Media Window

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Media Properties and Instancing

The Media Window allows duplicating media so multiple versions can be referenced with different properties without modifying the original source data. Selecting a media entry and clicking the Duplicate button creates an identical Media entry in the Media Window.

Modifiable properties include:

• Start and Duration - Adjust the start time and duration to create sub-clips or loop segments.
• Looping - Enables infinite looping of the media instance.
• Visual - Blend Type - Defines how a visual image composites with other visuals:
  • Alpha - Blends based on the alpha channel (default).
  • Add - Adds the image values on top of the existing channel (used for rain/snow effects with a black background).
  • Multiply - Multiplies the image value with the underlying value.
  • Vignette - Blends using the inverted alpha value (used for vignette effects).
• Audio - Gain - Adjusts the gain of the media.
• Audio - Pan - Modifies panning between left and right channels.
• Audio - Pitch - Alters pitch, useful for recomposing music (extreme adjustments may degrade sound quality).

Channel Effects

Channel Effects dynamically drive channels to create effects like flickering flames or magical energy ramp-ups.

To create an effect:

1. Click the Add Effect button in the Media Toolbar.
2. In the Property Editor, add multiple effects targeting specific channels (e.g., intensity, fade, pan).

Effect types:

• Static - Specifies a fixed value for the channel.
• Wave - Generates a sine wave effect.
• Pulse - Creates a pulsing effect.
• Cycle - Cycles between multiple values.

Common effect properties:

• Frequency - Determines how often (in seconds) the effect repeats.
• Offset - Defines the starting point within the effect when first triggered.
• Randomize - Introduces randomness to the effect.
• UniqueInstance - Assigns a unique starting offset and seed values per gizmo (useful for independent light flickers).

To assign an effect, drag it onto the Channel Window when a Gizmo is selected, onto the Gizmo itself, or as a Play Effect action in a cue.

Shader Effects

Shader Effects provide advanced visual effects that enhance video and images displayed on a Visual Gizmo.

For examples, visit: ShaderToy.

Shader Effects are a type of media file requiring hand-editing. Existing shader effects in Masque can be explored to understand how to:

• Define controllable parameters
• Write shader code that interacts with those parameters

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