Far-Out Video Feedback 26 Workshop: Difference between revisions

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== Full Description ==
== Full Description ==


[optional: put your longer description here]
Video feedback is an awesome, hands-on way to create wild, real-time visuals that let you explore fractals, chaos, and procedural art. The classic hack is to connect a camera to a TV, then point the camera at that same TV for instant psychedelic fractals. But you don't need that stuff to do this, the same effect can be achieved entirely in software on your daily-driver personal computer. This workshop will guide attendees through a simple but very powerful setup for experimenting with video feedback through mild misuse of OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). OBS is one of the most popular programs for streaming, allowing you to easily record or stream your visuals and incorporate videos or other software into them. It also has a ton of capabilities for processing the feedback, ranging from contrast and hue adjustments all the way to coding custom shaders. We will look at some of the many manipulations possible within OBS and talk about how to explore video feedback further with other software and hardware.


== Registration -- NOT required ==  
== Registration -- NOT required ==  
Line 28: Line 28:
'''To do the hands-on portion for this workshop:<br>
'''To do the hands-on portion for this workshop:<br>
'''Materials Cost: optional: $15 - $30'''<br>
'''Materials Cost: optional: $15 - $30'''<br>
No materials besides a laptop are necessary to have fun with video feedback, so if you've got a laptop you can follow along.
Optionally, attendees can expand feedback possibilities using an HDMI capture dongle and an HDMI cable, and we'll explore this towards the end of the workshop. Depending on what ports your laptop has, all the necessary adapters cost $15 - $30 total. I will have some dongles and adapters available for attendees to borrow or buy at cost, or you can procure something equivalent at either Staples or the excellent A/V retailer [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/HelpCenter/StoreInfo.jsp#nycSuperstore B&H Photo and Video], both within a 5 minute walk from the hotel.
Materials necessary for this are going to vary depending on your laptop hardware.
- You need an HDMI cable, perhaps [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/982300-REG/pearstone_hda_x103_hdmi_a_m_to_a_m.html like this]. ($4)
- You need an HDMI capture dongle [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1619206-REG/ikan_hs_vcd_2_homestream_hdmi_to_usb.html like this] ($10) and one USB-A port on your laptop to connect it to. Some laptops only have USB-C ports, in which case you need a USB-A adapter [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1680329-REG/pearstone_a_afcm_usb_a_female_to_usb_c.html like this]. Alternatively there are [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1734331-REG/kondor_blue_kb_hdmi_usbc_cc_hdmi_to_usb_c_capture.html USB-C HDMI capture dongles] but they are quite a bit more expensive and I think the only advantage is a higher frame rate.
- You need the ability to output HDMI. Some laptops only have Mini DisplayPort and would need an adapter [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1450583-REG/xcellon_mdp_hdmi_12_slim_mini_displayport_to.html like this]. Some laptops only have USB-C and would need an adapter [https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1858300-REG/xcellon_c_hdmi_46h_usb_c_to_hdmi_2_0.html like this].
I will bring a whole bunch of HDMI cables and capture dongles, but I have a limited supply of other adapters and I don't know in advance what your laptop might need. B&H is across the street and can fill pickup orders pretty darn fast but does close at 2 PM on Friday. You are welcome to borrow stuff from me for this portion of the workshop or I'll sell them to you at cost if you wanna take this equipment home.


== Required Software / What to bring ==
== Required Software / What to bring ==


[example: Bring laptop, if you can, with Arduino software installed.]
Bring a laptop. The stuff we're doing is not very demanding, I am using a 2013 ThinkPad. If you can [https://obsproject.com/download install OBS Studio] beforehand, great. If not we will make sure everyone gets it installed at the start of the workshop. I hardly need to do any setup so feel free to show up early.


== Links ==
== Links ==


[put helpful links here]
[https://obsproject.com/kb/keyboard-shortcuts OBS keyboard shortcuts]

Revision as of 17:41, 2 August 2026

Far-Out Video Feedback With Stuff You Already Have workshop

Abstract

Explore the infinite creative possibilities of video feedback using just your laptop and OBS (free video software). This workshop will scratch the surface of the groovy fractal universe of real-time video feedback. Laptop required. Caution: While participants will try to tame the vortex, playing with feedback can produce rapidly flashing lights.

Day / Time / Location

Day 1, Friday, 14-August-2026, 10:30pm - 11:30pm
Workshop A (Sutton Place, third floor)

Full Description

Video feedback is an awesome, hands-on way to create wild, real-time visuals that let you explore fractals, chaos, and procedural art. The classic hack is to connect a camera to a TV, then point the camera at that same TV for instant psychedelic fractals. But you don't need that stuff to do this, the same effect can be achieved entirely in software on your daily-driver personal computer. This workshop will guide attendees through a simple but very powerful setup for experimenting with video feedback through mild misuse of OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). OBS is one of the most popular programs for streaming, allowing you to easily record or stream your visuals and incorporate videos or other software into them. It also has a ton of capabilities for processing the feedback, ranging from contrast and hue adjustments all the way to coding custom shaders. We will look at some of the many manipulations possible within OBS and talk about how to explore video feedback further with other software and hardware.

Registration -- NOT required

NOTE: You do NOT need to register to take this workshop
-- please show up early to ensure a seat at the WORKSHOP A room (in Sutton Place, on the third floor).

Presenter(s)

Sam Boling

Materials

Any materials needed to participate in this workshop will be available at-cost.
Observers are welcome at no cost.
To do the hands-on portion for this workshop:
Materials Cost: optional: $15 - $30
No materials besides a laptop are necessary to have fun with video feedback, so if you've got a laptop you can follow along.

Optionally, attendees can expand feedback possibilities using an HDMI capture dongle and an HDMI cable, and we'll explore this towards the end of the workshop. Depending on what ports your laptop has, all the necessary adapters cost $15 - $30 total. I will have some dongles and adapters available for attendees to borrow or buy at cost, or you can procure something equivalent at either Staples or the excellent A/V retailer B&H Photo and Video, both within a 5 minute walk from the hotel.

Materials necessary for this are going to vary depending on your laptop hardware. - You need an HDMI cable, perhaps like this. ($4) - You need an HDMI capture dongle like this ($10) and one USB-A port on your laptop to connect it to. Some laptops only have USB-C ports, in which case you need a USB-A adapter like this. Alternatively there are USB-C HDMI capture dongles but they are quite a bit more expensive and I think the only advantage is a higher frame rate. - You need the ability to output HDMI. Some laptops only have Mini DisplayPort and would need an adapter like this. Some laptops only have USB-C and would need an adapter like this.

I will bring a whole bunch of HDMI cables and capture dongles, but I have a limited supply of other adapters and I don't know in advance what your laptop might need. B&H is across the street and can fill pickup orders pretty darn fast but does close at 2 PM on Friday. You are welcome to borrow stuff from me for this portion of the workshop or I'll sell them to you at cost if you wanna take this equipment home.

Required Software / What to bring

Bring a laptop. The stuff we're doing is not very demanding, I am using a 2013 ThinkPad. If you can install OBS Studio beforehand, great. If not we will make sure everyone gets it installed at the start of the workshop. I hardly need to do any setup so feel free to show up early.

Links

OBS keyboard shortcuts