Package Jitter

jit.qt.grab

Digitize video from an external source

Description

Use the jit.grab object to digitize video from any video digitizer and decompress the signal into a Jitter matrix. On OSX, QuickTime is used; on Windows, DirectX is used.

Discussion

jit.grab also offers a grab-to-disk mode. Although numerous parameters for control are offered, not all features are supported by all digitizers.

Matrix Operator

matrix inputs:1, matrix outputs:1
Name IOProc Planelink Typelink Dimlink Plane Dim Type
out n/a 1 1 1 4 1 char

More about Matrix Operators

The Jitter MOP

Since the matrix is Jitter's focus, it is not surprising that the majority of Jitter objects fall in this category of Matrix Operators. Every Matrix operator has some number of matrix inputs and some number of matrix outputs. Matrix inputs are referred to by the names "in", "in2", "in3", etc., from left to right, and matrix outputs are referred to by the names "out", "out2", "out3", etc., from left to right--i.e. the names are appended by the input/output number except for the first (leftmost) input and first (leftmost) output which are simply named "in" and "out". We will refer to the input or output name names as the "I/O-name".

Matrix inputs and outputs typically each have their own matrices internally where information is kept. This is necessary because Jitter is an asynchronous framework (i.e. all the matrices don't arrive at all inputs at the same time). Various aspects of matrix inputs and outputs can be set using the command [I/O-name] combined with one of the following suffixes: "_dim" which will set the dimensions of the specified I/O matrix, "_type" which will set the type of the specified matrix, "_planecount" which will set the plane of the specified matrix, or "_name" which will set the name of the specified matrix. There is one special case which does not have an internal matrix and this is the first input "in". This is the case since this special input actually triggers the calculation of the matrix operator, so it doesn't need to be cached until a calulation takes place, unlike the other inputs. Therefore there is no mechanism to set the dim, planecount, type, or name of "in".

Matrix operators accept what we'll refer to as "matrix args"--i.e. [planecount (int)] [ type (symbol)] [dim (int list)] . if these arguments are present, the adapt attribute will be turned off, otherwise it will be turned on. If adapt mode is turned on, each time a matrix is received in the first input, there will also be the equivalent of setting the dim , planecount , and type attributes to that of the input matrix. If the other inputs and outputs are linked to these attributes, this will affect their linked attributes as well. See the "MOP" table to determine which inputs and outputs will be linked to which attributes when adapt mode is turned on. For the leftmost input this is not applicable, and hence all columns are labelled "n/a".

The jit.matrix object is a named matrix which may be used to matrix data storage and retrieval, resampling, and matrix type and planecount conversion operations.

MOP Arguments

planecount[int]
optional

Explicitly sets the number of planes for the output and any righthand inputs. If this is absent, the Matrix Operator will typically adapt to the lefthand incoming matrix attributes, except for special case operators.

type[symbol]
optional

Explicitly sets the type of the matrix for the output and any righthand inputs. If this is absent, the Matrix Operator will typically adapt to the lefthand incoming matrix attributes, except for special case operators.

dimensions[list]
optional

Explicitly sets the dimensions of the matrix for the output and any righthand inputs. If this is absent, the Matrix Operator will typically adapt to the lefthand incoming matrix attributes, except for special case operators.

MOP Attributes

adapt[int]

Matrix adaptation flag (default = 0 if matrix arguments are present, otherwise 1) When the flag is set, the jit.matrix object will adapt to the incoming matrix planecount, type, and dimensions.

[in/out]_dim[32 ints]

The matrix data dimensions (default = 1 1)

[in/out]_name[symbol]

The input or output name of the matrix (default = UID)

[in/out]_planecount[int]

The number of planes in matrix input our output data. Except in special cases, this value is equal to the planecount .

[in/out]_type[symbol]

The input or output matrix data type. Except in special cases, this value is equal to type .

outputmode[int]

Output mode (default = 1 (calculate and output matrix))
0 = No output (no calculation)
1 = Calculate and output the matrix
2 = Pass input (no calculation)
3 = Pass output (no calculation)

type[int]

The matrix data type (default = char
Supported data types are char , long , float32 , or float64 .

MOP Messages

bang

Equivalent to the outputmatrix message.

clear

Sets all cell values in a matrix to zero.

exportattrs

Exports an object's current attributes values in XML format. If no filename is specified, a file dialog will open to let you choose a file.

Arguments:
  • filename [symbol]

getattributes

Sends a sequence of lists out the object's right outlet describing the object's attributes, one line per attribute. Each line listing takes the form attribute attribute-name get get-value set foo set-value data-type(s) number-of-values .

getstate

Sends a sequence of lists describing the object's state out the object's right outlet, one line per attribute. Each line listing line takes the form attribute-name attribute-value1 attribute-value2 ... attribute-valueN .

importattrs

Imports attributes specified in XML format to set the object's attributes. If no filename is specified, a file dialog will open to let you choose a file.

Arguments:
  • filename [symbol]

jit_matrix

Handles input for the named matrix. If this messages is received in the left inlet, output is typically triggered. If this message is received in any other inlet, the data is typically cached until the jit_matrix message is received in the left inlet.

Arguments:
  • matrix-name [symbol]

outputmatrix

Sends the matrix out the left outlet.

summary

Sends a sequence of lists describing the object and it attributes and messages out the rightmost outlet of the object. The first output line takes the form summary objectname object-name . The second and third lines describe the number of inlets and outlets for the object in the form summary (matrixinputcount/matrixoutletcount) number-of-(inlets/outlets) . The fourth line describes the matrixoutput in the form summary matrixoutput descriptor planelink planelink-value typelink typelink-value dimlink dimlink-value types data-type(s) . Each attribute for the object is then listed, one attribute per line. Each line listing takes the form summary attribute attribute-name attribute-value1 attribute-value2 ... attribute-valueN .

Attributes

adapt[int]

Adapt output matrix dimensions to native device dimensions. Enabled by default if no dim specified.

automatic[int]

Enable automatic matrix output when bound to jit.world.

colormode[symbol]

The output matrix's color encoding (default = argb) Possible values:

'argb' ( ARGB (alpha, red, green, blue) colormode )
'uyvy' ( UYVY (YUV 4:2:2 packed) colormode )

drawto[symbol]

A render context name, used when output_texture is enabled.

dstrect[4 ints]

The portion of the output matrix used for decompressing media to the internal matrix. (default = 0 0 (matrix width) (matrix height))
The proportions of the rectangle are expressed in the form left top right bottom . All values are relative to the top left corner of the viewing area of the output matrix.

engine[symbol]

Video engine backend. This argument can only be set in the max box. If not specified, it is determined by the Video Engine Max preference. As of this writing, possible values include avf (Mac only), qt , and viddll .

framerate[float]

The video digitizer frame rate (default = digitizer-specific).
The digitizer has to be closed and re-opened before changes to framerate take effect.

framereport[int]

Frame reporting flag (default = 0)
When enabled, the message framecalc will be sent from the rightmost outlet of the jit.grab object as each frame is processed, followed by the number of milliseconds spent doing so.

input[int]

The current video digitizer input (default = digitizer-specific)

interp[int]

Image interpolation flag (default = 0)

output_texture[int]

Enable OpenGL texture output (default = 0). When enabled an OpenGL texture is output instead of a Jitter matrix. The object's drawto attribute must be set to a valid gl context. An RGBA texture is output using the movie's native dimensions. When enabled, the following attributes have no effect:
adapt
colormode
dim
dstrect
srcrect
usedstrect
usesrcrect

srcrect[4 ints]

Source rect from digitizer frame (default = 0 0 (matrix width) (matrix height))

texture_name[symbol]

Output texture name, when output_texture is enabled.

unique[int]

Unique frame filter flag (default = 0 (disabled))
When the flag is set, only new frames from the digitizer are output when the object receives a bang. If no new frame has been received from the digitizer, the jit.grab object will not respond to the bang.

usedstrect[int]

Destination rect flag (default = 0) When the flag is set, the dstrect attributes are used when copying an input matrix to the internal matrix.

usesrcrect[int]

Source rect flag (default = 0) When the flag is set, the srcrect attributes are used when copying an input matrix to the internal matrix.

vdevice[int]

The current video digitizer (default = 0)

format[int]

Format

Common Box Attributes

Below is a list of attributes shared by all objects. If you want to change one of these attributes for an object based on the object box, you need to place the word sendbox in front of the attribute name, or use the object's Inspector.

annotation[symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in the Clue window when the user moves the mouse over the object.

background[int]: 0

Adds or removes the object from the patcher's background layer. background 1 adds the object to the background layer, background 0 removes it. Objects in the background layer are shown behind all objects in the default foreground layer.

color[4 floats]

Sets the color for the object box outline.

fontface[int]

Sets the type style used by the object. The options are:

plain
bold
italic
bold italic Possible values:

0 = 'regular'
1 = 'bold'
2 = 'italic'
3 = 'bold italic'

fontname[symbol]

Sets the object's font.

fontsize[float]

Sets the object's font size (in points). Possible values:

'8'
'9'
'10'
'11'
'12'
'13'
'14'
'16'
'18'
'20'
'24'
'30'
'36'
'48'
'64'
'72'

hidden[int]: 0

Toggles whether an object is hidden when the patcher is locked.

hint[symbol]

Sets the text that will be displayed in as a pop-up hint when the user moves the mouse over the object in a locked patcher.

ignoreclick[int]: 0

Toggles whether an object ignores mouse clicks in a locked patcher.

jspainterfile[symbol]

JS Painter File

patching_rect[4 floats]: 0. 0. 100. 0.

Sets the position and size of the object in the patcher window.

position[2 floats]
write-only

Sets the object's x and y position in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its size unchanged.

presentation[int]: 0

Sets whether an object belongs to the patcher's presentation.

presentation_rect[4 floats]: 0. 0. 0. 0.

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in the patcher's presentation, leaving its patching position unchanged.

rect[4 floats]
write-only

Sets the x and y position and width and height of the object in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation).

size[2 floats]
write-only

Sets the object's width and height in both patching and presentation modes (if the object belongs to its patcher's presentation), leaving its position unchanged.

textcolor[4 floats]

Sets the color for the object's text in RGBA format.

textjustification[int]

Sets the justification for the object's text. Possible values:

0 = 'left'
1 = 'center'
2 = 'right'

varname[symbol]

Sets the patcher's scripting name, which can be used to address the object by name in pattr, scripting messages to thispatcher, and the js object.

Messages

close

Closes an open sequence grab component. The component is automatically closed when the object is freed.

exportimage

Export the current frame as an image file with the name specified by the first argument. The second argument sets the file type (default = png). Available file types are png , tiff , and jpeg .
You can use the Max Preferences to specify a default image resolution for PNG images.

Arguments:
  • filename [symbol]
  • file-type [symbol]

getinputlist

Reports the list of available inputs to the video digitizer from the object's right outlet, preceded by the word inputlist . Note that the digitizer must be open in order for this method to function.

getvdevlist

Reports the list of available video digitizers from the object's right outlet, preceded by the word vdevlist .

open

Opens a sequence grab component. A component must be explicitly opened before the jit.grab object will began digitizing.

int

TEXT_HERE

See Also

Name Description
jit.movie Play or edit a movie
jit.record Record a movie