Video to Audio and Back with PixiVisor

Daniel Rowland has a new video demonstrating how to convert video to audio (and how to convert audio to video) using the iOS app, PixiVisor:

“Using a stock GIF playing in Pixivisor from an iPad and a Mac. This is converted to audio and run through effects in Ableton Live and filters on an iRig Mix, then converted back to video in Pixivisor on another iPad. Modulated by a short drum loop from the Nine Inch Nails track, ‘The Warning’.”

PixiVisor is an iOS app that lets the user treat video as audio.

As we described in a previous post, PixiVisor is a tool for audio-visual experiments. It consists of two parts:

  • Transmitter converts the video (static 64×64 image or 10FPS animation) to sound, pixel by pixel (progressive scan). This lets you listen to the sound of your image. But the main function of the Transmitter is to transmit the signal to the receiving devices.
  • Receiver converts the sound (from microphone or Line-in input) back to video. You can set the color palette for this video, and record it to animated GIF file.

Examples of use:

  • wireless Lo-Fi video transmission over audio;
  • video signal transmission through audio cable; you can then modify that signal by some mixers or audio FX processors;
  • VJing;
  • sound visualization;
  • searching for hidden messages in the ambient noise; EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon), ITC (Instrumental Transcommunication);
  • save any sound to animated GIF;
  • hide some images and animation in your music.

5 thoughts on “Video to Audio and Back with PixiVisor

    1. Just summing the audio (converted from a GIF by Pixivisor) with a drum loop via the Ableton mixer. Once you convert the audio back to video, the more you turn up the drum loop, the more affect it has on the resultant video. You can process the loop (filter, distort, etc) and it will modulate the video in different ways. Fun stuff to play with. 🙂

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