Anyone know of a controller for FCPX that lets you control trigger effects and video in real time?

Hi - I wanted to know if anyone is aware of a controller that would allow me to control video effects in real time in FCPX? Something in the same way that a midi controller/sampler like the M-audio Trigger Finger allows you to drop songs in the assigned pad and then sample "chop" up the audio by pressing different pads to make beats? This technique is popular for a lot of Hip Hop beatmakers.
I wanted to know if there was an equivalent for FCPX? I work on a lot of music videos and its tedious and dulls creativity by having to manually use the cut tool and drag in different clip each time, align them with audio and so forth. If there was a way to assign clips to a device that allowed me to switch back and forth between clips by using buttons and also controlling visual effects at the same time by pressing buttons, editing music videos would be a breeze, would probably turn out a lot more creatively, and would jive with the music a lot better.

I hope I explained this correctly, but I couldn't find anything else on the internet (:0) that matched this description.

Thank you wonderfully & respectfully,

Tony

You won't find an NLE that read MIDI data like that.
There are some templates that will do this, allowing you to set the timing. Check in the Template section, or someone may suggest one here.

You're describing VJ software, not an NLE. Check out Modul8, ArKaos VJ and Resolume Avenue. There are 2-3 others on Mac that you can find via a search for VJ software.

I Love QC is about the best general info site for VJ stuff, also.

Not for FCP X, but in Motion it's a two step process via a midi behavior. No VJ stuff needed.

Yes, Motion will read MIDI data. It can be a bit flaky at times, and is pretty limited, but its worth a try. Could give you some interesting results. Or even try the Audio PB, so it reacts to the music automatically.

Oh boy.

So WHAT exactly is "flaky" and "limited" then, Ben. Do tell.

Funny how I've never encountered anything that could be called that in all the years I've used it.

I was waiting for this, it's been too quiet for a while. Here we go, Andie vs. Ben round 4. Nice.

Childish prodding is of course really helpful and so mature.

But don't get too excited since I highly doubt there will be an explanation.

I have not had solid, consistent results with Motion reading MIDI data properly in some past projects, simple as that. Most of the time it works well, occasionally it flakes out and misses data/triggers. Seems to depend on the parameter you're working with. And Andie can tell me my factual experience is wrong, I don't care.

I'm done.

Of course you are.

"Midi data"? You assign a key, knob, slider or whatever you have to any given parameter and push, twirl and slide away in real-time. There is no substantial "midi data" worth mentioning or complex enough to be "misread".

So there's that and Logic for all the rest of the functionality asked about. Or, worst case, something like Arkaos, yes.

AndieMoepse do you have an example of something you've created along the lines of what the poster described, using MIDI-controlled Motion? [Btw I have no idea of you and BenB's apparently frictional history, so please don't take this as me piling on-- I am genuinely curious.] Do you have any videos you created, or MIDI-interactive Motion templates? Would love to check them out.

BenB, did you have a practical application for this or were you messing around to see what could be done vis-a-vis MIDI-controlled Motion?

Off to Google - my curiousity is piqued!

Unfortunately all of them (approx. 10-12), except for a couple of older ones that I don't have access to anymore, were only used live not recorded as an animation. One for example mapped ever key of the real keyboard to a virtual one. Another mapped the various joints and facial features of a character to different keys and sliders. It's a very simple process and concept. Nothing different than what you see in Garageband or Logic when using a keyboard. So no brain surgery. But it's not hard to Google a few examples, no.

And I'm not aware of any "frictional history" either, aside from Overturf's apparent need to artificially inflame some. Other's dislike for not getting a yay and amen for ever unsubstantiated claim made and being called on them is also not my problem. That's what forum's are in fact for, not for stroking egos.

Good luck with your search.

Here's a really good example btw:



which comes fairly close to some of the things I've done (using particle's and replicator's) only he uses a mixer, I use(d) a midi keyboard that has additional sliders and dials.

Very interesting - thanks! Will have to play around with this...