MULTI-STREAM TECHNOLOGY

Video Combustion is about live, improvisational performance that combines multiple parallel threads of sound, image, and performance, accross many projections in an immersive environment.

Instead of just one single screen, or even several screens playing the same image, Video Combustion will have up to a dozen artists sending imagery to up to a dozen projectors, combined in an installation that becomes the framework for your audiovisual adventure.

To control the various aspects of Multi-Stream performance, Video Combustion features specialised hardware, software and a performance methodology known as "QUILT".

The QUILT methodology facilitates many artists from different disciplines to work together in a matrix, in a troupe that creates a Virtual environment and performance across many screens. This methodology also facilitates weaving together the many ideas of the artists into a cohesive "narrative". (We are pushing the edges of narrative as well with the process).

The QUILT technology includes a matrix switcher and switching software which was developed by Justin Maynard (tesseract research laboratories), Brian Murray (Bent McRent) and Daniel Heckenberg. Matrix switchers are devices which can connect many video inputs to many video outputs, which is essential in mult-stream video. QUILT is used to control the many aspects of the multi-stream switching, from timing and patterns through to controlling the way the space appears.

Much of the audiovisual material for the streams is prepared live, and then presented and processed during the performance in a choreographed sequence which includes improvisational jamming (a form of visual jazz). The material you see and hear may be coming from tape, laptop, DVD, or even be created live during the performance!

The various devices used, such as projectors, mixers and cameras used in Video Combustion Alpha Release have been provided by the artists pooling their own resources for the event, to realise the idea.

One of the purposes for holding Video Combustion is to showcase the possibilities for using video projection and Multi-Stream video in live performance.