Comments on: Open-Source 3D Webcam MIDI Controller

By: Create Digital Music » Ableton Live Tutorials: DIY 808, IDM 101 - Gustavo Strikes Again

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:02:31 +0000

[...] even gives a shout out to the open-source 3D webcam MIDI controller for Windows we looked at last [...]

By: Gav Smith

Gav Smith — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:17:54 +0000

This software is great. Although I’ve not yet managed to set it up as a midi input device. I want to use it to drive Absynth 8 and point the cam at glass box full of ants. I think ants would generate some interesting synth music.

then I’d like to point it at a lava lamp, then I’d like to find out how to translate the midi into data that I can set to the parallel port to a IO card and use it to control stepper motors that control a humanoid sculpture, which you could control with your body movement.

Then I’ll try using it as a weather monitor by pointing the cam at the sky and listening to the approaching weather fronts.

I’m sure I’ll think of some more ideas.

Cheers

Gav

By: ConcenCrate

ConcenCrate — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:23:43 +0000

YAY! some food for the tech-nerd in me!

By: Paolo V

Paolo V — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:52:17 +0000

Thanks peter,
Creative Labs Live Cam Optia seem to be a good choice if it works without driver on XP sp2

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:04:13 +0000

@phoban: Definitely check out EyesWeb, though I think it’s also based on OpenCV.

There’s also cv.jit for Jitter users:
http://www.iamas.ac.jp/~jovan02/cv

And JMyron for Java / Processing / Director / etc.:
http://webcamxtra.sourceforge.net/

Though neither of those is quite as extensive as the OpenCV-based stuff.

@Paolo: I’m still trying to find a reliable driver-free webcam that would work across platforms. See the discussion here:

http://createdigitalmotion.com/2006/11/02/creative-labs-live-optia-and-class-compliant-webcams-driver-free-on-windows-linux-and-mac-too/

By: Olivier Seb

Olivier Seb — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:18:40 +0000

Nice Application Ben, I hope we will see it on mac OSX very soon.
BTW, there is a similar tool for OSX:
http://web.mac.com/pierre.couprie/iWeb/Logiciels/midiWebcam.html

Midiwebcam is not Universal Binary but runs on my macbookPro.
Calibrating is not easy and I didn’t find the way to keep the settings each time I quit.
So there is room for a competitor ;-)

Olivier

By: Paolo V

Paolo V — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 08:54:10 +0000

It’s interesting!
Can you give me an advise for a webcam to buy? I need to check the specifications or all webcam is good for your software?
Thanks for your work Ben!

By: Peter Kirn

Peter Kirn — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 04:13:11 +0000

Well, the editor (cough, cough) is supposed to do a screen grab — I was away at my Mac. :) I’ll fire it up on the PC and give it a go and snap something myself.

By: Ben T

Ben T — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:05:58 +0000

Thanks Peter!
Just to let y’all know…that screenshot is from the previous release (Alpha). The current version (0.5) has a slightly better looking UI. I’ll put up some better screenshots on the pmidic website soon. Videos of pmidic in action can be expected soon as well :)