GePhex: a modular real-time video effect framework [LWN.net]

GePhex is a real-time video effect framework. In a previous LWN article, Fun with video effects on Linux, some lower-level video effect utilities were examined. GePhex uses software from other applications as component pieces in a high-level video effector system.

[gephex]

GePhex is a modular video jockey software. The base visuals can be chosen from sources like video files or cameras. Then they can be modified by filters and mixers. Each modifier has several parameters, that can be controlled by signal-generators, input devices like joysticks, sound cards, or midi-devices. GePhex runs on GNU/Linux, Win32, Mac OS X, and FreeBSD. The effect engine is independent from the user interface, which can be de- and attached at runtime. All effects and media streams are extendible by plugins. GePhex is written in C++.

The list of features summarizes the project's main capabilities. The GePhex Book has tutorial-style examples of some of the capabilities of the software, it also includes installation and api information as well as the project history. The GePhex Book explains which audience the software is aimed at: "Video jockeys can use this system to modify or recombine existing footage or create new video effects in an interactive process. External devices like joysticks, midi-keyboards, or web-cams can influence the real-time video generation." In other words, GePhex can be used to turn your computer into a stand-alone light show.

The GePhex project was started in 2001, the first stable version was released in 2003. The project has been put together by this list of developers.

Version 0.4.3 of gephex was announced this week, it features the addition of most of the effecTV effects, experimental Mac OS X support, initial OSC support, usability improvements, and bug fixes.

GePhex configured and built with no problems on a Fedora Core 3 system, and it was possible to activate the rendering engine and run most of the demo configurations, or "graphs" in GePhex terminology. Playing with the properties of the various inputs and filters and tweaking some of the GUI controls produced some very interesting visual effects.

The GePhex gallery has some still images that were produced by application, but one should really run GePhex to get an idea its the real-time capabilities. Several example effects are also available for extending the initial set of configurations.

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