History

Back in early 1995 I started Web surfing. One of the things I went looking for on the Web was information on a thing called a "Rave". I had heard of these back in 1991 and had actually played DJ for an "underground" party back in 1990. In 1995 I already had two Video Toasters, an MX-1 video mixer, 3 cameras and 3 VCRs. With the basic equipment necessary to do visuals not seen in Houston, I contacted a group of guys that went by the name of  The Matrix Crew. They were about to do a Rave called Area 51. This was the first gig for my Rave Visuals. My visuals for this first event was concentrated on interactive visuals. Participants danced in front of a camera and saw themselves in a virtual trip. I also generated visuals using video-feedback techniques. Since then, I have made efforts to further expand my equipment and capabilities.

Rave Image PageVisit the Rave image page.

One of the things I did to add to my repertoire of visuals was to build a "video wall". It was built from 4 old Amiga 500 computers and 16 Apple computer monitors. Although I have over 20 16mm film projectors now, I have not made serious efforts in putting these to use. Many others who do visuals use film loops and overhead projecors. While such techniques can produce interesting visuals, they are repetitious and inflexible. My concentration has been with visuals projected with video projectors and video monitors. With constant control, these images can be constantly changing. As far as I'm concerned, if the same visual is seen for over a minute, then it's been up for too long. I could be called a "VJ", mixing video for your viewing pleasure.

There are five types of visuals I do:

Video Installations:
My home-grown Video Wall, a commercial video wall system and dvious video wall styled setups  to 100 monitors of various types.
Real-time generated Visuals:
Video feedback can create interesting Psychedelic images from scratch.
Real-time manipulation of Video / Interactive Visuals:
All images can be proccessed in different ways, up to four levels of image proccessing can be applied on a live camera feed (or video off of tape). This is the heart of the interactive visuals. Dancers can move in front of the camera and see themselves in a virtual trip.
Real-time, sound-activated computer graphics:
I use over five different software application on two different computer platforms that create images that move to the beat. Since I started using this technique, it has become very common. Similar software is now standard on current Windows Media Player, so I will be using this technique less.
Pre-recorded visuals:
These can be from video tapes, DVD and off of my computer hard drives. Complex 3D animation cannot be created in real-time. I can create custom animations upon request. I have some custom animated loops that run off of Hard Drives or from RAM. Any 3D animations and graphics created by others are heavily proccessed and mixed to the music being played. I create most of my own content from 3D animation software, Fractal software, time-lapse and other techniques.

My current Visuals equipment includes:

In addition, I can provide lighting effects ,sound system equipment and various screens. I have over 100 Ellipsoidal lighting instruments, which can be used for typical stage lighting or custom gobo projections.

The Visual Events I have done:

Area 51 - The Matrix Crew (Houston)
Phuture - The Matrix Crew (Houston)
Delirium II - The Matrix Crew (Houston)
Section 9 - Millennium Productions ( Austin )
F.A.T.E.F. (Dripping Springs)
S.A.T.E.F. (Dripping Springs)
50th Anniversary Celebration of Declaration of Human Rights - Green Party (Houston)
Fashon Show at Spy Nightclub - A project with DaDaNET Circus (Houston)
Whore - Performance art piece by Kelly Allison/Rebecca Woods (Houston)
Pre-Show Visuals for Firestation #3 - Microcinema
Livefeed 02 - CSAW/Piccup Research & Design/Microcinema International

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