Introduction to TouchDesigner - Ben Voigt

Additional Files - goo.gl/syyRj6
For everyone who wants to get a fast track start on working with TouchDesigner, this workshop will provide a good basis to gain an initial understanding on workflow, concepts and techniques while equipping attendees with the knowledge to start creating interactive / generative setups.
This workshop was recorded at TouchDesigner Summit held in Berlin Feb 3-4 2018.

[@Alanpt]

This video is super useful so I have made bookmarks (with formfunction's additions). Thanks! 03:50 - structure 04:50 - navigation 08:30 - resizing nodes (don't) 11:00 - data flow and animated wires 11:25 - data not travelling (paused) 12:15 - displace 12:30 - paramaters and values (on the right) 13:20 - increments 16:10 - Videos (moviefilein TOP) 17:23 - warning message (non-commerical) 18:02 - help for top 18:20 - codecs 21:50 - adding new nodes with the OP Create Dialog (double click or TAB) 22:10 - TOP - Texture operators 22:50 - Webcam (videodevicein TOP) 24:00 - Edge TOP 24:12 - connecting nodes 25:20 - auto connecting nodes 25:25 - composite TOP 27:00 - GPU Mem 28:35 - Feedback TOP 33:10 - Transform TOP 37:00 - Bypass Flag 38:15 - Level TOP 39:50 - reset paramaters 40:20 - view only changed parameters 41:30 - saving and incrementing projects 44:00 - home (H key) 44:29 - Operator families 44:48 - CHOP - Channel Operators (channel data) 45:23 - SOP - Surface Operators (3D surface) 46:00 - MAT - Materials for 3D Surfaces 46:20 - DAT - Data Operators - (Text, tables, scripts) 50:30 - Flags 52:30 - Frame rate FPS 54:50 - Rename Nodes 57:16 - CHOP to SOP 58:56 - CHOP to SOP another demo 1:00:58 - checkboard (alpha) or black 1:02:20 - Resolution TOP from CHOP to 1:03:27 - Switch CHOP1 with input control 1:05:51 - Value of Null CHOP vs direct 1:06:45 - Export CHOP 1:08:22 - Invert CHOP with Math CHOP (range) 1:10:01 - Fade with Lag CHOP 1:11:24 - Ramp TOP 1:13:37 - Table DAT dock node (helper node) 1:15:43 - Noise TOP 1:18:37 - Add multiple OPS connected shortcut (from menu) 1:19:33 - Constant CHOP 1:19:50 - Speed CHOP 1:24:52 - Lookup TOP 1:26:01 - One OP to multiple connections shortcut (from network) 1:27:41 - Comments in OP or Text DAT 1:29:39 - Display flag 1:30:44 - Slider Component 1:32:00 - MIDI Input configuration MIDI in CHOP 1:33:33 - Select CHOP 1:35:20 - Leap Motion input 1:37:01 - OSC input CHOP (ZIG SIM) (internet issues, skip) 1:41:05 - OSC input CHOP start 1:45:45 - DMX in CHOP 1:46:50 - Replace connection 1:47:20 - Audio and Sample Rates 1:48:20 - Audio Device Out CHOP 1:49:10 - Audio Device Buffer Length 1:50:48 - Audio filters 1:51:50 - Audio Analyzer network demo 1:55:53 - Combine Left/Right channels and then Combine CHOPS 1:56:43 - Audio Spectrum CHOP 1:57:10 - Audio Dynamics CHOP (compressor and limiter) 1:58:08 - Audio Movie CHOP (buffer match) 2:01:08 - Beat detection discussion 2:02:05 - Tempo, Beats discussion 2:03:30 - SOPS preview (Torus SOP and SOP display options) 2:06:12 - Sphere SOP (polygons and cook time) 2:08:02 - Transform, Merge SOP 2:11:18 - Grid SOP, Noise SOP, Attribute Create SOP (normals) 2:14:15 - Home on Node, Sphere noise demo 2:14:45 - Python expression in Noise SOP 2:16:03 - Blend between two objects question 2:16:33 - 3d model file formats question (FBX preferred) 2:16:50 - Animation import question 2:17:30 - Importing Python question, instancing question 2:19:50 - Facet SOP, low poly look 2:21:18 - Rendering 3D, Components (Base) 2:22:15 - Geometry Comp tutorial 2:24:00 - Rendering question (Worldspace and Material explanation) 2:25:38 - Render and Display output of Component 2:26:39 - Render TOP (choose geos) 2:28:10 - Camera, Light Comp 2:29:36 - 3D environment pane split, geometry viewer 2:31:50 - Manual camera translation 3D pane (T key) 2:33:00 - Export Render image or movie 2:34:12 - Materials, Phong MAT, Movie File In TOP 2:37:47 - PBR (physical-based rendering) MAT 2:39:10 - PBR Environment Map Comp 2:40:30 - Finding environment maps online question 2:42:50 - Phong vs PBR env map question 2:43:32 - PBR Substance TOP 2:47:15 - Substance Designer application discussion 2:49:43 - Using free Substance .sbsar file demo 2:54:30 - Sub surface scattering, bump mapping, displacement question (GLSL MAT) 2:56:14 - Materials from other 3D packages question 2:56:55 - Substance Select TOP 2:58:00 - Self illumination question 2:58:38 - Substance vs GLSL shader performance question (output GLSL) 3:00:50 - Containers to use in different projects question 3:04:10 - Global user folder question (create project folder DO IT) 3:05:20 - Expose parameters from Comp 3:05:55 - Customize Component 3:08:34 - Connect new parameters to component Parameter CHOP, Null CHOP 3:11:50 - Change file parameter question 3:12:40 - Drag and drop into parameter question 3:13:25 - Collapse selected question 3:14:00 - Difference between base and container question 3:15:48 - Clip based media bin question 3:17:15 - Project screen question Optimization 3:17:40 - Optimization - performance Monitor 3:18:27 - Optimization - Probe (Awesome! - Ed) 3:19:40 - Probe - Orange, Red are heavy 3:20:10 - Probe - Non-moving are not cooking. No worries 3:20:50 - Probe - Remove after optimizing. Projector Output 3:21:05 - Projector output 3:21:50 - Projector Setup 3:22:10 - Window Component 3:24:18 - Open as seperate Window (floating) - heavy 3:24:45 - Open in perform mode (one window) - good 3:25:19 - Perform Mode - F1 open and ESC close 3:25:31 - Perform Mode - Match Screen Size 3:25:56 - Perform Mode - Fill Location (auto) 3:25:23 - Perform Mode - free licence limitation 3:27:15 - Perform Mode - turn off border 3:29:50 - Perform Mode - To other monitor/projector 3:30:25 - Perform Mode - Canvas for Multiple Monitor 3:32:40 - Create Canvas to hold multiple containers 3:33:05 - Embed Containers - Wire (Parenting) 3:34:09 - Background TOP - display top as background 3:34:42 - "./" means go inside "../" means look at parent 3:35:15 - Alignment of children 3:36:06 - Align order 3:36:43 - Change Perform window 3:37:56 - Autosave is CTRL+S Projection Mapping 3:38:26 - Projection Mapping 3:38:55 - Stoner (basic keystone) 3:39:37 - KantanMapper (2d Advanced) 3:40:25 - Kantanmapper - drag in null (easier to change null later) 3:41:06 - CamSchnapper (3d) 3:43:00 - ProjectorBlend - Grid based overlapping Help 3:44:00 - Where to get help 3:45:30 - Operator Snippets 3:47:00 - Stop Cooking

[@Giorgi.Japiashvili]

Thanks for coming back!

[@kendraamalie2956]

thanks!!

[@ufizoaij5188]

Yeah!!!! Thank you~~

[@linchen7258]

Thank you so much. That's awesome.

[@slowestjabroni]

You are a god, please do the rest!!! ​03:38:13 - Projection Mapping

[@ysy69]

5 years ago and still so relevant and a must watch for those starting with TouchDesigner. Thank you

[@lucaszecamoises8941]

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how much time and effort they put into these videos?

[@annnnnnn5628]

Welcome to the best tutorial ever.

[@JeremydePrisco]

Thank you for making this available. Excellent overview. It has been a great help!

[@billyr2908]

Thank you for uploading this. Only 30 min into this video so far and already have a plethora of new visual ideas for my projects.

[@yaleryn]

TouchDesigner team many thanks for sharing. Also, thanks Ben for being so clear & detailed !

[@darinbasile6754]

Thank you! This is a great intro/overview.

[@mercedeswilliams7823]

Thank you for taking the time to make this tutorial

[@iami0]

Really good introducing to TD, love you guys!

[@quentinmckay8658]

Wow. Stunning introduction to a super powerful program. 4 hours and not a moment felt wasted. I foresee many hours of my life spent poking around and getting know this fascinating beast. Thank you.

[@DirtleTilbury]

What a great tutorial and presentation. Thanks for this.

[@KimberleyBianca]

Excellent in approach, clear instruction, great pace (probably since it was IRL too). Initially, I thought the "first things to know" on the wiki weren't helpful, but actually, they were great for the UI and so I found myself one step ahead and able to navigate and proceed with this tutorial without needing to rewind. Although I did pause so I could experiment in between.

[@AbodyRulez]

I was shooked when I heard your voice transition in 1:47:00 lol. Great tutorial and given examples!

[@mister-monkeyman]

Surprised this hasn't way more views. Love this. Started with Processing, but this has way more potential it seems.

[@elekktronaut]

Thanks a ton, great software & great explanation :)

[@letmecomentalready]

This makes me want to get better at Object Oriented Programming. What an amazing piece of software.

[@VJNirav]

BY FAR THE BEST TUTORIAL ON INTERNET ON TOUCH !!!

[@DynVisuals]

This is way better than my lecturer's explanation. Thanks Ben!

[@onlywatchingchannel]

you know you diggin deep, when the introduction of the thing you trying to learn is 4 hours long

[@UberNemo]

Amazing job Ben! A marathon intro :-) Very illuminating, just what I needed to get a feel of what can be done with TD. Many thanks. Can't wait to start using it.

[@faustomelchiorre4285]

Amazing webinar! thanks a lot and if anyobody can't make work the own camera just update the drivers, I had the same issue and now works!

[@dorelllongsanglot8161]

Thanks so much for your thoughtful and detailed videos! On to the soft!

[@paulambrosino9094]

Thank you for uploading this conference, it was super clear and helpfull.

[@caseyhunted]

been learning touch for a while now and feel pretty comfortable navigating the space, so I wasnt keen to watch a 4 hour beginner course. But had some time tonight and needed to chill. I found many nuggets of new great information in here, among a bunch of tidbits and reminders of best practices. Thanks much for giving the workshop, and for putting this up!

[@caseyhunted]

@@elaiottoiale4216 uh what?

[@petermgruhn]

I'm not even half way through, and this rocks.

[@pablogracias7520]

Thank you so much, just begining to be amazed by all the mindblowing possibilities of Touch Are you thinking about giving courses in France ?

[@evolocity5]

Thanks for uploading this. I was looking for a brief td introduction session.

[@kevao2642]

im just starting and tNice tutorials video was perfect.Well explained and easy to follow for a beginner.I never understood soft soft till i watched tNice tutorials.

[@ResistCircuitResist]

Thanks for the files.

[@jayhu6075]

Great explanation. Hopely more topic designer about the dance event. I saw a lecture from Richie Hawtin. Thx

[@bennie.379]

i have a playlist of dozens of touchdesigner tutorials that i stumbled across on youtube. currently learning blender & blackmagic fusion, i wont dare to even fuck with this beast yet. but man does this look like the future

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

I dare say going through this whole video will give you enough base knowledge to explore TouchDesigner yourself from then on, and you'll know also enough to be able to pick and choose the other tutorials in your backlog that will most benefit you. We hope to see you soon!

[@bennie.379]

@@TouchDesignerOfficial 3 months later, just installed the non-commercial TD on my pc! starting my journey right this second :) opening the software off rip is so intimidating and i pride myself in my vfx skills lol!!!

[@gokulhbk]

Great Tutorial. How can I control 3D geometry with the sensor data from Arduino? Thanks for your help

[@pierwmaria]

Thanks bro for the tutorial, good teacher, good tips, perfect tutorial for start

[@pierrelemasson9840]

Hello, thank you very much for this video, it helps me a lot to understand basics of TouchDesigner. I have one technical question: ZigSim is not available in my country, do you know any equivalent ?

[@formatformat]

Many thanks for this super useful introduction. It really inspires to continue learning TD!

[@redorchidee1372]

This software is absolutely amazing, I can't believe i'm only finding out about it now.

[@gnomalab]

thanks for sharing this...

[@sunhalosonia]

thank you so much for this!

[@LyubomirIko]

I am stunned what a gem I have missing. I am producing audio-visual art for many years, mostly some 3D renders - the last year I dedicate to learn Unreal Engine because I was frustrated with non real-time workflows. But just looking TouchDesigner and feeling all the potential! I have a big journey to make... but I already fall IN LOVE!

[@noahr8884]

And? got any updates? I'm starting with audio visuals myself and Im not sure where to commit. Im currently learning blender for resolume, got myself synthesia and having a crack at all major programs to get a taste, but there is just so much choice

[@afusake]

@@noahr8884 Guys, I'm on the same page. VVVV, Resolume, TD, these are all wonderful pieces of software but each one has very own and pretty steep learning curve.

[@Startropic1]

and i wish you good luck with your future endeavors ❤

[@user-nm5vc7uf9i]

it's finally ti. i'm ready to learn.

[@bondell1840]

THANKYOU SO MUCH!!!

[@choochoopatel]

thanks, downloaded, all works!

[@julianrousset7819]

great video!

[@bryanchen6670]

thx for sharing

[@naquashv]

Thanks for the download link. :]

[@daikiterai8472]

3:38:13 about projection mapping

[@zhichengu0614]

Thanks for this video

[@emaimbr702]

thank you so much !

[@UltraScientist]

thank you!

[@ascdrgn3481]

Every midi related video on touch designer I've seen uses a Launch Control, which is handy bc I also have one.

[@laikenfui2191]

Nice tutorial. I have been having content issues with my hmdi connected speaker and subwoofer. No soft is coming through, still coming out of

[@donutsandunicorns]

This is an amazing introduction course! Kinda taken aback by how many things there are that could be done with touchdesigner lol there is too much to learn

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

Thanks, sorry it is so long but it was recorded at a workshop and we thought why not put IT ALL UP!

[@donutsandunicorns]

@@TouchDesignerOfficial the video IS long but every minute is very well spent! thank u for putting this up

[@vanessaelickerfredrich6351]

thanks very mouch for this video :D

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

cool stuff.

[@MikeStefanik]

Thanks! Is the project you start with in the DropBox link? I can't find it.

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

Yes, it is called Intro.toe, sorry for the late reply 😅

[@Briian21]

how do you stop the soft from chaning when you pick a guitar soft or so, it softs different when i test it out on the side and different

[@peakys.r6767]

ITS REALLY WORKED LOL THANK YOU DUDE

[@user-hd4id4pc2j]

Thanks a lot

[@OmarElfarsy]

GOLD

[@fleecefoxes6471]

An hour lunch! Sweet! Jokes aside, fantastic intro

[@jincyquones]

This program is SO FUCKING COOL!

[@kaonashi3D]

Where can I take an advance class like this in person?

[@madisondrum9179]

i had to UNINSTALL winzip in order to gain access to the move files in "extra files" in teh video description

[@olexiys4824]

ikr!

[@miquelriutortgamundi6251]

you understand it very well, you may want to step it up.

[@cayperisi4897]

So gooooood crack

[@dianehequet4946]

Hello, thanks for sharing ! I can't find "collapse selected" to make a base then component with the work... Can I find this somewhere else ? Thanks in advance... (at 3:04:...)

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

"Collapse Selected" is in the right-click menu when you click on an empty part of the network. If you click on a node it will not be in the menu. Does that help?

[@Jonny11299]

If anybody could offer advice or resources for encoding videos to PhotoJPG, I'd greatly appreciate it. I have several videos in h.264 that I wish to convert to PhotoJPG, but none of my strategies seem to work. Like, I haven't been able to figure out how to do it in Adobe Photoshop, VLC, or Handbrake. It's stressing me out cuz I feel like it should be simple... thanks so much!

[@transverselabs7267]

3:02:24 : when I create a base component, there's no "Base" tab, only "Extensions" and "Common". Thus, nothing appears when I customize component... Any idea why ? Thanks for this very helpful video !

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

Custom Parameters show up in a second row of parameter pages below Extensions and Common. Older builds sometimes required a refresh of the parameter dialog (hide/show) to see them, but thisis not the case for current builds.

[@hideodaikoku]

How do you have a FaceTime camera on a windows OS? Are you running windows on a mac??

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

Running bootcamped Windows on my mac for this workshop, good eye!

[@Jungmuti]

Thank you so much 🧡 2:36:27 2:50:29

[@u_ok]

Isn't Blender or After Effects better for such stuff?

[@himboslice_]

2:28 my render TOP is just a blank checkerboard :/

[@fxmtoeclipse]

This looks like Houdini's cool cousin, I love it already.

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

Cousin or brother? TouchDesigner started life from Houdini 4.1 in 2000

[@cannaroe1213]

Zooming in to objects to "go into them" isn't a new idea in VPL but it certainly works well :-)

[@power2suger]

I fell asleep and got up to this

[@quantised1703]

35:17 I'm trying to change scale, rotate the transform but there's no outcome in feedback and over. Please someone help!

[@neroyutsui4186]

Me too :(

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

You need to set the target TOP in the Feedback TOP, did you do that?

[@GeneralKenobi69420]

Bruh that Okami pfp was probably like the last thing I expected to see here at 3:48:58 lol, nice reference

[@kennyjohnson1453]

God I love TouchDesigner 🤤

[@linchen7258]

(Situation: Palette - Tools - probe - Press Ctrl P) For the part of visualizing CPU performance, when I followed the steps to click com+P, which shows ctrl+P in windows, it just shows the interface for me to create a new project. I am just the beginner. Anyone met the same issue when using Mac

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

That shortcut doesn't work on macOS. Just click "Open" in the parameters.

[@youmix2664]

Hello! Could someone tell me how to hold keyboard value after release from "1"? Is it combination of nodes or an option in one of them?

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

We can help, please post your questions on the forum forum.derivative.ca

[@purytchapatpupah7039]

I am saving up some money to buy a laptop. My main purpose is to start creating art on processing. Anyone has any recommendations which laptop specs I can start from as a beginner? Thanks a lot.

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

Nvidia GPU will get you the most features and performance with TouchDesigner.

[@mastergiova]

thanks, i will do my best to have patience for tNice tutorials because i normally don't have much, i wish there were chapters here so i could skip

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

There is a chapters list pinned in the comments.

[@asianthundergod1612]

2:32:16 the light control (camera icon on z axis) doesn't appear to my project and I can't seem to find the way to activate it. Please help

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

The display flag is likely not turned on for your light or camera. Only objects with their display flag on will show up in the Geometry Viewer.

[@4umata]

Does the newer version support Vulkan?

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

Yes, any version of TouchDesigner 2022 or later is Vulkan.

[@sweetiei.8403]

oh it doesnt work for me at 29:32... I click in middle and it creates a new Over operator connected to previous 2 but not as separate. Please help!

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

The trick is to use Middle Mouse Button to connect a new OP and make it a separate branch. If that is difficult (some middle-buttons/scrollwheels are difficult), you can always just create a separate Over TOP not connected to anything and manually make that new branch.

[@DoBeech]

Does it support for windows 10?

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

docs.derivative.ca/System_Requirements

[@User-19273]

1:20:51 My video is not moving, what is wrong? Can anybody help me with this

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

It would be easier to help on our support forum at forum.derivative.ca, we can share screenshots and files there and get to the bottom of it.

[@zashkask7954]

the way.

[@jhallcomposer]

For some reason, I was imagining this taking place at some big Keynote-like event. The shock when the camera went on at 22:48 😂

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

Workshop at our first summit! Maybe 30-35 people at the workshop.

[@bellyelmasry27]

does the soft like Michael Jackson just to ?

[@Dater951]

thanks for the video but you question from the audience cant be heard.

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

It was a workshop, sorry about that.

[@dopplervideofortechno]

@@TouchDesignerOfficial I was going to make the same point as Dater951, would it be possible to add the audience questions as subtitles? Either way this is a great workshop, thank you very much

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

@@dopplervideofortechno Sorry, we can't hear the questions either, and haven't figured out how to travel back in time yet... :)

[@californiareallifeonline7927]

but there is a benefit in it))

[@BennySalto]

Lot's of Dutch accents in the background verrie nais.

[@phuyhance]

day.

[@solzee4693]

Who are the 7 guys who disliked this video??? I really wanna ask them why! :))))))))))

[@TouchDesignerOfficial]

Haha, thanks, but you can't make everyone happy :)

[@kalo9046]

1:01:50

[@meowcrobe]

support linux!