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We’ve recently released GrandVJ 1.6.5 which brings support for DJ-Style MIDI controllers with a jog wheel for scratching. That was all we were missing to bring support for the NuVJ controller in GrandVJ. And we know that this compatibility was a much requested feature, as the NuVJ Video Mixer is being progressively phased out by Numark, the software part is no more updated and users are left with a controller sitting on a shelf. Instead of continuing to put resources in bringing into the NuVJ software some features that are already implemented in GrandVJ we have decided to focus all our efforts in improving GrandVJ more and more so that each new version gets better and the future version 2 can be as amazing as we are planning it.

DJ Ron sent us this quick video where he’s presenting his VJ/DJ setup installed at Houston’s Loggia-Sugarland sports bar. As you can see it’s all very organized; thanks to the laptop stands he only needs a small table to fit everything and be ready to mix both music and visuals in sync. This video is no longer available... Allowing this kind of very mobile setup is exactly what we want to achieve by making GrandVJ a lightweight but powerful video mixing software that can very easily produce great visuals even on a laptop. Actually, it’s so easy that DJ Ron – which was primarily a DJ as you guessed – had no problems to add VJing to his skills without sacrificing his DJ talent..

GrandVJ is not only a tool for VJ’s to mix visuals in sync with the music from a DJ, it can also be very useful for Musicians wishing to add a visual dimension to their music. Ok, the difference is subtle but it’s indeed another point of view that we keep in consideration when developing the software.   Recently we spotted the video below on Twitter, it’s produced by live audio-visual artist Ryan Noise and Unique Squared and we found it to be a great introduction to the use of GrandVJ in connection with Ableton Live. Note that Ryan connects GrandVJ and Ableton through Rewire here, but the latest GrandVJ 1.5 comes with a VST plugin which allows not only to send MIDI to GrandVJ but also sound, so that you can use it to trigger sound-reactive Generators or Flash animations.

Those who read this blog frequently will probably remember Charlie Mars, the French VJ with the colorful hood.. It’s the third time we’re writing about this guy already! We first spotted a great home demo on Vimeo that he did after using GrandVJ since just one day, then the week after he was already taking GrandVJ live on stage for the ZôL concert at Metamorphoses, a French Electronic music festival.