So much rapid development has taken place since this show, which is why this article is being published so long after the day the performance took place.
A couple months ago I dived into the world of projection mapping and the software required. I was blind to the versatility of mapping projections. But now I see.
It started with basic research. Luckily, I already have a lot of video, audio, and a projector to display it, meaning the only thing I needed was a software I could insert into my chain. I tried a few free programs, none of which were really user friendly to a degree that i could trust one live for reliable output. Some were well made and worked well, but were tuned for installation work.
Resolume, a popular choice, had everything I needed but was wayyy out of my price range, and I couldn't find a reliable way to pirate it, not to mention I shouldn't rely on a pirated piece of software to support my live set. One program I tried, VPT 8, was programmed in max like my percolator. I almost used it, because I would be able to implement my own max programming skills to tweak and modify the software. However, I decided against it because of it's limited audio functionality and the amount of extra development id be undertaking.
Eventually, I found what i needed in HeavyM2. I've found the projection mapping program to be uniquely tuned to my needs. Even though it is a relatively new piece of software, the dev team is dedicated, the software is stable, the features in it currently are perfect for me, and the upcoming features are going to be very beneficial to me as well. HeavyM2 lets me set up video loops similarly to the audio loops I have in Ableton. Additionally, it's equipped with Ableton link allowing me to sync the bpm with my music automatically. It can ALSO procedurally animate and render vector effects, and has audio reactivity support. Its a super versatile tool that I just need to make my own with unique visuals.
One issue is that this program renders the current build of the percolator obsolete for my live set, for now. I already have plans that will be in the next post or the one after that. Anyways, past this the new possibilities are huge. I can do a large, immersive light show with simple shapes and surfaces as my projector screens. This new technique has my imagination running wild.
"Hi everyone, this is my new mini-series on unknown artists. This series will take you on a journey of discovering amazing artists and what it's like to be in their process of art creation. My initial expectation from this series is to help people discover themselves both artist and viewer. This will not only help them but also me discover who am I as an artist."
-Jolarson Tati
You can find his youtube channel HERE.
Id like to recommend one of my personal favorite works of his, "What Happens Next?"
Thank you again Jolarson!
This week has been a lot in terms of progress and looking toward the future. Ive been accepted into IUPUI, which was the only school I applied to due to it having a very unique music technology program. It will earn me a bachelors degree in science while also teaching me about things like music theory and live performance. The in-state tuition is also a huge plus, making it the only college worth my time from my perspective.
With this out of the way, I'm back in the swing of development. I need to be proactive and productive as far as scheduling goes. My first gig is coming up this march on the 22nd, and at the moment I've already made visuals for 6 of my songs. However, only two of these are from the new album. Additionally, the visuals are pretty bare bones, and not as evocative as I'd like them to be. Id also like to start designing a costume to perform in, as well as conceptualize the set and layout of the performance space.
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| Poster for my upcoming gig at Healer |
For my gig on march 22nd, I have a set-list of 5 songs prepared that are ready to perform. However, for my final presentation on May 20th, I plan to only play songs from the record in order, and maybe some older ones after as an encore to the show. The March 22nd show will be a sort of practice run.
To plan the event :
This will probably be a very individualized process and wont work on any other performance space, but it will go far in making the final presentation more immersive and unique.
My documentation of this project has been almost fully about the visual aspects of it. This is because visual programming was the focus of my research, but my plan was always to present it alongside a record that can compliment it. From the start I had a philosophy for the development of my next project. This was to focus more on the songwriting, and eventually create an emotional arc over the course of the track list when listened to in order.
My music has always had a lot to do with chaos and gratuity that comes from the Internet and the influence it had on my personal development. This remains a big part of my artistic identity as a whole, but I often found myself using it as a crux. This has never been at the expense of the quality of my music, but it was definitely something I did to avoid being sincere. It was the way I half-expressed myself without having to let anyone in. I don’t want to imply that using an alter-ego or character to express yourself is bad or restrictive in any way. I think it can be just as liberating to write from a characters perspective, But for this particular project I wanted to approach the character of Percbuddy a little differently.
I aimed to put more of myself into it. There’s a lot less pitch shifting with my voice. I wrote with much more intention than I have in the past. I allowed myself to be vulnerable and to create without the consideration of what an audience may potentially react to. The arc of the story came together over a longer period of time. I re-imagined old demos, adjusted the arrangements, and changed lyrics. When listened to in order now, the record emotionally and lyrically navigates grief through the conception, fallout, and eventual acceptance of a difficult relationship. Datacore ERA is the culmination of this work, and moving forward I will primarily be conceptualizing and creating the visuals that will play in sync with the music. In the next few posts ill be going through each song and my ideas for the respective videos. Ill also begin to develop a plan for the performance space, and start thinking about the logistics of projection mapping and audio throughout the stage.
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| Sketchbook |
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| Early idea for video mixer |
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| File structure for Academy Café |
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| Scale map of war room, the studio space |
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| Live setup diagram |
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| Rough system routing idea |
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| Plans for 0.7 (Video rack cut) |
