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 four 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 four 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).
Here's a youtube video showing what the output looks like, at a recent performance:
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.
