Creating Audio-Visual Compositions with ArKaos VJ 3.0

Used in conjunction with your favorite sequencer, ArKaos VJ 3.0 enables you to create unparalleled audio-visual compositions. Your sequencer can drive both the music and visuals at the same time, compose interactively using both medias, and generate a video file containing both the audio and video.

I. Setup:

The sequencer will be the central platform, driving both audio/MIDI and ArKaos VJ to trigger the images. In order to link ArKaos VJ and the sequencer, you will need to use Propellerhead ReWire, a system for transferring audio data between two computer applications in real time. Most sequencers ship with ReWire built in.

1. Start the sequencer, and be sure to enable the ReWire link to Arkaos VJ. For example, if you are using Cubase SX, you will see this screen:

This will allow you to select virtual MIDI tracks to communicate with ArKaos VJ.

2. Start ArKaos VJ and enable the reception of MIDI through ReWire. Enter the Edit menu, then select Preferences > MIDI Setup > ReWire.

3. Test your setup by laying out a visual on the ArKaos VJ keyboard display. Go into your sequencer and create a track that outputs in the “ArKaos VJ VJ” MIDI port, preferably on channel one:

Try playing notes on your MIDI keyboard. The MIDI events should be received by the sequencer, then routed to ArKaos VJ, triggering the visuals. To be sure the communication between ArKaos VJ and your sequencer is working, check the MIDI light on the VJ interface; it should blink each time an event is received.

II. Composition:

You may now build your audio-visual piece. Create a music track within the sequencer, then use the ReWire function to record and play back events to ArKaos VJ so that the visuals get triggered along with the music. Remember, ArKaos VJ can handle note data as well as MIDI controllers to alter the effects parameters, visual transparency and more.

We advise that you lay out your windows in such a way that you can see the ArKaos VJ preview window at the same time as your sequencer window. For example, this is what your environment might look like:

III. Rendering:

Once your music and visual tracks are ready, you may render the composition into a single video file. To do so, you will need to complete the following:

1. Produce a single stereo mix for your music, preferably one of high quality (for example, WAV or AIFF).

2. Record the video events inside the ArKaos VJ recorder. (Position your song pointer in the beginning of the song, then switch to ArKaos VJ, go to the ArKaos menu, and choose Event Recorder.)

3. Press the Record button. In the dialog box that appears, select More, then deactivate the Fullscreen option. Select the audio mix file you have just generated by pressing the Audio Select button.

4. Now press Record. Since ArKaos VJ and the sequencer are linked via ReWire, the sequencer will start as soon as you press Record, and ArKaos VJ will begin to record all the events it received. Please note that at this moment it is probably better to mute all non-video-related tracks in your sequencer so that the processor has all resources available for ArKaos.

5. When your entire piece has been played and recorded, press Stop and close the dialog box.

6. It is now time to ask ArKaos VJ to render the performance and produce the video file including the audio you have selected. To do so, press the Rendering (third) button in the window toolbar:

7. Choose whether you want to render your video using QuickTime or Microsoft Windows Media (Windows only).

8. Adjust the compression and engine setting (select Format > Setup > Make to generate the video file).
The result will be a video file that contains both your audio and video performance.

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