Computer Art/Video Synths

Not directly FSOL related but may be of interest to some on here. I was browsing through this history of computer based art:

http://iasl.uni-muenchen.de/links/GCA-IV.1e.html

The first version of the Paik/Abe video synthesizer from 1970 (see chap. IV.1.1 with ann.11) was not a synthesizer. It could be used to mix and colourize seven external image sources. The colours were invertible and manipulable:
Combining video feedback, magnetic scan modulation and non-linear mixing followed by colorizing, generated its novel style of imagery. 33
External sources (cameras) are used as an input to start signal processes by scan processors like the Paik-Abe synthesizer and the tools by Francois Coupigny, Lee Harrison III (SCANIMATE), Ture Sjölander (presented above), Dan Sandin, Bill Etra and Steve Rutt

In 1973 Steve Rutt, Bill and Louise Etra developed a "scan processor" that was utilised in video productions by Nam June Paik, Steina and Woody Vasulka as well as Gary Hill. 56 With the "Rutt/Etra Scan Processor" signals of a black-and-white monitor can be modified. The signals are modified by controlling the voltage along the horizontal and vertical axes. It is possible to locate the images of a video input on different places of an image raster.

There's also a link to a clip of the EMS Rutt Etra Video Synth in there somewhere...

And the Rutt Etra named track on the Synthi-A album

- Cool info.

[mcbpete]

Really love that 'analogue' era of video manipulation, always made everything come across fluid and watery. I probably first encountered it with Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder one) with the text effects here and it's always stuck with me: