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LoopyCam is a handheld controller which combines a security camera
and a game controller. With the buttons of the game controller,
I can start and stop the recording of up to eight video loops,
which can then be immediately and independently played back and overlaid in
a projected display.
The security camera automatically turns on infrared LEDs
in low-light situations,
so it works just fine even when there's no light.
The buttons on the game controller can be used to select one of eight video
loops, start/stop recording, insert new recordings into the middle of an
existing loop, truncate an existing loop, and start/stop the playback
of an existing loop. All loops currently playing are overlaid in the
projected image. The ability to insert new recordings into the middle
of an existing loop is particularly fun. When used as a performance tool
to accompany music, the results can be very musical (in an MTV quick-cut style, at least).
The software which accomplishes the looping is a FreeFrame plugin that I wrote.
Communication with the plugin is done via
OSC (Open Sound Control).
The handling of the game controller input and mapping to OSC
is done with KeyKit.
I use Salvation as a FreeFrame host, and other FreeFrame plugins provide
visual effects for the loops.
I've been using and extending this system for a number of other performances.
It was the basis for "Captured Accidents: Valencia Street Live" - an
installation in the front window of the ATA Theater/Gallery
on Valencia Street in San Francisco. Here's an
newspaper article about it.
There are several youtube videos from that installation - one that show clips from the
opening night performance
as well as a movie made from images captured during the entire month of December that the installation was running.
In early 2009 I modified LoopyCam to allow 8 video loops to be displayed in separate windows which can move, grow, and shrink on the screen while simultaneously looping. It's a much more engaging display than the 4-quadrants mode.
Here's some youtube videos which contains some examples, from
a performance at Temescal Arts Center, and
a SHARE San Jose jam.
I'm currently working on LoopyCam 2, redesigned to provide more elaborate control. Here's some pictures of a prototype for LoopyCam 2.
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