Syncing clips to different sounds

[tyrone]

We've got a gig in a few months for an electro band who wants the visuals to react according to the various instruments in the band. My question to you good people: is the only solution to use external FFT? How accurately can we match different instruments to different clips if theyre in a similar frequency range? Also I'm concerned that if we're side of stage or near a subwoofer the computer wont pick up all of the different sounds.

On another note, if the band is using a computer with Abelton, should I get them to send us their MIDI clock during performance? What does this do for us? I've never had to use it in a VJ set before, clearly. (And if they dont have MIDI clock, does it matter?)

[Basic]

I think there are a couple of options.

Personally I havent had any real good use out of fft.

Midi would be better as it will be acurate and could trigger specific clips. etc

With regards to the other instruments I wonder if you can somehow get some form of data from them and convert it to midi? or have midi 'queues' from the person with the laptop.

loads of possabilities come to think about it.

another idea would be using a program like this.

http://wavesum.net/products.html

Some people swear by it.

Or...

Old Skool and just free style it.

Will the set be linear and you will know what's been triggered when or is it just a bunch of loops and you play what fits there and then?

With a personal AV project of mine, some clips are triggered by midi and others are just triggered by me. it means im still in control of some things but other more impotrant drops etc are triggered by midi.

rant over and hope this sheds some light on some possible avenues?

[Basic]

this might be of help too - or at least give you an idea of Ableton/Resolume

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=9813&p=38893#p38893