lwc:touchdesigner [wiki]

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===== 101 =====
  * RH dialog called the parameters dialog
==== Operators ====
  * **TOPS**: Texture operators --- images and pixel data
  * **CHOPS**: channel operator: manipulate channels or sequences of numbers
  * **SOPS**: Surface operators --- polygons, spheres, etc. (models?)
  * **MATS**: Material operators --- shaders that you might apply to SOPS or other surfaces
  * **DATS**: Data operators --- hold strings, XML, Tables, etc.
  * **COMPS**: components --- have networks inside of them. Also UI components

=== Specific Operators ====
=== Output ===
  * ''chopto'' DAT
  * ''trail'' chop
  * ''info'' DAT shows the names of the parameters

=== COMPS ===
  * **Container** has panel. Add UI elements and connect with top/bottom connectors
    * drag onto ''Panel'' CHOP to see info about all the UI elements
    * after connecting UI elements under ''Children'' tab choose how to align
  * **Text** outputs text
  * **Window** shows output of an operator in a separate window. This would be how to show the final product?
    * click and drag operator to show in window into ''Window Operator'' parameter

=== TOPS ===
  * **moviefilein**: use ''Cue Point'' to scrub thru a video
    * R-click to save image
  * ** hsvadj** is hue and saturation
  * **over**: put input 1 over input 2
  * **composite**: basic compositing (difference, screen, pinlight, subtract, etc.) with unlimited inputs. Has preview grid
    * in the ''palette'' menu choose ''tools'' -> ''blend modes'' to see all the compositing possible.
      * in its parameter menu choose ''pulse'' to get a browser help page on this component (why pulse?)
    * ''fixed layer'': where we get the resolution and aspect ratio
  * **matte**: composites 1 input over another then create a matte effect using the 3rd input as the matte
    * you can use ''matte'' to switch between 2 images if you change the ''matte channel'' in the parameters dialog to ''luminance''
    * use ''extend left'' and ''extend right'' to choose how the image pattern repeats in the matte channel
  * **tile**: kaleidoscope effect
  * **transform**: rotate, scale, repeat, etc.
  * **layout**: layout multiple inputs into rows, columns, or grids
  * **switch**: switch (or blend) between inputs
  * **select**: reference a TOP from any other location:
   * drag the TOP you wish to reference into the ''TOP'' parameter in the parameter window of ''switch''
   * it's sort of like a "send" and "receive" for Pd and that's all it does?
 * **threshold**: highlight areas (white vs alpha) that are beyond a certain brightness
  * **Blur**: ''preshrink'' reduces the resolution before the blur is applied
  * **LumaLevel**: increase brightness of bright areas in image
  * **Feedback**: set the target TOP by dragging the target top onto the feedback operator to create the reference
  * **moviefileout**: create a movie, optionally with audio (using Movie Audio CHOP perhaps) and save the movie to a file
=== CHOPS ===
//CHOPS can be **single sample** or **multi sample**//
  * ''Select'': filter for a specific output. Example: look for DONE channel name coming out of ''timer'' chop.
  * ''Audio Movie'': plays audio of a movie file
    * drag ''moviefilein'' TOP onto this CHOP to get the audio of a specific movie
    * to actually get a movie with audio then connect ''moviefilein'' TOP to ''moviefileout'' TOP then drag ''Audio Movie'' CHOP onto ''moviefileout'' TOP
  * ''LFO'': send sine, cosine, square, pulse, etc.
  * ''Trigger'': sort of like a fully adjustable ADSR
    * turn ''time slice'' in the parameter window **off** to see the envelope
  * ''Count'': increment
  * ''Filter'': smooth the data
  * ''Lag'': much like filter but has an accell/decel feature
  * ''Fan'': split from a single channel to multiple channels
  * ''Math'': can combine CHOPS or combine channels. Also tweak the range of output values/
  * ''Merge'': merge multiple CHOPS into 1 CHOP with different channels. Use for example when doing the same math operation on multiple CHOPS
  * ''Switch'': switch between multiple sources
  * ''Replace'': replace input 1 with input 2 if input 2 has data
  * ''Fan'': take a serious of channels and fan in to 1 channel
  * ''Timer'':
  * ''Event'': similar to ''trigger'' but can handle multiple triggered values at different times
  * ''Trail'': record values over time. Set ''Grow Length'' on to increase time window indefinitely.
    * can change it to capture only when input data is cooked
  * ''Analyze'': Average, Sum, RMS, Peaks, etc.
  * ''Logic'': turn on or off depending on the values coming in. For example, turn on when input > 9

=== multi sample ===
  * ''Pattern'': Sine, Cosine, etc.
    * can accept another input multisample which can be combined with the pattern (see ''Combine Channels'' in the ''Channel'' tab of the parameter window) 
    * note the "extend region left" and "extend region right"
  * ''Trim'': cut or extend the multisample
  * ''Audioosc'': you can set the sample rate to match the sample size of a pattern CHOP or similar CHOP
  * ''Constant'': make it multisample in the ''Channel'' tab
  * ''Shuffle'': sequence or split multisample or single sample CHOPS together
    * example: split a multisample CHOP with 10 points into a single sample CHOP with 10 channels by choosing ''split all samples''as the method in the parameter window

=== SOPS ===
  * ''Copy'': Make a copy of the first input at the each of the vertices of the 2nd input
  * ''Sweep'': sweep the first input along the vertices of the 2nd input like a "paper fan"
    * has ''skin'' and ''twist'' feature
  * ''Convert'': convert object to polygon
  * ''Facet'': low poly look (?)
  * ''Limit'': draw a line using data from multi sample CHOP


=== DATS ===
  * ''Text'': type in "hello world" for example
  * ''Merge'': combine multiple DAT tables
  * ''Sort'': sort table
  * ''Chop To'': drag and drop TOP into this DAT to have the data interpreted as a table

==== Connections ====
  * **Wires**: connections between the same family
  * **Links**: references between operators of different or the same families
  * **Top and Bottom Connectors**: for components to show hierarchy

==== Keyboard Shortcuts ====
  * **A**: Toggle operator viewer active
  * **I**: Zoom into component
  * **CTRL L-CLICK**: Add multiple operators at the same time

==== Creating References ====
=== Chop to TOP ===
  - Make Chop viewer active
  - Click on TOP to get parameter window
  - Get parameter you wish to change to show in parameter window
  - Using LMB Drag Chop (with viewer active) into the parameter in the parameter window
  - Choose ''CHOP Reference'' in the context menu
  - alternatively, with the CHOP viewer window active, drag the CHOP op directly onto the TOP op and choose the parameter to map to in the pop menu.
    - With this alternative method the reference is not Python code and therefore may not be as adaptable in some situations?
    - This appears to be the same as following the original method but choosing ''Export Chop'' except when choosing ''Export Chop'' you also seem to get a bonus export table that gets created (maybe?)


=== DAT to DAT or DAT to TOP ===
  - Click on DAT or TOP you wish to connect to to get parameter window
  - Get DAT parameter to show in parameter window
  - Using LMB Drag DAT into the DAT parameter in the parameter window. Does not need viewer active.

=== TOP to TOP ===
  * click and drag one top onto another. Active window not necessary

==== Tips and Tricks ====
  * To see output of CHOP (single or multi value) R-click on output of CHOP and choose a ''chopto'' DAT to see as a table
    * optionally use the ''trail'' CHOP to see the history of values
  * Collapsing a network: select all ops in the network, R-click and choose "collapse selected"
  * ''File''->''Export Movie'' to save a video. Suggestion: turn ''realtime'' off to avoid glitches
  * default files are in ''Program Files''->''Derivative''->''TouchDesignerVERSION''->''Samples''->''Map''
  * when needing constantly changing values take a look in the ''Channel'' tab of the parameter window at ''Time Slice''

== Chop Execute DAT ==
  * it works best to R click on CHOP output and choose ''CHOP execute''
  * Alternatively you can type the name of the CHOP operator in the CHOPS parameter in the ''CHOP execute'' DAT parameter window
  * If you drag the CHOP with viewer active into the the CHOPS parameter in the DAT parameter window it will choose not just the CHOP operator but also the channel and you may not want the channel
  * To write to an operator from ''CHOP execute'' reference it with ''op('NAME_OF_OPERATOR').par.NAME_OF_PARAMETER''
    * get the name of the parameter by clicking on the ''+'' to the left of the parameter in the parameter window. Example: Text parameter in text component is called ''text''

==== Composting Operations ====
  * **Screen**: add two images together without producing values above white

==== Sending and Receiving Video ====
  * NDI: video over IP. Can be used for local video sharing
    * ''NDI'' DAT shows in a table all courses and streams available
    * ''NDI out'' TOP sends an NDI stream
    * ''NDI in'' TOP receives NDI stream. Fill in the source name parameter
  * Syphon (MacOS)/Spout (Windows): in and out TOPS share textures and images via shared memory on the same machine
  * Video Stream Out: stream content over local network or internet. Send to YouTube or Twitch for example. Might be an easy way to send to VLC as well?

==== Built-in Variables ====
  * ''me.time.frame'': frame # sent by timeline at a given moment

==== Units ====
  * ''i'': index or sample

==== Pattern Matching ====
  * match 2 and 3: [2-3]