations and emergency set-up changes
- VGA/audio cable
A long (mine is 100FT) VGA cable with built in 3.5mm audio, video MUST be high quality, audio is less important here but if you're going to invest in a long, expensive cable you may aswell get one you'll be able to use for something else
- miniphone cable
3.5mm audio extension cable, again audio quality isn't super important but there's no reason to buy a bad one, they're cheap
- Microphone cable
XLR to miniphone cable for the microphone
- Extension cord
No brainer
- Projector power cable
No brainer
- Laptop charger
No brainer
- Laundry sack full of clean white sheets
most clubs and other live music venues will be mostly matte black, you may need to pin up something to project onto
- Thumb tacks
to hang the sheets
- Rubber bands
for cable management
- Ipod
To test visualizer and audio cables, record the band during the event, apps if you get bored
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I have a projector I take to parties but I normally run a DVD of graphics on it.
I have a party next weekend with DJ's, I'm going to try a direct line-in.