garageCube

[Luv2xlr8]

Hi there. New member, and fairly new to Modul8.

My partner and I have ran into a problem and we need some expertise on the issue. What would be the best method for:

1) We have two MBP's, one running Ableton and one running Modul8. We perform live sets, and would like to incorporate music videos (as one source input) into our sets.

Our initial idea was to have the Audio MBP machine playing the vocals, whilst the Video MBP does just that, output live video (in sync with the ableton vocal). We figured some sort of master time code will be needed to sync the two machines. So far we cannot find specific documentation on using two machines, and/or syncing them together.

2) Due to software limitation etc. I understand this may not be the most efficient way of producing the desired effect. How else may we go about playing a Vocal track with a video synced to it, and then brought into Modul8 for manipulation and ultimately output live without lag issues?

Would it be possible to sync the vocal and video track on the Audio MBP and output the video to the video MBP as an input and go from there?

I'm stuck :s

Kyle.

[VjKg]

I apologize ahead of time for this post but I am grumpy and sick.

The solution is turn MTV on and go home.


If you really want to play someone else's visuals during your show I recommend playing all from Modul8. You looking for a world of hurt trying to sync audio from one computer to video on another.

[Luv2xlr8]

I guess every forum has them ^^ thanks for your expertise kind sir. You were a world of help. Moving on...

I play mostly high end night clubs and live performances. Music and Video are all paid for and/or provided by the artists and or venue. The solution is not MTV at all. Id like to have the video playing with the audio in sync. Then i can bring that output into modul8, use that as its own layer, and then do what i please to make everything else "my own". I am just unsure the steps needed to sync such a thing.

Is it possible to sync 2 macbooks time code somehow? Like a master clock...etc?

Kyle.

[VjKg]

I maybe wrong but there i no master/word/SMPTE in Modul8. So many factors can effect the sync between 2 consumer laptops. One playing audio the other playing video.

Why is Ableton a must? Are you manipulating the audio live as well?

Maybe I am not seeing the big picture but it seems playing completely within Modul8 and forgetting Ableton all together is the solution. Unless you are trying to manipulate the audio live at the same time you manipulate the video live. This I feel brings us back to my original thought "world of hurt".

[Luv2xlr8]

Most definitely live audio/video manipulation is a must. Essentially we are using prerecorded vocals laid over house/techno music between live performances of recording artists. May sound odd on paper, the people and venues we play at love it. Its new, its hot. And accompanied by a Live video and light show it turns out pretty slick for a completely live performance (yet cutting the venues costs substantially). Some live camera feeds, stills, 3d mapping etc.

The idea we have brought to the table is to combine the provided footage from the venue, whatever it may be, into the live video performance. Running the video as a layer and changing it however we want into our show.

Anyways aside from what we want to, there is no way to use Modul8 and Ableton on separate machines, in sync?

Guess I will have to figure something else out. Thanks for you time.

Kyle.

[VjKg]

How are you doing it now? Why do you keep insisting on Ableton? Can Ableton except a live source input? If so play the video and audio in Modul8 then plug the analog/optical out into Ableton and tweak it there.

Also what country are you in? I know I am sounding snippy but I have been getting asked to do these type of gigs for at least 8 years and I turn them down. My goal as a visualist is to expand the genre along side musical performers. This entire project sounds like a way to use some else's hard work all while removing the Dj.

Ok rant over. You have Artists sending you music videos. You create your own vocals or rip the vocals from the artists track. You then want to play the video in synch with the audio. All while maintaining the ability to change the timing/pitch/speed/timber/etc. of the video and audio. With each tweak being done so that it effects the other and you are doing this for the intermission of live performing acts. If I had to bet Modul8 could do what you want but not out of the box and not without some extensive custom module making.

[mowgli_uk]

It will be almost impossible to keep long clips of audio and video in synch, but if you chop the video into shorter clips you can then trigger them automatically from ableton when required using a midi clip which lasts the length of your audio. It's a fair amount of work but your best option unless you play the whole thing from modul8

[SOLO PAZ]

Hi Luv2xlr8, I'm new to this forum but I think a have a way to make it happen. You can try using a Doremi Labs V1 (http://www.doremilabs.com/pdf/NewV1UHD.pdf ), it is a video server controlled by SMPTE, and has 8 audio output option. So you can have the show running in sync and re-input the audio into ableton and capture the video with a Blackmagic into modul8. This may work and you can be able to process both audio and video. Hope it helps.

Pura Vida

Marco

[ilan]

@SoloPaz this is a very interesting tip and possibly the most interesting solution that I have seen to date regarding this issue.

@Luv2xlr8 as both responders have stated, it is pretty much impossible keeping two laptops in sync as it is almost impossible to keep things on sync on 1 computer. The reason is that the 'clock' on a computer is dictated by its processes. If one process takes priority of playback the system will inevitably set that critical process (say, freeing up some memory) ahead of keeping the frames synced.

As mowgli_uk notes, the best solution is to cut the video into porions that can be triggered. You then make the material part of the performance.