Video History Project

Bibliography

National Endowment for the Arts: Computer Interface with Video Synthesizer. Proposal

Author
Ralph Hocking
Publisher
Experimental Television Center
Place
Bingamton, New York
ETC archive
ETC2484

Abstract

Computer Interface with Video Synthesizers concentrates on the design and construction of an interface between computer and image synthesizer and the development of a computer language to permit the artist to enter the system to create images and notate compositions. Computer Interface with Video Synthesizers will be conducted at the Center under the direction of Ralph Hocking; project participants will include Walter Wright, computer consultant, Don McArthur, design consultant, Nam June Paik, artist, Woody and Steina Vasulka and David Jones. Project concerns the design and implementation of the interface between the Intel computer and video system components which include gray level hard and soft edge keyers, the Spatial and Intensity Digitizer (SAID) by McArthur and the Voltage Controlled Colorizer by Jones, McArthur and Wright.

https://archive.org/details/ETC2484

Cite this record

Ralph Hocking. National Endowment for the Arts: Computer Interface with Video Synthesizer. Proposal. Experimental Television Center. 1975.

Download RIS citation
From the Experimental Television Center archive

ETC2484

Computer Interface with Video Synthesizers concentrates on the design and construction of an interface between computer and image synthesizer and the development of a computer language to permit the artist to enter the system to create images and notate compositions. Computer Interface with Video Synthesizers will be conducted at the Center under the direction of Ralph Hocking; project participants will include Walter Wright, computer consultant, Don McArthur, design consultant, Nam June Paik, artist, Woody and Steina Vasulka and David Jones. Project concerns the design and implementation of the interface between the Intel computer and video system components which include gray level hard and soft edge keyers, the Spatial and Intensity Digitizer (SAID) by McArthur and the Voltage Controlled Colorizer by Jones, McArthur and Wright.

Submit a change or correction

If unchecked, this will appear as a public note on the site immediately. Spam filters may delay publication, but all submissions are reviewed by staff.

Changes will be reviewed and integrated as time permits. For major changes, feel free to email [email protected].

Last modified 22 June 2011

Related records

  • Computer Systems Approach to Video Art Tools

    A 1975 proposal to the New York State Council on the Arts and a 1977 report describe a computer-based video synthesis system for synthesizing, processing and controlling video images for artists. The documents list proposed and conventional components including spatial and intensity digitizer, function generator, digital memory, A/D and D/A converters, sync generator with genlock, time-base corrector, chroma keyer, colorizers, keyers and special-effects generators; they define interactive-compositional and automatic-production modes. The system specifies a 1,024-word 16-bit buffer, a DEC LSI-32 microprocessor with Teletype I/O and floppy drives, a 9.7552434 MHz clock phase-locked to a 3.579545 MHz subcarrier, and an X–Y module providing 512 pixels and 18 bits of timing.

  • The Video Synthesizer - Review of Existing Synthesizers, excerpted from "Design Device" Tools

    Tom Dewitt presents the Design Device, a proposed video synthesizer to be controlled by a mini-computer reading a formatted picture language; the instrument is intended to perform video synthesis and signal processing and to let artists prepare and record programs on paper. He reviews existing vector and intensity-based synthesizers and modular, matrix, and computer-controlled patch systems, citing Rutt/Etra, Stephen Beck, Dan Sandin, EMS Ltd., Computer Image Corp., Vector General, Arp, Woody and Steina Vasulka, Don Buchla and Bell Labs. Planned features include memory oscillators for arbitrary wipes, an outline generator to reduce volumes to lines, rotation via low-frequency sine-cosine control voltages, and colorization approaches using luminance, chrominance and hue.

  • Computer-Based Video Synthesizer System Hardware and Software Research Results for project supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts Bibliography

    Computer-Based Video Synthesizer System Hardware and Software Research Results for project supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts with Introduction by Sherry Miller-Hocking, papers by Donald McArthur: "A Computer-Based Video Synthesizer System- An…

  • LSI-11 Computer Interface to Video Synthesis System: Final Report to NEA: Hardware and Software Research Results for project. Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts Bibliography

    Final report (1977) on an LSI-11 computer interface to a video synthesis system; documents hardware and software research results for a project supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts. Includes an introduction by Sherry Miller-Hocking and papers by Donald McArthur (An Orientation to Hardware Architecture; a paper presented at the Design/Electronic Arts conference, Buffalo, March 1977) and Walter Wright (Software; a paper presented at the Design/Electronic Arts conference, March 1977); question-and-answer transcription includes Tom Dewitt, George Chaikin and Laurie Spiegel.

  • Direct Video: Electronic Artform for Color Television Tools

    In 1970 Stephen Beck received a grant to develop the Direct Video Synthesizer for the National Center for Experiments in Television at KQED-TV in San Francisco. He designed and built the synthesizer with support from the National Endowment for the Arts; the prototype comprises circuit and control modules that operate with the scanned video raster, accept sync and drive pulses, and output parallel RGBY for NTSC color. Beck outlines an aesthetic model of form, motion, texture and color and a technical mapping using pulse-width modulation, waveshaping and RGB distribution.

  • The Evolution of Thinking Machines Tools

    Experimental Television Center - The Evolution of Thinking Machines The image processing system used today in the studio of the Experimental Television Center is a hybrid tool set which encourages interactive relationships among older historically important analog instruments such as colorizers and …