A guide to seven powerful programs for music and visuals
Dom Aversano
Getting Started with TouchDesigner – September series
Dates & Times: Thursdays: 9th / 16th / 23rd / 30th September 6pm UK / 7pm Berlin / 10am LA / 1pm NYC
Length: 2-hours each session
Level: Beginners curious about creating immersive visuals with TouchDesigner
TouchDesigner is a powerful tool for creating live performances, installations, real time visuals and complex digital systems. In this series of workshops you’ll learn the basic functioning of TD’s node-based workflow and how to use them to create media, use the data to manipulate content and how to organize and navigate your TouchDesigner networks.
Series Learning Outcomes
By the end of this series a successful student will be able to create content by:
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Becoming familiar with the User Interface
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Exploring TouchDesigner’s building blocks
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Constructing dynamic visual effects
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Applying basic audio reactivity and other techniques
See below for all 4 weeks
Series Study Topics
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TouchDesigner User Interface and patching
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How to use building blocks (operators)
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Controlling parameters for dynamic visuals
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Audio reactivity and visual effects techniques
See below for all 4 weeks
Session 1
Topics
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Overview, Interface, Mouse & Shortcuts
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Operator Families & Operator Structure
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TOPs – Texture Operators
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CHOPs – Channel Operators
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:
1: Navigate the TouchDesigner User Interface and utilise mouse and shortcuts controls
2: Become familiar with operator families and their structure
3: Construct basic networks via TOPs
4: Export CHOPs to create dynamic networks
Session 2
Topics
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SOPs, MATs and Rendering
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DATs
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COMPs and Network Structure
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Palette & Additional Info
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:
1: Build rendering networks via SOPs and MATs
2: Utilise and apply data via DAT operators
3: Construct custom networks via COMPs
4: Locate examples and info from resources such as the Palette
Session 3
Topics
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Audio Overview
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Instancing
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Building a Project 1
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:
1: Utilise audio CHOPs within a network
2: Apply audio CHOPs as modulation sources
3: Build basic Instancing networks
4: Begin to construct a bespoke self directed project
Project Overview
During Session 3 and 4, you will build a self directed and bespoke project in TouchDesigner. You will be supported by the workshop leader and the teaching assistants during these sessions. You can incorporate any techniques you have learnt from the workshop series into the project.
Examples include:
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TOPs driven from CHOPs
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Dynamic / generative art
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Audio reactive content
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Basic Instancing network
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3D geometry via SOPs
In session 4 you can share your project to your peers in your Zoom break-out room. You will also be asked to provide feedback on your peers project’s.
Session 4
Topics
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Building a Project 2
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:
1: Work independently, with support, within the TD environment
2: Apply various techniques from the workshop series to construct dynamic networks
3: Continue to construct a bespoke self directed project
4: Share their work with peers and provide feedback to peers
Requirements
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A computer with internet connection
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A web cam and mic
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A Zoom account
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A three button mouse or to configure Apple Track Pad appropriately
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TouchDesigner (free version suffices https://derivative.ca/download)
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If you’re on Mac please check TouchDesigner can run on your system (i.e. has basic GPU requirements such as Intel HD4000 or better)
About the workshop leader
Bileam Tschepe aka elekktronaut is a Berlin based artist and educator who creates audio-reactive, interactive and organic digital artworks, systems and installations in TouchDesigner, collaborating with and teaching people worldwide
Immersive AV Composition -On demand / 2 Sessions
Level: Advanced
These workshops will introduce you to the ImmersAV toolkit. The toolkit brings together Csound and OpenGL shaders to provide a native C++ environment where you can create abstract audiovisual art. You will learn how to generate material and map parameters using ImmersAV’s Studio() class. You will also learn how to render your work on a SteamVR compatible headset using OpenVR. Your fully immersive creations will then become interactive using integrated machine learning through the rapidLib library.
Session Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session a successful student will be able to:
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Setup and use the ImmersAV toolkit
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Discuss techniques for rendering material on VR headsets
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Implement the Csound API within a C++ application
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Create mixed raymarched and raster based graphics
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Create an interactive visual scene using a single fragment shader
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Generate the mandelbulb fractal
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Generate procedural audio using Csound
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Map controller position and rotation to audiovisual parameters using machine learning
Session Study Topics
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Native C++ development for VR
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VR rendering techniques
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Csound API integration
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Real-time graphics rendering techniques
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GLSL shaders
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3D fractals
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Audio synthesis
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Machine learning
Requirements
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A computer and internet connection
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A web cam and mic
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A Zoom account
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Cloned copy of the ImmersAV toolkit plus dependencies
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VR headset capable of connecting to SteamVR
About the workshop leader
Bryan Dunphy is an audiovisual composer, musician and researcher interested in generative approaches to creating audiovisual art in performance and immersive contexts. His work explores the interaction of abstract visual shapes, textures and synthesised sounds. He is interested in exploring strategies for creating, mapping and controlling audiovisual material in real time. He has recently completed his PhD in Arts and Computational Technology at Goldsmiths, University of London.