Visual Machines Archives - Elevator Sound

Soma Laboratory Illuminator Euro to LED Desktop Controller (With LED strips)

Marco — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 20:09:01 +0000

ILLUMINATOR is an eight channel converter that turns Eurorack and analog CV signals into a voltage that drives LEDs and LED strips, creating a unique light show in sync with your live performance. CV signals coming from your music gear are already pulsating with the different parts and sounds of your track, so there is no need for any kind of programming or light operator.

You can focus on playing your set and let ILLUMINATOR take care of the rest, creating a dynamic visual show that follows your tracks down to every note and beat!

No presets, no memory- just your music driving the lights. Create intense strobe-like effects by connecting rapid hi-hats from your analogue drums, or use slow external LFOs for a moody ambience during your ambient sessions.

ILLUMINATOR is compatible with standard 12V LED strips that are affordable and widely available. LED strips are flexible and typically come with adhesive on the back, so it’s easy to attach them to any objects and surfaces, including irregular and unusual ones. It can be your Eurorack case, synth stands, walls of the venue, furniture and even your body! This way you can create a unique light show that would otherwise require an expensive (and unwieldy!) lighting setup. Everything you need for your ILLUMINATOR show easily fits into a small backpack for just a couple hundred euros.

ILLUMINATOR can also run an art installation, as LED strips are far from its only application. It can drive anything that accepts DC 12V with a current up to 0.5A. You can hook up anything from motors, electromagnets to old-fashioned filament bulbs. It’s the perfect beating heart for your weird mechanical steampunk orchestra. Your imagination is the limit!

ILLUMINATOR accepts all types of CV signals in the range from 3 to 20 volts. Each of the eight channels contains an individual trimmer pot that defines the sensitivity of the channel. It not only adjusts the optimal input range for connected CV sources, but it can also set the brightness of each LED strip. Default factory setting for all trimmer pots is made for the range of 5V, compatible with most gear out of the box.

Applying bipolar CV is also possible but the negative part of the signal will not light up the LEDs (everything below zero will be processed as zero).

CV signals can be connected to ILLUMINATOR using Eurorack mini-jacks or PULSAR-23-like pins and alligator clips. PSU DC IN and all outputs are standard DC sockets 5.5×2.1mm center plus.

Note: The unit comes with 8 x 1.5m LED strips. 2 x White, 2 x Blue, 2 x Green and 2 x Red.

The post Soma Laboratory Illuminator Euro to LED Desktop Controller (With LED strips) appeared first on Elevator Sound.

Critter & Guitari Eyesy Desktop Video Synthesizer (Black)

Ben Chilton — Wed, 05 May 2021 22:25:40 +0000

Welcome to the world of the EYESY – Critter & Guitari’s video synthesizer! The EYESY reacts to your music to create endlessly mesmerizing visuals. Simply plug it in and start creating. But don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the EYESY, there are many features and goodies hidden inside. Whether you are creating live visuals, working on a music video, or want to program your own graphics, the EYESY will become an indispensable tool.

The EYESY comes with numerous pattern generators called modes. Navigate the modes using buttons, and then tweak their visual appearance using five knobs. The modes respond to audio input in various ways; from smooth undulating patterns to rapid fire animations. The controls allow you to effect various elements of the patterns and colors. There is also a setting that allows the graphics to pile up in vibrant collages.

When you happen upon a setting that you like, press the scene save button to save it. This scene can now be recalled at a future time.

Incoming MIDI Notes and Clock can change a mode’s behavior. The knobs can automated by sending MIDI controller messages from a sequencer or your favorite performance software. Program Change messages may also be sent to select your saved scenes.

You can add and remove the pattern generating modes to make the device as simple or complex as you like. The saved scenes are stored in a single file that can be saved and edited. All of the resources are managed through a simple-to-use web browser-based interface.

Edit and create your own modes! The modes are all open source and based on an open platform. You can make changes to the modes and create new modes using the browser-based editor. Modes are written in the Python programming language.

Specifications

Outputs: Composite Video Out Jack (PAL + NTSC), HDMI Video Out Jack (720p + 1080p)
Inputs: ¼” Stereo Audio Input, MIDI Input: ?” TRS-MIDI Jack, MIDI Input: USB-MIDI (for class compliant devices)
LINK: Sync to LINK tempo via WiFi
Size: 6.0 x 3.5 x 2.2″ / 15.24 x 8.9 x 5.6 cm. Height includes knobs.

Included Items:

Power Supply:
Input: 100-240VAC @ 50/60Hz. Output: 9VDC, 1.3A, Center-positive polarity.
USB-WiFi Adapter (Ralink 5370 Chipset, 2.4GHz)
A microSD card holds the operating system and modes. There is ~4GB for available for mode storage.

Note: This product comes with a US power adapter. You’ll need a US to UK adapter or alternate 9V power supply to use.

The post Critter & Guitari Eyesy Desktop Video Synthesizer (Black) appeared first on Elevator Sound.

Teenage Engineering OP-Z Portable Synthesizer and Sequencer

Ben Chilton — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 16:39:45 +0000

At about half the size of the acclaimed OP-1 synthesizer, but with more DSP power and energy efficiency, the Teenage Engineering OP-Z is their most advanced portable synthesizer and sequencer to date. Music is just the beginning — the OP-Z is capable of image and 3D graphics sequencing, as well as DMX light sequencing. In total, you have 16 audio or control tracks that can contain sequences, even with independent track speeds and lengths. And with an updated Tape feature for capturing ideas and mangling sounds, the Teenage Engineering OP-Z is one of the most advanced portable sequencers available.

Use Step Components for endlessly animated sequences

While the Teenage Engineering OP-Z offers 16 tracks of sequencing, you can add unique step behaviors to every individual step for unlimited sonic possibilities. There are 14 different types of Step Components, each with 10 values, for a total of 140 ways to alter any step in any sequence. Producers and VJ’s at Sweetwater are highly impressed at all the variations you can apply to notes, parameter changes, re-trigs, 3D graphics and much more.

Use your iOS device as a screen, and more

Download the OP-Z app to your phone or tablet and use it as a graphic interface for the OP-Z. And that’s just the start — connecting to the OP-Z allows you to use your device’s camera to snap a series of photos and arrange them to a beat. You can also create custom graphics, patterns, a color palette or stop motion videos, using any artwork or photos in your iOS device’s camera roll or Dropbox folder.

Full Unity 3D integration

The Teenage Engineering OP-Z can be fully integrated with the Unity game engine, which can be used to create amazing 3D graphics that can run at full speed on iPhone and iPad devices. Additionally, unity users will have access to the inner control data of the OP-Z, allowing them to create Unity visuals that can be sequenced on the OP-Z.

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