FreeJ
Encyclopedia
FreeJ is a modular video mixer for GNU/Linux
systems. It is marketed as a "vision mixer". It is capable of real-time video manipulation, for amateur and professional uses. It can be used as an instrument in the fields of dance theater, veejaying
, medical visualisation and TV. With FreeJ multiple layers of video footage can be filtered through effect chains and then mixed together.
FreeJ can be operated in real-time from a console (S-Lang) and remotely over networks via a Secure Shell
(SSH) connection, and provides an interface for scripting behavior currently accessible through JavaScript
. Also, it can be used to render media to multiple screens, remote setups, encoders, and live Internet stream servers.
The core engine is multithreaded and asynchronous and supports multiple simultaneous controllers. Currently there is support for MIDI, joystick and wii-mote
controls.
), is the author and current maintainer. Since 0.7 was released, Silvano Galliani (kysucix) joined the core development team, implementing several new enhancements.
animations.
FreeJ can produce a stream to an icecast
server with the video being mixed and audio grabbed from soundcard. The resulting video is accessible to any computer able to decode media encoded with the theora
codec.
The console interface of FreeJ is accessible via SSH and can be run as a background process. The remote interface offers simultaneous access from multiple remote locations.
Feature list:
Notably, the authors maintain that the license used, the GNU General Public License
, is also a feature.
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
systems. It is marketed as a "vision mixer". It is capable of real-time video manipulation, for amateur and professional uses. It can be used as an instrument in the fields of dance theater, veejaying
VJ (video performance artist)
VJing is a broad designation for realtime visual performance. Characteristics of VJing are the creation or manipulation of imagery in realtime through technological mediation and for an audience, in synchronization to music. VJing often takes place at events such as concerts, nightclubs, music...
, medical visualisation and TV. With FreeJ multiple layers of video footage can be filtered through effect chains and then mixed together.
FreeJ can be operated in real-time from a console (S-Lang) and remotely over networks via a Secure Shell
Secure Shell
Secure Shell is a network protocol for secure data communication, remote shell services or command execution and other secure network services between two networked computers that it connects via a secure channel over an insecure network: a server and a client...
(SSH) connection, and provides an interface for scripting behavior currently accessible through JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
. Also, it can be used to render media to multiple screens, remote setups, encoders, and live Internet stream servers.
The core engine is multithreaded and asynchronous and supports multiple simultaneous controllers. Currently there is support for MIDI, joystick and wii-mote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
controls.
History
Denis Rojo, (JaromilJaromil
Denis Roio is a free software programmer, a media artist and activist. He has made significant contributions to the development of multimedia and streaming applications on the Linux platform...
), is the author and current maintainer. Since 0.7 was released, Silvano Galliani (kysucix) joined the core development team, implementing several new enhancements.
Features
FreeJ can overlay, mask, transform and filter multiple layers of footage on the screen. It supports an unlimited number of layers that can be mixed, regardless of the source. It can read input from varied sources: movie files, webcams, TV cards, images, renders and Adobe FlashAdobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
animations.
FreeJ can produce a stream to an icecast
Icecast
Icecast is a streaming media project released as free software maintained by the Xiph.org Foundation. It also refers specifically to the server program which is part of the project. Icecast was created in December 1998/January 1999 by Jack Moffitt and Barath Raghavan to provide an open source...
server with the video being mixed and audio grabbed from soundcard. The resulting video is accessible to any computer able to decode media encoded with the theora
Theora
Theora is a free lossy video compression format. It is developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation and distributed without licensing fees alongside their other free and open media projects, including the Vorbis audio format and the Ogg container....
codec.
The console interface of FreeJ is accessible via SSH and can be run as a background process. The remote interface offers simultaneous access from multiple remote locations.
Feature list:
- live composition of multiple sources including webcams, TV signals, movie filters, images, .txt files, particle generators
- remotely controlled access (Vjoe)
- scripting abilities in JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
- playback of Adobe FlashAdobe FlashAdobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
vector animations - zero frame drop when looping movie clips
- EmacsEmacsEmacs is a class of text editors, usually characterized by their extensibility. GNU Emacs has over 1,000 commands. It also allows the user to combine these commands into macros to automate work.Development began in the mid-1970s and continues actively...
or ViVivi is a screen-oriented text editor originally created for the Unix operating system. The portable subset of the behavior of vi and programs based on it, and the ex editor language supported within these programs, is described by the Single Unix Specification and POSIX.The original code for vi...
style console with hotkeys (S-lang) - accepts asynchronous controllers at the same time like MIDI and joystick
- multithreaded video engine with low overhead
- 100% free softwareFree softwareFree software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
, under the GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project.... - modular C/C++ code and flexible API
- uses multicore processors (multithreading)
Notably, the authors maintain that the license used, the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
, is also a feature.