nwl

THE PLAN

All 22 weeks, written before any of them happened. What changed is in the log.

  • done
  • current
  • planned
  • skipped

Foundations

week 1 · current

Vocabulary and reference

  • History and vocabulary pass: expanded cinema, Vasulka and the Experimental Television Center, Nam June Paik, club-era VJing
  • Core vocabulary: layers, blend modes, feedback loops, sync versus free-run
  • Build a reference reel of 15–20 clips, each with a one-line note on what it is doing technically
  • Write down three aesthetic directions to pursue
  • Confirm TouchDesigner and VDMX both run cleanly on the machine

TD for VJing: Performance-Specific Skills

week 2 · planned

Retooling existing networks for live

  • Audit existing networks against live-performance needs: frame rate discipline, GPU load under audio-reactive stress, network bloat
  • Build or refactor a feedback network for live tweakability — exposed pulse, level and decay rather than baked animation curves
  • Wire audio reactivity to exposed macro controls rather than hardcoded parameters

week 3 · planned

Shaders and stress-tested pieces

  • GLSL for live contexts — quick-iteration shader work with exposed uniforms
  • Build two VJ-ready pieces: parameterized, hot-swappable, stable frame rate under 20+ minutes of simulated live load

VDMX Fundamentals

week 4 · planned

VDMX orientation

  • Interface orientation via VIDVOX's official VDMX training playlist
  • Layers and media bins — build a minimal two-layer patch

week 5 · planned

Effects chains and blend modes

  • Effects chains, Quartz Composer plugins, blend modes
  • Expand the patch to four layers

week 6 · planned

Controller mapping

  • MIDI/OSC mapping basics — map a hardware or virtual controller to key parameters

week 7 · planned

Audio analysis in VDMX

  • Audio analysis inside VDMX — a separate system from TouchDesigner's, and worth knowing both
  • Finalize the patch

Content Pipeline: TD → VDMX

week 8 · planned

Syphon and NDI routing

  • Route the Phase 1 TouchDesigner pieces live and confirm VDMX receives them as layers

week 9 · planned

Content library structure

  • Build a content library structure: pre-render versus live-feed rules, naming and tagging for fast recall mid-set
  • Organize the Phase 1 pieces into it

week 10 · planned

Hybrid patch

  • A generative TouchDesigner network feeding VDMX live, triggered and mixed from inside VDMX

Control & Performance Practice

week 11 · planned

Controller and first practice

  • Choose and map a controller — hardware, or OSC from a tablet if going software-only
  • Practice layer-triggering along to a track, no recording yet

week 12 · planned

Practice set one

  • Recorded practice set #1, one track or genre, no do-overs
  • Review afterward: where the hesitation was, where the room was lost

week 13 · planned

Practice set two

  • Recorded practice set #2 in a different genre, targeting the weak points from set #1

week 14 · planned

Practice set three

  • Recorded practice set #3 — syncing to a DJ or live-set feel, reading pacing
  • Review all three sets together

Projection Mapping & Installation

week 15 · planned

MadMapper basics

  • Install MadMapper and calibrate a flat-surface test

week 16 · planned

Non-flat surfaces

  • Warp content onto a physical object

week 17 · planned

Live content through the map

  • Route TouchDesigner-generated content through the mapped output live

week 18 · planned

Mapped installation

  • Finalize a mapped installation piece using content from earlier phases

Capstone

week 19 · planned

Capstone planning

  • Plan the capstone set: track list and patch prep

week 20 · planned

Rehearsal

  • Rehearse the full set two or three times, refining transitions

week 21 · planned

The set

  • Perform and film the full live set — real gig or self-shot at real tempo, no edits

week 22 · planned

Reel and review

  • Edit the footage into a three-to-five minute portfolio reel
  • Review the full curriculum and note which phase to go deeper on next