Tuesday, November 28, 2006
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Quartz Composer Outline
Session 1:
1. Introduction & Deconstruction
We take a look at some of the power of Quartz Composer by viewing some already-made compositions – specifically, we’ll take a look at the handiwork of Zuga Kousaku:
http://www.zugakousaku.com/index.php?m=project&id=quartz&s=sample&l=en
In each composition, we will open it up and make a small change so the students can understand the immediacy and ease with which changes are made, even in complex setups.
2. Basic Patching
We start with a blank canvas and begin hooking up patches to create a basic image processing flow. First a movie plays, then we affect that movie, then we learn to control the effects with LFOs and other realtime inputs.
3. Working with Iteration and Replication
We explore the power of the Iterator, Replicate in Time and Replicate in Space patches to create complex animations with minimal work, such as the one shown here:
4. Working with Structured Arrays
We use the various Structure patches to analyze real-time Audio Spectrum information, and parse an RSS feed.
5. Interactive Audio/Video Generation
We combine many of the techniques used throughout the previous tutorials to create a realtime A/V Synth similar to the one made here:
6. Homework
A number of problems are proposed – ‘how would you build this’ sort of things – students have a week to try their hand at solving them. Also, each student is to find or purchase an input device (midi controller, gamepad, camera) to create their own interactive graphics project.
Session 2:
1. Problems – we discuss solutions to the previously proposed problems.
2. Show and Tell – each student shares what they have created, and uploads to a central server for sharing with the public.
3. Lab time – with at least a week of QC programming under their belts, students improve existing projects or start on new ones with instructor and peer guidance.