Kosada’s Vuo (http://vuo.org) is designed as an alternative to Apple’s Quartz Composer. Aimed at media producers, VJs, interactive artists, and media-making non-programmers, it enables users to interactively create and mix audio, video, and 2D + 3D effects.
Vuo is designed for media production of heavy-duty graphics effects, professional stage production, multimedia installations, audio integration, and interactive data displays, while still being simple enough for casual experimentation. As mentioned, it’s an alternative to Apple’s Quartz Composer, a popular visual programming tool used in settings from live performances to studio post-production.
Designed for efficiency, Vuo implements CPU and GPU optimizations through automatic multi-threading and OpenGL graphics support, both features Quartz Composer lacks. The tool is built using cross-platform frameworks to simplify future plans for Windows and Linux versions, and apps that run under iOS and Android.
Vuo supports several popular media hardware protocols, such as Open Sound Control (OSC) and Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) and, new with version 1.0, Art-Net for lighting and stage controls. In addition to media integration, users can experiment with other aspects of multimedia, such as stereoscopic vision and with Leap Motion and Kinect motion-capture devices.
Plans for 2015 include developing the ability to export Vuo compositions as plugins for programs such as After Effects and Final Cut Pro X, movie export, integration with additional VJ software, and the ability to view and interact with compositions on an iOS device connected via Wi-Fi.
