Day 01: Monday July 31
12:00pm – leave Cville VA
07:30pm – arrive Erie PA, unload equipment, Lavery Brewery for dinner
09:30pm – off to bed
I was to be FEED’s first resident artist, that was back in the Spring. Unfortunately, my Southern Airways flight from Washington DC to Erie PA was cancelled, then cancelled again. Two days waiting at Dulles airport, I gave up and returned home to Charlottesville, VA.
I am now FEED’s last resident artist for Summer 2023. I’m driving a rental car from Charlottesville to Erie! It’s the best option: too expensive by air, the cheapest flight routed me through Ft Lauderdale FL; two days by train, overnight from Washington DC to Cleveland OH. So, it’s by car, up and over the mountains of West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Google maps takes me by ‘the shortest route,’ up I81 to Winchester VA and through the mountains. Mostly 2 lane roads, up and down. A brief stretch on I76 cost $11 and featured lane closures and construction. Then I79 from Pittsburgh. I arrive ‘right on time.’
Benton meets me at 1307 State Street, the FEED Media Art Center. I unload and, after a brief tour, we walk to Lavery Brewery for dinner. After dinner we walk to the resident artist’s residence, an apartment, a block from the center.
Day 02: Tuesday August 1
08:00am – FEED, setting up my computer
09:00am – bring gear to 1301 State St, Benton demos the LZX3
11:00am – tour 1307 with visiting artists
12:00pm – lunch with Benton
01:00pm – work on Video Shredder
09:00pm – turn in for the night
Up early, meet Benton at FEED TOO, which is the temporary office/studio at 1301 State St. The Media Art Center is under construction.
FEED Media Art Center is a 5+ story building in downtown Erie PA. Benton bought the building, an abandon furniture store, two years years ago. He got the keys on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2021, and Immediately put Derek Holzer’s New Years Eve-themed oscilloscope graphics piece in the window. Benton and team are repurposing the building as a Media Art Center to include galleries, performance spaces, a media server farm, artists’ studios, and related businesses. Next door, south on State St is Calamari, a popular restaurant/bar. North on State St is a small storefront, rented out to the Erie County Democratic Party, and, on the corner of 13th St, FEED TOO, which is the media center office, the resident artist’s studio, and a community gathering place for local media artists.
So, FEED TOO! We move my gear from 1307 to 1301. My studio consists of several tables, a Hackintosh PC, a 24 channel audio mixer; an LZX generation 3 video synthesizer plus a nearly complete set of older LZX modules and third-party modules in LZX format, random keyboards, video monitors, more mixers, etc. I clear off a table and set up my computer.
Benton demos the LZX3 and Hackintosh with BlackMagic’s Media Express, captures and stores a test clip. I play around with the patch. Look up LZX Industries online. There’s a ’Getting Started’ guide on the Community page. I try a patch of my own. There’s a lot to learn!
Iki Nakagawa and Chris Moore, visiting artists from NYC, arrive. Benton takes us on a tour of 1307, here are some pics –
The visiting artists leave. Benton takes me for lunch at Dina’s Authentic Dominican Kitchen downtown in the Flagship City Food Hall.
Back at 1301, I’m getting organized. I spend part of the afternoon patching the studio together. I record a short LZX3 test video.
I spend the rest of the afternoon checking out the Video Shredder. For live performance, coming up this Friday, I need an easy way to switch between effects modes.
Tired out, back to apartment, a good first day.
Day 03: Wednesday August 2
09:00am – administrivia, set up IFM Synth
12:00pm – talk about setup for Friday with Benton and Adam, visit 1307 to check out space
01:00pm – work on Video Shredder
07:00pm – Shish Kabob for diner, 9th St Beer Store, back to the apartment
Up early, spent the morning answering email, etc, then setting up audio in/out from my computer to the LZX3 and Blackmagic. Benton helped me find cables and adapters in and amongst many boxes filled with hundreds of miscellaneous cables and adapters.
Adam Holquist drops by at noon, we discuss plans for Friday night’s performance. I’m planning to project a Processing sketch that Al Margolis and I used on our last ELKA BONG tour, and play my BugBrand Board Weevil through a small amp. Adam plans to bring his modular synth and will play through the PA. Joe Popp will bring his own amps.
Benton, Adam and I walk over to 1307. We decide to play in Gallery 2, the central space directly off the lobby. There’s 14’x10.5’ screen set up and a PA with pair of huge, JBL theater speakers. Benton encourages me to project live video and play my IFM synth through the PA. I’m not sure.
My first goal for this residency is to bring the Video Shredder online, as a performance instrument. The current version is a port from C++ on Truevision’s TARGA+, to Processing on my MacBook Pro. It needs to be ‘tuned up’ for live performance. I spend the afternoon trying effects with the different video clips, pushing the limits for reading and processing frames in real-time. It just might work!
Benton takes me to Shish Kabob for dinner, two blocks from the studio. We both have the ‘mixed grill’ including a very good lentil soup, then crispy salad, then a big bowl of rice with veggies and a plate with grilled vegetables with beef, chicken and lamb kabobs. The food was delicious. We eat about a third and doggy-bag the rest. From the restaurant we walk downtown to 9th St Beer Store, then back to 1301.
Tired out, a good second day, lot’s to think about!
Day 04: Thursday August 3
09:00am – continue work on Shredder, rehearsing with video and IFM Synth
04:00pm – check out LZX online, read LZX manual, patch a simple example
06:00pm – back to apartment, leftover shish kabob and a beer
I spend most the day programming the Video Shredder, I’ve decided to go for it! The big screen, the huge speakers, the theater PA. I’ll use the Video Shredder, live! Here’s a flowchart for the ‘current’ shredder, written in Processing –
The Video Shredder is a frame buffer, which records and plays back frames captured from video. The updated version uses video clips stored in computer memory. There are two basic routines common to all Processing sketches, setup() and draw().
Setup() starts by setting the screen size, in this case either 720×480 for viewing on the computer or ‘fullscreen’ for output to a video projector. Next setup loads and plays several, 480p video clips. These clips run continuously. The clips are often of different lengths and therefore run ‘out of sync.’ Finally setup creates and clears the an image buffer of (40) 720×480 frames.
Draw() assembles an image and outputs the result to the screen in either record or playback mode. In record mode, draw grabs a frame, or frames, from the available video clips, blends them with the current image in the frame buffer, and outputs the blended image to the screen. In playback mode, draw simply outputs the current image in the frame buffer to the screen. Finally, draw advances the frame buffer to the next frame and loops.
During performance, I need to switch, seemingly seamlessly, between clips. That’s a matter of limiting the number of clips to be read between outputs to the screen, plus some sleight-of-hand. I can only read from from (2) clips at a time. Also, I can only write once each frame to the screen. I’m running the sketch at (12) frames per second. Even at that ‘slower’ rate things can bog down!
I spend most of the day playing with the shredder. Late afternoon, I check out the LZX3 system, visit the online LZX Community, read the manual, and copy a simple patch.
Day 05: Friday August 4
08:00am – work on Shredder, select clips, add effects modes, setup fullscreen
12:00pm – quick break for lunch, final tuneup for the Shredder,patch the IFM Synth
04:00pm – setup at 1307 in Gallery 2
06:00pm – beer at Calamari’s before the show
08:00pm – OPEN FEED
10:30pm – back to the apartment
Early start, I cull the clips, from twelve down to seven, and add effects modes 0-4, 9. Some clips work better with others, and with different effects modes. These modes, part of the draw routine, control blends and filters, the ways in which captured images are combined with frames from the buffer and output to the screen –
The Video Shredder, like the LZX3 video synthesizer, is a ‘visual instrument.’ I ‘play’ the shredder using the computer keyboard – ‘q’ initiates record mode; ’spacebar’ triggers playback mode; ’left arrow’ runs the frame buffer in reverse, ‘down arrow’ freezes the frame, ‘right arrow’ runs the frame buffer in forward; and, finally, the number keys ‘1,2,3,4,9’ initiate the effects modes charted above. The effects modes may be thought of as movements in a score. In this case the score is a progression from b&w images and simple layering, to color and abstraction.
I run through a couple rehearsals with the shredder. Set up the IFM Synth. I’m ready for tonight’s show!
Mid-afternoon, I move my gear over to 1307, and set up on a table in front of the big screen on Gallery 2. Adam arrives with his gear including his modular synthesizer, a couple of mixers, and lots of cables. He sets up beside me on the table. I patch into his mixer. He sets up the PA, which includes the large JBL theater speakers. With Benton’s assistance, I set up the shredder and video projector. Sound and video check, the sound is huge! As is the image. Joe Popp arrives with (2) guitars, (2) amps, and a table full of effects pedals.
I go for a pre-show beer next door at Calamari’s with some of the other performers.
OPEN FEED opens in Gallery 1 with Nathaniel Garnon, David Tamulonis, and Betty Sweaters. Live video projection on (3) screens, modular synthesizer, and (2) amplified violins. After a brief intermission, over to Gallery 3 for Lonesav with Anthony Carson. Another brief intermission, back to Gallery 3 for Adam Holquist, Joe Popp, and myself. To start the set I accompany Adam and Joe on the shredder, then switch to IFM Synth, leaving a free-running sketch running on the screen. I think it went well 8^)))
Benton’s live stream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOoSVrmE7a8
Tired out, back to apartment, asleep by midnight.
Day 06: Saturday August 5
09:00am – tear down at 1307, set up back at 1301, clean up Shredder code
12:00pm – walk downtown to harbor, pick up supplies at Iraqi grocery
01:00pm – hook up sound from MacBook to LZX sensor input, fix encoder output
06:00pm – dinner at Calamari’s
07:00pm – back to the apartment
Back at the studio by 9:00am, Benton has coffee brewing. I move my gear from 1307 back to 1301, set up my computer and start the day by ‘wrapping up’ the Shredder. I clean up the code, add comments and save the sketch. Next, the LZX3 video synthesizer.
But, time for a break, for a walk to the harbor on Presque Isle Bay. It’s very quiet. I pass only a few people downtown, as I walk north on State St. There’re more people at the harbor, a whole Pirate Ship full, fishermen on the dock, some tourists. On my way back to 1301, I stop at the Iraqi grocery for eggs, bread, and milk.
My second goal for this residency is to learn more about LZX video systems. For the past ten or so years, I’ve followed LZX Industries online. I know a couple of artists, including Benton, who have LZX video synthesizers. I can’t afford one of my own. I’m excited to, finally, get my hands on one! I spend the rest of the afternoon ‘playing’ with the LZX3, the latest, Generation 3, video synth. I patch my MacBook audio output to the Sensory Translator module on the LZX. The translator takes audio in and produces control voltage outputs derived from (5) frequency bands, from low to high. The (5) CV outs can be set to fast/medium/slow; that is, as triggers or envelopes. I’ll use prerecorded audio tracks to ‘drive’ effects on the LZX3.
I chose a patch from the LZX Industries Community online blog and go to work. I use Blackmagic’s Media Express to make a test recording. I notice that Blackmagic does not see the same encoder output, color bars, that I see on the LXZ3 monitor. After reading more about the ESG3 encoder online, I’m able to reset the mode switch and fix the mismatch. Progress.
I go next door to Calamari’s, treat myself to dinner, Cobb salad and a Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing. Back at apartment, I’m reading a book I found in the apartment bookshelf, ‘Schismatrix’ by Bruce Sterling, a cyberpunk classic.
Day 07: Sunday August 6
08:00am – write logs for last week
12:00pm – Voodoo Brewery for brunch
01:00pm – hook up audio in to Media Express, sound & video recording
05:00pm – write Processing sketch to play clips from a movie
06:00pm – finish the last of the shish kabob
Early start, back in the studio, I catch up on email, write up logs for last week, clean up files on my MacBook and on the Hackintosh. I’m getting set up to record using the LZX3 video synth.
I break for brunch at the Voodoo Brewery.
Back at the studio I go digging through cables in the backroom. Eventually, I find (2) Y adapters for RCA audio cables, which allows me to patch audio from my MacBook to both the LZX3 and the Blackmagic video board on the Hackintoch. I record a short test video. The sound recorded by Media Express is missing the right stereo channel. I check the cables, everything looks good. Also, available disk storage on the Hackintosh is limited. So, I’ll edit on my MacBook and use Premiere to sync up the original audio and recorded video tracks.
After rechecking the set up, I take a break from the LZX3 and write a Processing sketch to play clips from a movie. It works and will allow the shredder to run using a single movie, instead of two or three, and, hopefully, will allow more time and open up more possibilities for combining images.
A long day, I head back to the apartment to finish up the last of the shish kabob.
Day 08: Monday August 7
08:00am – back in the studio, tune LZX3 patch for recording
12:00pm – lunch break
01:00pm – record feed01
06:00pm – apartment for dinner
My goal this week is to learn as much as I can, in a week, about the LZX system. I’m ready to record my first video. I spend the morning fine-tuning the patch and checking the system.
After lunch I record two videos. I use the same sound track for both videos so that, when I bring the recordings over from the Hackintosh to my MacBook, I will be able to ‘sync-up’ both tracks. I can also, easily, re-dub the original track onto the final edit.
Of course everything takes longer than planned. But, by late afternoon, I have two good videos and a workable work schedule.
Day 09: Tuesday August 8
08:00am – back in the studio, edit feed01
12:00pm – lunch break
01:00pm – record feed02
06:00pm – Lavery Brewery for dinner
07:00pm – back in the studio
08:00pm – turn in
Up early, in the studio. I load the two videos into Premiere, twiddle them into alignment using the left channel only audio tracks. I use luminance key to foreground video 1 over video 2, then export the result to a temporary file. I load the temporary file back into Premiere, mute the audio, then ‘sync’ the original sound file to the video. I add black leader and credits and output the result. Editing takes only an hour or so, but rendering video takes over two hours. I’m happy with the results.
Link to feed01 https://vimeo.com/40181456
After lunch and after consulting the LZX Industries Community online, I chose a new patch to try out on the LZX3. I play with the patch then record two new videos using a new soundtrack. Time flies when you’re having fun.
I walk over to Lavery Brewery for ‘roulette tacos.’
Day 10: Wednesday August 9
08:00am – back in the studio, edit feed02
12:00pm – lunch break
01:00pm – record feed03, set up mic input to MacBook
07:00pm – apartment for dinner
I have a comfortable work schedule – editing in the morning, developing a new LZX3 patch mid-day, and recording in the afternoon. The two videos from yesterday are very similar. Again, I key video1 over video 2, export a temporary file, then add the ‘original soundtrack’ back in along with black leader and credits.
Link to feed02 https://vimeo.com/856518204
After lunch I select a new patch, and record two new videos.
I’m working faster. I take the rest of the afternoon to improvise a ‘drum kit’ and set up a mic input to my MacBook Pro. The drum kit consists of a broken, antique snare drum, the snares muted with paper; alarm bells; several bowls; a small skillet; a chewing tobacco tin filled with marbles; drinking glasses; plastic water bottles; a mallet, being a spring with an attached rubber ball; and a box of pencils, unsharpened.
Day 11: Thursday August 10
08:00am – back in the studio, edit feed03
12:00pm – lunch break
01:00pm – record feed04, edit feed04, record new audio tracks
07:00pm – apartment for dinner
Again, I spend the morning editing LZX3 videos recorded yesterday afternoon.
Link to feed03 https://vimeo.com/857893619
I set up a new patch and, after lunch record three new tracks, two in color and a third in b&w using KEYCHAIN and SMX3 3×3 mixer. I’m starting to ‘grok’ the video synth rgb-wise. I have time to edit the tracks, keying video 1 over video 2 then using video 3, the b&w track, to invert or DIFFERENCE the result. I like running oscillators at twice the frame rate, splitting the odd and even fields. It’s my own foible, going back to my time working with Scanimate and the PAVS. It produces seemingly transparent layers that flicker at twice the frame rate. Some people find this annoying!
Link to feed04 https://vimeo.com/859123120
I record three new sound tracks – the first reading from a page from ‘Capital Realism’ by Mark Fisher, the second and third with the ‘found’ objects as percussion.
Day 12: Friday August 11
08:00am – record feed05, edit feed05
12:00pm – lunch break, record feed06
06:00pm – dinner at Calamari’s
I start the day by mixing the three sound tracks recording yesterday afternoon. I reverse the reading soundtrack, slow down and reverse the second found percussion track. The first found percussion is left as is. I playback the mixed track and, with the Video Shredder, perform and record feed05 on my MacBook Pro. Note: feed05 will be similar but not the same as the video performed at OPEN FEED. Video clips appear in a different order, and the effects vary, randomly. As a ‘vusician,’ I use the frame buffer and play/record modes to create and loop visual phrases.
I edit the video, syncing it with the original audio track, adding black leader and credits.
Link to feed05 https://vimeo.com/859459026
After lunch, I move back to the LZX3 and record three new video tracks. Each video track is triggered by live sound. The first video is recorded in color using my Board Weevil. The second video is in color but with found objects as percussion. The third is in b&w, again with found objects as percussion. The videos are recorded on the Hackintosh and the audio tracks on both the Hackintosh and my MacBookPro.
Enough for today, TGIF. I go to Calamari’s for dinner.
Day 13: Saturday August 12
08:00am – walked to Jo’s Bagels at Food Hall for breakfast, edit feed06
01:00pm – walked to Voodoo Brewery for lunch
02:00pm – re-examine LZX synth, take notes
06:00pm – apartment for dinner
Back in the studio, I wrap up production. Editing feed06 takes longer than expected. I sync all three videos to it’s own soundtrack, adjust track 1 brightness and contrast, key track 2 over track 1, and, finally, set opacity for track 3 to 80% and DIFFERENCE it over tracks 1 and 2. Because of the three separate audio tracks. the syncing of sound to the final video is less obvious. Layers don’t necessarily move together, each responds to it’s own part of sound mix. I’m happy with the result.
Link to feed06 https://vimeo.com/859472104
I walk to Voodoo Brewery to restock, then back to the apartment for lunch.
I spend the afternoon experimenting with the LZX3 synth using SHAPES, ANGLES and STACKER to combine shapes, then animating the resulting shapes with DWO3 Oscillators patched to appropriate VD & HD inputs. The SENSORY TRANSLATOR controls the oscillators, triggers shape changes.
Day 14: Sunday August 13
07:00am – tidy up studio
08:00am – walk to Zodiac Dinor for breakfast
10:00am – back at the studio, check out LZX Industries online, pack my gear
6:00pm – apartment for dinner
Last day in the studio, about time to get organized, I tidy up.
I walk south on State Street, away from downtown to check out the Zodiac Dinor. That’s how they spell it! Five stars on Google.
Back at 1301 I go online to read up on all the LZX3 modules that I didn’t use, and test them out. If I were to put together my own LZX3 synth, which modules would I choose, for abstract pattern animation, for video processing? An interesting thought experiment.
Mid-afternoon I pull cables, shut down and cover the synths. Time to pack up my gear.
Back at the apartment for dinner. I clean out the fridge, the cupboards, and pack my suitcase.
Day 15: Monday August 14
06:00am – finish cleaning apartment
08:00am – meet Brad at 1301
09:30am – pick up rental car, leave for Cville
05:00pm – arrive Cville
Up early, coffee, then bag the linen, take out the garbage. Wheel my suitcase over to 1301, check my email then shut down the computer.
I move my gear to the Sex Ed Bakeshop. Brad Ford arrives. We load my gear into his SUV, drive downtown for coffee, more coffee.
After coffee, Brad takes me out the car rental. I surrender the keys to FEED, reluctantly, transfer my gear to the rental car and hit the road. This time I stick to the interstates, an easier, less stressful drive. Even with the usual slowdown on I81, by 5pm, I’m back in Charlottesville!
Noh TV 