VS001-BRIAN MCKENNA

Main Attributes:

2 audio inputs
2 VGA inputs
1 VGA output
25 pin proprietary D-Sub connector with extra connections for RGB, sync, +5V, and 2 CV inputs.
individual effects loop inserts (send/return) for R,G, and B video channels
18 switches, 4 faders, and 2 wipe controls for a wide variety of signal routing and mixing options
buss powered

Video synthesis tends to be dominated by digital technology these days however analogue video synthesis techniques can still offer a great many advantages in terms of aesthetics, performance, simplicity, and adaptability. Not to mention the non-linear surprises which can come from working in the analogue domain. This "VGA Expropriator" will be the first in a series of proprietary analogue hardware devices which seek to explore the possibilities of digital/analogue hybrid technology in video/audio performance and studio production contexts. The first offering here is essentially a new design with its creative process making ample use of circuit-bending methodologies.

The main function of this device is to synthesize 2 audio inputs with a VGA input allowing audio waveforms to be viewed on a computer display. The results are very much like that of a dual-trace oscilloscope with vertical rather than horizontal beams. Internal patches can be used to combine the beams in a wide variety of ways making for a great many imagery possibilities.

The 2 VGA inputs have a selector switch in order to choose which one will supply the sync. Each VGA input is wired slightly different just to offer a bit of choice in the face of any unforeseen compatibility issues. Mixing the video of 2 computers in the conventional sense is not possible because it would require some kind of time-base correctors or method of syncing multiple computer graphics cards to each other. If 2 computers are connected the result will be nothing more than a bit of extra noise pattern in the image. This could prove to be useful but unsynched signals tend to be a more faint and without much of any movement. Some experiments in playing around with the internal patches did produce a little bit of moving noise which was a bit subtle and consistent.

So far, this video synthesizer has been tested on 3 different CRT monitors, namely an Eizo and 2 different Apple screens. Testing all the different resolution and refresh rate possibilities showed that different sync modes tend to all have a bit their own character and some will react kind of 'backwards' to patches from the synth, presumably because of inverted V synch requirements. 2 LCD video projectors were tested with differing results. One very old LCD beamer from a company called "InFocus" couldn't handle the video due to some sort of built-in image adjustment circuit which couldn't be disabled and would blank the screen in the face of any challenging content. A newer (but still pretty old) LCD video projector from Mitsubishi had no problems and functioned perfectly at every resolution it should support.
update: I have recently checked with 3 different kinds of "conference-series" projectors from Sharp (at least some of them were DLP), a large professional Panasonic projector, a small "note-vision" from Sharp, a medium sized Phillips LCD projector, and a really cheapo Sanyo beamer. All of them worked fine and didn't crap-out, even with mega-glitchy content and changes.

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