In this workshop we’ll learn how to setup a Digimap in Kinetic Designer.
Digimaps can be used to link data being received from a controller or a sensor to various properties in your show.
In this workshop, we’ll use the fader of a nanoKontrol 2 to control the position of media in our timeline.
For the purpose of this example we’ll simulate a projection being revealed on a stage curtain opening on both sides.
Setting up the Scene
In a timeline set a video layer (1920×1080) in Loop/Freerun. This is the media we’ll want to reveal when the curtains open.
In the Media List panel create a Solid media. Set the resolution to 960×1080 and the color to black.
Drag & Drop the media twice in the timeline, and set the following properties:
| Media | Position | Anchor |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Left | (960;0) | (960;0) – Top Right |
| Solid Right | (960;0) | (0;0) – Top Left |
Connecting Controler
Connect the nanoKontrol 2 to the computer and restart Kinetic Designer.
In the Devices panel create a MIDI device and enable the Input option and select the nanoKontrol in the available devices.
Select the MIDI device and move the first fader of the nanoKontrol. In the Editor panel note the value of the Last Received.
Configuring Digimap
In the Digimap panel create a new Digimap by clicking the 
button.
Drag and drop the position properties of both Solid layers into the Digimap’s Patch tab. Rename them Left/Right accordingly.
Select the digimap and in the Editor drag & drop the MIDI device into the Trigger field.
Set the Action to the one previously received and noted from the step above.
Unfold the Evaluation section.
Set In A to 0 and Out A to 127.
Set In B to 0 and Out B to 960.
Click the Evaluate button to compute the Coefficient and Offset to map the incoming values to the desired range.
For more information on the operation involved, refer to the Calibration 1D node’s manual page.
Each patch can have an additional coefficient and offset applied to it. These are multiplied to the ones in the Digimap and do not replace them.
We’ll use this option to move one of the layers in the opposite direction.
Select the solid for the Left side and apply a coefficient to -1.
If everything has been configured correctly, moving the fader should reveal the video under the black solids.
Reset Offsets
Note that when the Digimap is actioned, it will replace the layer’s position but if you look at these positions in the properties in the timeline they remain at their original place and are not modified dynamically with the Digimap.
Internally, the Digimap is applying an offset on the original position of the layer.
In more complex setups this can lead to confusion if the layers need to be repositioned.
All Digimap offsets can be reset via the top menu Edit > Reset offsets.
To visualize this, set the fader at a half way position so that the video layer is half revealed and select the Reset offsets option from the top menu.
Notice that the layers are reset to their original position even if the fader is still half way.
Going further
Soft Crop:
Add a soft crop of 100 pixel on the right of the Left solid and on the left of the Right solid.
Try to figure out how and where to modify the setup for this to work.
- Solution
Modify the positions:
- Solid Left: (1060;0)
- Solid Right: (860;0)
Rescale both solids to 1060×1080 pixels.Modify the Out B of the Digimap to 1060 and recompute with
Evaluate
Second render surface:
If we wanted to integrate this effect into a multi-output setup, it would not be convenient to have black solid media moving around the V-Node’s affected Render Surface.
Render surfaces are virtual workspaces and can be used to composite media “off screen” if required.
Create a second Render Surface and set it to y position 1500.
Move the three media (video + solids) to this render surface.
Add this render surface as a source in the first render surface by drag & dropping it into the timeline.
Need more help with this?
Don’t hesitate to contact us here.