Aestesis Elektronika Manual Part 2
Revised 09/09/13
The second installment in a continuing series, this manual is being developed to promote interest and use of a program I came across just over a year ago when I began to explore the concept of VJ'ing. Elektronika is versatile, creative, and FREE! After reviewing other software, I chose to stay with Elektronika. -Debra Daun
SUMMARY OF PART 1 After installing Aestesis Elektronika, you open the program for the first time and if you are like I was, you just poke around at it and try to figure out what to do first. The purpose of Part 1 was to provide enough information to give the new user a jump start. It covers the basic concepts Elektronika operates on, how to use the controls, use of the on-board help menu, and step by step directions for building and using a basic setup that will allow you to practice with Elektronika until you are comfortable using it. That saved practice program will now be used in Part 2. OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER! I am not a programmer, merely a technically inclined lay person, so I cannot go into specifics as to how or why the program works as it does. My purpose here is to supply the type of information I looked for as a new user, but could not find. If you require technical information I recommend the Facebook page (see end notes) to access the wealth of knowledge available from other users.
ABOUT THE HARDWARE... As you use more modules, incorporate more material, and begin layering effects, you may find that your computer starts to momentarily lag, or that your desktop may occasionally flash through your display for a split second. What you are seeing is an indication that your program is struggling to meet the program requirements and that you may need to upgrade your hardware. In the beginning I was able to run a basic show off my moderately powerful laptop, but eventually I switched to a dual core 64-bit desktop system with a good graphics card. This worked well for me for quite a while, but I felt the need to develop my show further and see what Elektronika is capable of. As I used more layering and used other programs in conjunction with Elektronika (Flashplayer, multiple still images, media player, etc.) it became necessary to make the jump to a quad core processor, 32gb memory, and a gaming level graphics card, plus an external drive for storing media files (AVI, Quicktime, JPEG, Flash, etc.). The results have been so gratifying that I am certain there is a liquid cooled super computer in my future! The operating system is also important. Vista conflicted with some modules, Dimension in particular. I now have Windows 7 and many of those those problems 1
Aestesis Elektronika Manual Part 2
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resolved. There are still some conflicts with some modules, but trial and error will allow you to identify them. Hopefully, there is a brave programmer somewhere who will take up the challenge of updating the modules to work with current systems (Hint, hint...) If you plan on using the full capability of this program I definitely recommend using the most powerful system you can afford, or plan on upgrading as you go. I assure you, it's frustrating to be held back by your hardware!
BUILDING ON THE PRACTICE PROGRAM The module concept of Elektronika allows you to create different effects from the same set of modules merely by changing the order they are connected in, or by making additional connections between certain modules. Here is the exercise program from Part 1 as it first comes up:
Monitors
Dropdown List of Installed Modules
(Figure 1- Basic Exercise setup from Part 1)
The Dancer is moving slowly on the page, no background. (If you experimented with the controls on the Dancer Module you found that they control both his speed and his position on the screen.) At this point it is beneficial to be able to see the outputs of more than one module at once. This is where the two monitors on the left side of the console come in. By 2
Aestesis Elektronika Manual Part 2
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dropping the menu below each monitor you will see a list of the currently installed modules, see Figure 2. Choose one by clicking on it, and the output of that module will appear in the window. This feature allows you to preview an effect during a show before including it in the output (as long as it is associated with modules not being used in the currently displayed effect, that is). Auto-follow will display the output of the currently selected module (note- the right side bar of that module will be green, not gray). (Figure 2- Monitor Menu)
In the following exercise I have selected the Dancer module to appear on Monitor 1. Note that what appears on the monitor is what you see on the output, in this case, the output window. That is because the video out module has Channel 1 selected, where the Dancer module is connected.
EXERCISE 1- LAYERING MODULE EFFECTS: We are now going to connect modules together to place effects behind our dancer, by adding two new connections, referring to Figure 3: Place the new cables in this order: 1.) Connect first Dancer Module input on the Aestesis output. 2.) Connect second Dancer Module input to the Aestesis 98 Wrapper output. The reason for starting a cable from the input is that you can have more than one cable running from the same output. If you try to start from an output that already has connections you will merely disconnect those cables, not start a new one. In Figure 3 you will also see yellow cables, running to the Audio Input module. These carry your audio signal to those modules. The presence of yellow inputs on a module indicates that some or all of the effects it produces are sound reactive. This will be covered more later on in more detail. For the moment, go ahead and connect the yellow cables as shown. Save your changes using the Save function.
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Aestesis Elektronika Manual Part 2
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1
2
(Figure 3- Additional connections on back.)
When you hit play you will see that the dancer now has a background behind him. This is the default setting for the Aestesis module. You have successfully layered two effects! Locate the toggle that is indicated by the red arrow in this diagram. Click on it to remove the dot, and observe what happens. The background effect can be turned on and off. The toggle below it is a freeze function. Click it on and watch what happens. Effects Dropdown Menu (Figure 4- Dancer & Aestesis 98 Wrapper Modules)
Now, go to the Aestesis 98 module and click on the dropdown menu. Pick “Cubee”. Now, with the background effect toggle “on”, click on the box indicated by the blue arrow. The background effect is now coming from input 2, the Aestesis 98 module. We will address individual modules and their functions in Part 3 of this manual, but for now you can try clicking on the different controls of these two modules to see what happens. Note: Many of the effects in Aestesis 98 Wrapper are sound reactive and require an audio input to function.
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ADDING AUDIO INPUTTo input sound, use the dropdown menu on the audio input module to select your source. All active inputs will be shown in the menu. (If you have not already made (Figure 4- Audio Input Module, menu) the yellow cable connections on back, do it now.) This menu is showing the onboard audio of my laptop as well as the external microphone I use for my show. Yours will most likely show just your onboard card. Try selecting that and then playing some music to activate the sound reactive effects. The two boxes on the far right are sound level indicators. You will see them react to your feed if you have successfully added your audio input. Don't forget to save your settings! The above exercise demonstrates the basic technique you will use to string together various modules and achieve different effects. The order in which modules are connected is just as important as the modules themselves in producing particular effects. When you are putting modules together it is helpful to think of the signal and the cables as water running through pipes. The signal (water) comes into the module through an input (faucet), flows through to an output (drain) where it is carried to the next input by a cable (pipe). You can connect any number of modules together, each one adding an effect to the signal. What goes in at the start can be transformed into something completely new at the output that can be modified live by adjusting controls on any of the modules it flows through. This almost endless list of combinations and settings gives the VJ the ability to create a constantly changing, entertaining show. The best way to learn a new module is to introduce it to your basic setup, wire it in, and see what happens. If you find a combination you would like to keep without losing your first saved setup, simply use the “Save As” command and give it another name. It will save the new combination alongside your original one, just like any other computer program. Choosing “Save” will overwrite your old program. Choose carefully! You can save any number of combinations as separate programs but you can only open one at a time. They are automatically saved to a default folder, but I prefer to save mine to the “videos” folder on my hard drive. 5
Aestesis Elektronika Manual Part 2
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Remember: If you make changes to a setup, you must save them or they will be lost when you close the program. When starting it is helpful to save as different versions, allowing you to go back if you don't like a change.
PROGRAM SIGNAL INPUTS AND OUTPUTS So far in the exercise we have explored how to set up and run a basic show using Aestesis Elektronika, outputting to the output Window A on the desktop. Now we will take that next step, sending the output to a projector. Two important settings have to be determined for a successful connection to your projector. One is the correct driver for your device, chosen in the Video Input Module. The other is the “connect to a projector” function as set up in your computer. These are specific to your particular devices and operating system, so it will require some experimenting on your part to identify the correct configuration. Step 1- The projector (or other video output device) should be correctly hooked up to your computer and turned on. You should see a blue screen. Step 2- Go to the comuter Start menu and select “Connect to a Projector”. You want to choose “Extend”. That allows you to still see the desktop on the monitor while sending the video output signal to your display. You should now see a copy of your desktop displayed on the screen. Important!- Keep track of your cursor! With an extended screen the cursor can move off your desktop and over to the extended area where it will appear on top of your display. (Although, an interesting cursor could become part of the show...) Step 3- The Video Out Module dropdown menu contains, along with the Window A selection, a list of device drivers. I had to use trial and error to find the correct one for my computer. Some resulted in a screen flicker, some just blanked out the screen. Make a note of the driver that works and choose it every time. The correct one will be immediately apparent. Upon hitting play your output should now appear on your projection screen. Of course, there is more than one module for video input, but this procedure still applies.
ADDING OUTSIDE MATERIAL At the time of this writing, as I mentioned earlier, not all Elektronika modules are functional. However, there is still a variety of ways to bring in content. In Part 1 I suggested printing out the Help menu. If you have not already done so, 6
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you should do it now. I keep a copy in a binder, keeping notes on each module as I find useful information. Because I am still at the earlier stages of learning myself, I can only tell you what has worked for me so far. The first thing I learned to do was to use the Grabber module to bring in content. Grabber allows you to select an area of your desktop and feed the image directly into the program. This works not only for still images, but also for video. The first time I used it was to capture a live feed of a basketball game, which I then fed into Zool, a spinning cube module. The result was very gratifying, tiny basketball players running on all sides of the spinning cube. I also use Grabber to bring in flash files played on a flash player. I currently have two Grabber modules in my show setup, each grabbing a different area of the desktop. I now use QT Player to play various Quicktime and AVI files, short video loops. (Use the links at the end to start locating sources for these.) EXERCISE 2- IMPORTING MATERIAL FROM ANOTHER SOURCE: Note: In the exercise below I use two Grabber modules, but if you prefer you can use only one. Use of two could affect how well your system runs if you use both at the same time. 1) Open a video or still image that you would like to import into Elektronika on the desktop using another program. In Figure 5 below I have opened a short video clip through Windows Media Player. (I use Windows Photo Viewer for .JPEGs, .GIFs, etc.). Drag the corner inward until the window is as small as it will go, then move it to the lower left corner as shown. 2) Open your Exercise Program in Elektronika 3) Move your cursor under the Video Out module, right click and select “Add Module”. Add a second Video Out module. It should appear just below the first one. 4) Now move your cursor just below the Astesis Module. Right Click, select In/Out, then select “Grabber”. 5) Optional Step: Go just below Grabber and repeat, installing a second Grabber module. If you drop the menu under a monitor window you will now see “Grabber”, “Grabber 2”, “Video Out”, “Video Out 2”.
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(Note: The arrangement of the modules is not important, except to make it easier to keep track of your connections. The order of the connections themselves is what counts.)
Video in Windows Media Player
(Figure 5- Adding additional modules) 6) Go to the back view and connect cables as shown in Figure 6: 1. Channel 4 of the upper V-Out module to the output of the lower VOut Module. (This effectively gives you 7 output channels. Selecting Channel 4 of the first module accesses all 4 channels of the lower module. (Make sure that the output window of the lower module is set to “none�. Leave the upper module set to Window A.)
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2 3
2. Connect the Output of Grabber 1 (upper module) to input 4 of V-Out Module 2. 3. Connect the output of Grabber 2 to input 3 of V-Out Module 2.
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(Figure 6- Back View, Connections)
Aestesis Elektronika Manual Part 2
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4. The rest of the modules should be connected as shown in Figure 6. 5. Return to the Front View. We will now refer back to Figure 5 for the rest of the exercise. 6. On Grabber 2 (the lower one) click on the word “zone”. Your screen will go either black or grey (opaque). 7. Place your cursor at the upper left corner of the area you want to grab. (In this case, at the upper left of the video showing in Windows Media Player, see Figure 5.) Hold down the left mouse button and drag to the lower right corner of the area. When you release the button the screen will become clear again. 8. Choose the following settings: Video Out Module 1, select Channel 4. Video Out Module 2, select Channel 3. Monitor 2, drop the menu and select “Grabber 2” 9. Save your new program settings. Use “Save As” and name the new program “Exercise 2”. Keep Exercise 1 in case of an error. If you are not already running, hit “Play”. The area you have selected should now be visible on Monitor 2. If you don't like the area selected, just repeat the steps and re-select the area. Anything showing in the selected area, still or video, will now be able to be shown through the program.
Video playing in Output
Monitor 2 showing Grabber 2 output
Original Video
(Figure 7- Video input using Grabber Module)
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Aestesis Elektronika Manual Part 2
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Now, try it for yourself with Grabber Module 1. Open something on the desktop in another area and follow the same process to bring it into Elektronika. When you are successful you will be able to see the image on your chosen Monitor. It is important to note that the Grabber Zones must be reset each time you open and close the program, they are not saved.
In Conclusion: If you have been able to go through this set of exercises successfully you now have the ability to put on a basic Elektronika show. Experimenting with variations, different inputs, and different modules will show you just how versatile this program is, allowing many people using the same program to develop dramatically different results. The next module will cover individual modules in greater depth and go further into expanding the exercise programs you now have. If you have not done so already, look for the Aestesis Elektronika Facebook and Google+ pages for more information and to connect with other users. https://www.facebook.com/groups/60437271717/ www.facebook.com- aestesis Elektronika https://plus.google.com/108959249943560063194/posts Aestesis - Google+ Other sources for additional information and media, a short list: http://aestesis.eu/elektronika/ AE website www.vjforums.com www.vimeo.com www.motionloops.com Do a Google search for “VJ Loops� Some are free, some are purchased. They come in different formats and you will have to experiment with what works. Whether you use video or still images from the internet, keep in mind that some media is copyrighted. There are good people out there who offer their creations free for the use of all, if you only look for them. If you have any suggestions or ideas, or would like to give input to this manual, feel free to contact me through the aestesis Elektronika Facebook page, or by commenting on this manual at www.issuu.com Thanks, Debra 10