News, Updates & Videos

Gig report by Kyle Lyons from VJLoops.com

On December 9th 2014 I was contacted by a local promoter who wanted to hire a VJ for a Christmas Eve event in Valencia, Spain where I currently reside.

After the initial contact it’s important to establish what the client expectations are and what you are capable of delivering.  I soon realized this was no ordinary VJ gig as the client wanted a custom animation intro to introduce the DJ.  With less than 2 weeks to prepare I knew this was going to be a tight deadline with plenty of all-nighters ahead.  Luckily I don’t work alone and I could rely on some help with the motion graphics and animation from Ana Villanueva who creates under the moniker Anisha on VJLoops.com

 

One of the biggest challenges I faced was getting the information from the client.  They have grand ideas but sometimes are unable to communicate them effectively.  After several conversations on the phone and in person meetings totaling about 8 hours of our time we were able to finally get a rough script and storyboard for the intro.

 

The next task was to start collecting the assets for the project which included photos/videos of the DJ along with relevant sponsors logos for the event.  Anytime we step into a big project like this we always turn to what assets we have on hand or what we can buy to help expedite the creation process.  Stock footage, media and templates are a life saver and if you find the right resources you can save so much time.  Especially with tight deadlines.

 

Over the next 10 days we spent so many hours preparing the video which was based on what the client wanted.  We knew right away in our opinion that what the client wanted lacked a bit of cohesiveness.  None the less we followed through and tried to guide them as we went along.  We knew we would be sending a second and third draft as the project progressed.  In my experience nothing is every perfect on the first delivery.

 

On the 23rd of December we were able to get into the venue to do a dry run with the DJ, promoter and ourselves to test the equipment and to see how it looked on LED screens that were installed.  By the way I should probably mention that during our initial conversations back on the 9th of December I explicitly asked about the dimensions of the screen and resolution.  The client told us it would be 16:9 setup.  As you can imagine the frustration of not knowing what resolution to create the custom intro in was a bit of a pain.  We decided to create at 1280 x 720 (16:9). Knowing that we can always trim or crop parts of the video but not add more.  After arriving at the venue we see that the screen is now 1:1 with a total resolution of 384 x 384 pixels. This is why it’s always important to do a dry run but even more so to know what your project settings will be well in advanced. Welcome to the nightlife, where each day brings a new surprise!

After receiving the new dimensions we knew we had some major adjustments to the project which required heading back into After Effects to move text into the safe areas as well as moving some of the text footage around.

 

Image-1

 

I know that some readers might say that you need to have all the information well in advanced before the event begins but from my experience clients change their mind for a number of reasons.  Budget, resources, suppliers, venue, legal reasons and countless other factors all come into play when the final setup is approved and installed. Even then I’ve seen installations go up, come down and go back up as something else within a day because  of (insert whatever reason here).  With small and medium sized events these things happen often.  Sometimes all the planning in the world doesn’t matter.  The only thing you can do is to be prepared and expect the unexpected.  I find trying to predict what will go wrong usually saves me in the end.  Albeit it’s a headache and a time waster it is what it is.  You have to be able to adapt and overcome the challenges to survive in this business.

 

With less than 24 hours to show time my animator was busy preparing the intro with all the requested changes as well as text adjustments for the DJ while I continued to prepare the “VJ Loops” for my set.  My current VJ software for mixing live is Resolume Arena 4.1.  It’s flexible, has nice effects and doesn’t crash.  I also use a M-Audio KeyRig 25 as my midi controller.  It’s inexpensive, small, lightweight and fits well with my laptop setup.  Mapping the keys is quite simple with any popular VJ software.  I highly recommend anyone who does live mixing incorporate some kind of controller. I still use a mouse while VJing but enjoy the freedom a controller ads which allows for more creative mixing styles to be applied quickly and effectively.

 

Image 2 MidiMapping

 

My midi mapping template:

  1. Cross Fader A-B
  2. Black Strobe
  3. White Strobe
  4. Black Stripes Effects w/sound input*
  5. White Stripes Effects w/sound input*
  6. Fish Eye Effect w/sound input*
  7. RGB Shift Effect w/sound input*
  8. Open for adding various effects during events
  9. Layer 1 Select
  10. Layer 2 Select
  11. Layer 3 Select
  12. Active Layer Clip/Loop Selection (15 Loops)
  13. Active Dashboard Effect Controls
  14. Active Layer Faders
  15. Blackout

*Pro Tip: adding sound analysis allows your onboard microphone of your laptop or computer to detect the various changes in the music.  In Resolume you can do this and much more.

 

The event was scheduled to start at 12:30am which is quite early for the locals (These Spaniards love to party!).  People didn’t start arriving until 1am!   The headliner DJ wasn’t scheduled until 3am so while the warm up djs performed I painted the screens with logos and very basic sound reactive EQ effect provided by a plugin from BigFug.  Promoters, club owners and DJs love to have their branding during the night.  It’s always good to make the client happy.

 

Image-3

 

As 3am approached I became quite anxious. I was ready to give the crowd a real visual treat with everything we had prepared over the last 2 weeks.  The intro included a piano track which was accompanied by a pianist on stage who would do a playback performance.  Show business is all about putting on a show and I think we did a pretty good job.  Despite the tight deadlines the show was a complete success and the promoter, DJ and club owner were very satisfied with the work.  The energy from the crowd was proof.

 

Here is the original intro prepared for the evening.

 

DJ Danny Wade Intro for Christmas Eve at Club Mya 24-25 December 2014 from VJLoops.tv on Vimeo.

And some live footage shot by clubbers, the audio was replaced due to poor quality.  I tried to sync it up as best as possible.

 

DJ Danny Wade Intro for Christmas Eve at Club Mya 24-25 December 2014 from VJLoops.tv on Vimeo.

Introductions, News, Updates & Videos

VJloops.com / The International VJ Exchange Project

Blog post from Mads Meskalin regarding his recent visit at VJLoops Studios in Valencia, Spain

Content Edit: Shutterstock Stories 2013 + (Kyle Lyons) from armitage.tv on Vimeo.

VJloops.com / The International VJ Exchange Project

Mads Meskalin
August 25, 2013
Other Works

VJloops.com / The International VJ Exchange Project

Professionals associate in a variety of ways. For the more established artistic paths there are established collaborations and unions which to associate with, but for other and less established paths it’s important to take matters into your own hands. In 2012, Devon Miles and Kyle Lyons established The International VJ Exchange Program which allows video artists from all over the world to get to know eachother, swap knowledge, jobs and start collaborations. I decided to check it out, and booked a flight down to the hub of The International VJ Exchange Program, Kyle Lyons studio in Valencia, Spain.


Kyle Lyons has been in the scene since the 90’s, and has been a central contributor to the live video art scene through his stock-footage company VJloops.com. From his page he sells stock footage for live visuals, art and the entertainment industry, but he also invites other artists to sell their stock footage on his site as well. You can see my stock footage here.

 


Through my stay we tried out techniques such as Timelapse (pictures taken in a set interval to speed up time greatly) and Hyperlapse (moving timelapse), and also shot Kyles application for Shutterstock Stories above together with Roman O. Heller, who in addition to being an amazing videographer also is an incredible guy.

 

We all know artistic opportunities mainly come through word of mouth, and by associating yourself with professionals worldwide, you´ll see unlimited potential for collaborations and friendships. A global art-form always has local variations, and its always interesting to see how an artists cultural heritage shapes his works.

 

For your stock footage needs, please visit VJloops.com. To be part of The International VJ Exchange Project, please contact Kyle Lyons or Devon Miles. Many thanks to Kyle for hosting me, for refining my knowledge about the art of timelapses and for putting up with me dragging sand all over his studio.

 

Oh, and did I mention that the studio is in Spain?

Written by Mads Meskalin.  Original source

Introductions, News, Updates & Videos

Dubassy and myself featured in Pond5’s artist portfolios Youtube page

Introductions, News, Updates & Videos

Electric Daisy Carnival- Behind the Screens 2012 by Alex Curson

A few days ago my good friend Alex Curson aka VJ Spazz from NZ featured some of my Vegas time-lapse footage from my collection VJLoops.tv in his new behind the scenes documentary on Vello Virkhaus and his team from V Squared Labs. You can see the time and dedication put into a massive festival. It’s jaw dropping!

EDC – Behind the Screens 2012 from V Squared Labs Inc. on Vimeo.

A dynamic behind the scenes look at the EDC experience from the VJ perspective.

EDC 2012 V Squared Labs Inc Team

Anastasia King Jaress Producer
Vello Virkhaus Director/Producer/LeadVJ – Kinetic Field
Andi Perez Production Coordinator
Carlo Sa Animator – Bassrush
Davy Force Animator – Bassrush
Peter Sistrom Lead 3D Mapping Programmer
Evan Pierre VJ/Programmer – VJ Assist
Max Chang VJ/Programmer – Bassrush
Julie Hardin VJ/Programmer – Neon garden
Jesse Nikette VJ/Programmer – Neon garden
VJ Fader VJ – Circuit Grounds
VJ Kai VJ – Circuit Grounds
Dan Block VJ – Discovery Stage
Berkeley Meyer VJ – Discovery Stage
Luis Andres Natali VJ – Kinetic Field
Miguel Vega VJ – Kinetic Field
Scott Little Lead PA

Video Production Team

Alex Curson (VJ SPAZZ) Director/Editor/Videographer
Beau McGavin Videographer
Dean Wyatt Audio Engineer
Michael Woods Videographer
Kyle Lyons (VJLoops.TV) Las Vegas Time Lapse

Soundtrack

Nero
“Must Be The Feeling”
(Delta Heavy Remix)

Stage Design & Lighting Design
SJ Lighting, Steve Lieberman

Special Thanks to Insomniac 🙂

News, Updates & Videos

Vixid interview featuring Kyle Lyons

Interview with Kyle Lyons about the VIXID video switcher / English version

by VIXID on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 11:23am
Kyle Lyons, multimedia artist, VJ and owner of www.vjloops.tv

Can you tell a bit about yourself, the members of the crew, and the kind of work you do?

Kyle Lyons

My name is Kyle Lyons and I am 34 years old visual addict! I am a native from the suburbs of Buffalo, New York. I currently live in Valencia, Spain and run my own stock footage company called VJ Loops. I spend my time moderating and hosting discussions on VJ Forums and write for the VJ Vault Blog. I have been a multimedia artist and VJ since 1999. I have performed in over 14 countries around the world. I currently tour alone but also VJ for DJ Pascal Kleiman at gigs around Europe. I use a mix of custom created content and visuals appropriated from my stock footage site VJ Loops. The style varies depending on the performance, layout of the venue and music but it’s mostly club oriented with lots of colors that compliment the music.

How and why did you get into live visuals?

In 1994-95 I discovered the “rave” movement and electronic music. Back then visuals were unheard of or very rare. I was fortunate enough to witness the early work of OVT Visuals from Chicago, IL USA. One of their members is an avid Vixid user VJ V2 aka Vello Virkhaus. He doesn’t know it but the work from Vello andThe OVT team were a major inspiration for me to become a VJ. Back then visuals were very analog and rudimentary but still cool! They would use film projectors and project onto weather balloons at the raves in Chicago. It wasn’t until 1999 that I actually got my feet off the ground. Equipment was expensive so my setup was very crude. I was using a Videonics mixer and VHS tapes, pretty old school for today’s standards.

How did you discover VIXID VJX16-4 video mixer and why did you choose to use it above other products on the market?

The Vixid mixer gained a lot momentum and buzz on VJ Forums. Everyone was talking about it and how it would change the way VJ’s work. One thing is to hear about it via the internet but another thing is to actually witness it in action. I was fortunate enough to get some hands on training from the Vixid crew at the Musikmesse fair in Frankfurt, Germany. After that I didn’t need any more convincing. I had previously used the V4 by Edirol and it’s a great starter mixer for VJ’s but the Vixid has the features and flexibility that my performance demands.

How are you using it onstage, in a live environment and in the studio?

I currently use it when I tour and VJ at festivals and clubs. My set up consists of 2 laptops, 1 DVD backup and multiple live camera feeds. I use all 4 channels to mix between the multiple sources. Usually for bigger events the 16 inputs are used up for the multiple live camera feeds and other inputs from visual artists. 2×2 battle mode is great for this.

How has using this mixer changed the way you work?

The mixer has given me the freedom with the multiple inputs which allow me to mix multiple sources and switch on the fly between them. The BPM feature allows me to have more beat matched visuals with the audio from DJ or music act.

What features do you find most useful? Are there any features you could not work without?

There are so many to choose from but If I had to choose the features that are most useful for me are:

– The 4 channels transparency faders

– The mix/blend modes

– Keyer & Background Alpha

– Mutilple inputs

The features that are absolute must are the multiple source inputs and matrix switcher with the 3 outs which can send 3 different sets of visuals. I also take advantage of the 6 outputs for multi-screen setups. The PAL/NTSC switch is also important because I travel to so many foreign countries.

What is your typical setup for a live show?

After arriving at a venue the first thing I put down is my Vixid and then I work my way out from there attaching all my sources. I reserve my first two channels for my Macbook Pro with Modul8 and the second for my Dell laptop which runs Motion Dive Tokyo. The Modul8 is my main VJ mixing application while the Motion Dive Tokyo is used for logo and live text input. This is where the VJX keyer and blend modes get used the most. The third and fourth channels are assigned my live camera feed, DVD backup and other sources like inputs from other VJ’s.

Kyle Lyons setup for Black Eyed Peas show with the VJX16-4 video switcher

Gear List:

– Vixid VJX16-4

– MacBook Pro Unibody with Modul8 and the Grandtec Hand View scan converter for converting the mini display port to Svideo.

– Dell XPS 1210 running Motion Dive Tokyo with Svideo Output

– Bitstream 3X midi controller

– Motion Dive Tokyo midi controller

– Kramer HD Scaler

– Kramer VGA splitter

– Sony and Canon video cameras for live feeds

How long did it take to you before being able to use it during a live show?

The mixer has a lot of features but its interface and menu make it easy to setup out of the box. Once you understand the core basics of setting up your inputs and outputs it’s not hard to use. Luckily I had some hands on training from the Vixid crew before I bought my mixer but it should only take a weekend before you can get comfortable for a live setting. Always do a dry run (test) before you go out and perform in a live setting. I found it useful to print the manual and I carry that with me to gigs.

Any tips or tricks you could share with us?

Laptop lock used for VJX16-4 video switcher

– Print the manual and take it with you

– Experiment with video feedback for cool effects

– Hook up a recording device to record your outputs

– Get the flight case, protect your investment!

– Get a laptop lock and attach to your Vixid screw mounts. See attached picture or consider theft insurance, everyone wants the Vixid!

– If you have any problems contact the Vixid crew, they are very helpful people

– 2×2 battle mode is great when you’re working with other VJs and visual artists.

– Carry extra cables, adaptors & plugs for your mixer and gear

– Carry business cards

What are the biggest or most memorable gigs you’ve done with the VJX16-4?

– In September 2009 I was doing visuals at the Black Eyed Peas concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The screen setup was rather unique ultra wide 100′ X 22′ on left and right stage so the crop and scroll effects were a life saver as we used multiple camera inputs and we were able to add PIP and place them anywhere we wanted on the screen using the trackball. Then the background alpha was used so we could have visuals behind the live inputs.

– In October 2009 with Paul Van Dyk in Jakarta, Indonesia

– In October 2009 with Derrick May in Jakarta, Indonesia. We had 8 VJs all hooked into the Vixid using 2×2 battle while I randomly switched between sources mixing each one in.

What have you got planned for the near future?

VJ Loops in conjunction with VJ Vault will host more AV contests to increase the exposure of the VJ, AV and motion graphics artists. Our 4th contest will be for best AV mix 3-5 min with big prizes maybe a Vixid 😛

VJ Loops has plans to release an audio-visual DVD with several talented audio visual artists with mixes, loops and more.

A planned tour in Asia for 2010.

Anything you’d like to add?

I <3 my Vixid!

Kyle Lyons using its VJX16-4 video switcher

Find out more about Kyle Lyons.

Find out more about VIXID users by clicking here : VIXID Users.

News, Updates & Videos

5 Year Film Project

Over the last few weeks you may have noticed that things have been slow on the site with updates.  For the the month of January myself along with Sean Fleck from VJ Vault have been in the South West, USA mainly California and Nevada shooting time-lapse footage for  the “5 Year Film Project” from Mt. Airy Films LLC.

The 5 Year Film Project is time-lapse documentary which aims to document the passing of time in our world. Whether it’s the life energy of a bustling city or the awe inspiring landscapes of our planet the 5 Year Film Project will be visual mosaic of our planet.

On the website you can view a 3 minute demo from various locations in Hawaii and the South West, USA featuring sunrises, sunsets, landscapes, star-lapses & cloud formations.

Our last stop had us in Death Valley, California shooting sunsets, epic landscapes in an effort to complete a 30 minute demo.  Here are a few stills.

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This is a project of massive proportions and that’s why we will open up the project for user submitted content.  So if you got something you want us to see please feel free to contact us.  Through www.vjloops.tv or www.vjvault.com Sean or myself will be eager to review your footage.  Over the next few months we will iron out the details of the project with a clear and concise plan that will illustrate our production time-line and locations.  We intend to submit the film globally to film festivals and maybe even into a DVD production. Some if not all of the content will be available as stock footage.  More details soon.

Introductions

Free spinning skull SD loop from Kyle Lyons

Happy Halloween from VJLoops.tv from Kyle Lyons on Vimeo.

A video I did for Halloween weekend 2010. Free to use and abuse but give credit where due. Trick or treat from www.vjloops.tv

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