Composite Video Mixer, 2018

 
 

WARNING: CONTAINS STROBING

 
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destroying a spectacle by recycling obsolete technology. back to reality; analog electrical signals directly manipulated by hand controls. participatory, immediate, inherently self-reflexive.

composite signal from a tiny bullet camera goes through a crude mixer box, gets slushed against competing composite signal from a camcorder - the camcorder itself is observing a distorted rendition of a mid-2000s fencing match being played on a computer screen.

harsh patterns and colours are thus created.

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the original build of the device was conceived at Elam in October of 2018. it piped visual feedstock into the mixer from a Raspberry Pi, which was playing the aforementioned distorted fencing match on a loop. it also used a CD player running Mozart to introduce more noise into the mix.

skipping colours, soft haze, and blackouts resulted.

the newer version dispenses with this and instead pairs two composite cameras directly against each other, and dispenses with the TV set in favor of a 3.5 inch TFT display. overall, the new setup is much more portable, and less horrible to work with. the capture card in the newer setup also contributes a different character to the visuals, creating distinct flashes of graphic patterns.