For a musician, the focus is on making music, for a visual artist, of course, the visual. Many projects show that both artists can work well together. Gritter & Guitari is now helping all these musicians who are looking in vain for good visuals for their tracks. Today, they introduced EYESY, a new video Synthesizer with which you can create visuals for music in seconds. The concept is simple: plug in your audio source and start creating your own visuals.
It sounds like a very simple visual Synthesizer but hides a lot of visual power inside. EYESY is based on a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 (1.2 GHz Processor – 1GB Ram) on which a complex engine runs.
Customizable Modes
The EYESY comes with numerous pattern generators called modes that can be tweaked with the buttons on the interface. The modes respond to audio input in various ways; from smooth undulating patterns to rapid fire animations. 5 hardware knobs allow you to manipulate various elements of the patterns and colors. There is also a setting that allows the graphics to pile up in vibrant collages. Like on a traditional Synthesizer, you can also save your favorite scene and recalled it at a future time.
EYESY is delivered with many modes that can all be manipulated. If that’s not enough you can completely redesign them. These are fully customizable and open-source based on an open platform. Create entirely new modes that are based on the Python programming language using the browser-based editor. This gives a lot of freedom of how your visuals should look.
You can add and remove the pattern generating modes to make the device as simple or complex as you like. The saved scenes are stored in a single file that can be saved and edited. All of the resources are managed through a simple-to-use web browser-based interface. Users are encouraged to share modes on sites like Patch Storage or on the official forum where you can share tips, offer coding support, etc.
MIDI Controllable
On top, you can press the screengrab button to take a picture of the current frame, providing a quick way to generate interesting still images from your moving videos. These screenshots are available fro the browser-based interface. Musicians who work a lot with MIDI will have a lot of fun with EYESY because it understands MIDI.
You can thus draw automations (MIDI CC) into your favorite DAW and so visuals can be perfectly coordinated with your tracks. In this case, you can start tracks and visuals at the same time. Plus, it supports program change messages with which you can select save scenes from your device.
Technical Details
- Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 (1.2 GHz Processor / 1GB RAM)
- An 8GB micro SD card holds the operating system and modes
- HDMI Output
- Composite Video Output (NTSC or PAL)
- Stereo Line Input
- 1/8″ Mini MIDI jack (TRS Type A connection)
- USB MIDI (for class-compliant devices)
- Dimensions: 6.0 x 3.5 x 2.2″ / 15.24 x 8.9 x 5.6 cm. Height includes knobs.
- Powder Coated Aluminum
- Rubber Feet
- USB-WiFi Adapter
- Power Supply. Input: 100-240VAC @ 50/60Hz. Output: 9VDC, 1.3A, Center-positive polarity.
First Look
At first look, a pretty impressive new visual Synthesizer from Critter & Guitari. I could not test the device, so it is difficult to say how it is. What you get on the Kickstarter page sounds very promising. If the device can do everything as promised in the end, this can become a tool that many musicians will love. Appearances, as well as music videos, can be visualized in a cost-effective and versatile manner without engaging a professional visual artist. It could be the go-to tool for versatile visuals.
Critter & Guitari EYESY is available now for pre-order on Kickstarter for $295 USD. Shipping starts in June 2020.
More information here: Critter & Guitari
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