VDMX Layer Controls
From VidvoxWiki
The Layer Controls plugin is used to access the controls for any media that is being played back on a layer, such as the transport (time, speed, volume, scratch) controls for a movie, or the inputs for a Quartz Composer document. The controls for a layer exist even when not being viewed by a plugin, making it possible to use a single Layer Controls to set up and manage multiple layers at a time.
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Setting the layer to control
Use the pop-up menu in the top-left corner of the Layer Controls plugin window to set the layer that you wish to control. If there are any settings available for the current source type for the selected layer, they will appear in the main area of the window.
To avoid confusion, multiple Layer Controls plugins can not share the source controls for a layer.
In the options panel for the plugin are two settings for automating the changing of the layer menu in the plugin:
- Listen for file triggers will cause the Layer Controls to change its focus accordingly whenever a file is triggered to a layer.
- Switch layers with layer tabs changes the target layer along with the current visible tab in Layer Windows.
Stopping Playback (Eject)
At any time, the Eject button can be used to tell the target layer to stop playing back and give up control of its current file (making it available to be used on a different layer).
Source Types and Controls
The available source controls for a layer will vary depending on the type of file that is being played back. Currently, there are five basic source types as listed below:
Movies (Quicktime)
When a movie file is playing back on layer, the source controls can be used to adjust traditional settings such as the playback speed, movie time (range and position), volume and loop-mode. There are also additional controls for scratching, using cue points, and jumping around within the movie file.
Quartz Composer patches
The source controls for Quartz Composer patches are determined by the published inputs on the top level of the qtz document. Each input is be represented by the appropriate interface item in VDMX - sliders for numbers, buttons for booleans, text boxes for strings, video taps for images, color pickers for colors, and menu pickers for indexes.
Text Files
Text files are rendered using specially prepared Quartz Composer documents located in the qcTextSources folder. When playing back, an additional menu option will appear in the Layer Controls plugin for setting which style you wish to use to display the text. In addition to any parameters specific to the selected style, a special interface will appear for choosing how to step through the text file, along with a text box for previewing and jumping around within the text file.
Taps
Video taps are used to route video from one place in VDMX to another outside of the confines of the regular rendering. A video tap is traditionally represented by a pop-up menu that contains a list of all the currently available tap sources which will include all of your layers, groups and live inputs. This menu is used to switch which source to use as the input for preview windows, images passed into Quartz Composer patches and CoreImage FX, and as sources for other layers to create feedback loops and other complex relationships between layers.
Live Inputs
The "Live Input Manager" palette window is used to add live video inputs for devices such as iSights, DV cams, and any other digitizer or webcam supported by Quicktime. Connect the device you want to use, and then click the 'Add Video Input' button- if Quicktime is able to connect to your device, it will appear in the live input manager window.
VDMX supports multiple live video inputs- the only limitation worth mentioning is that Quicktime can only use one DV camera at a time and certain devices will not work together because of driver conflicts. If you want to use multiple devices, connect each one into your computer and then click the "Add Video Input" button as many times as is necessary.
Once added to the Live Inputs Manager, video inputs work like any other tap source: you can use them wherever you've got a tap. It's also possible to create video tap cells in the media bin which allow you to trigger live inputs as you would any other clip. Right-click on an empty cell, navigate to the "Add Video Input Cell" submenu, and choose the name of the video input you want to create a cell for.