Video wall content expression?

[David Bogie]

In Motion, we’d use a simple replicator, set it to spit out its children in a grid, and assign the source video to random start frames.
In AE, I might use a particle system like Foam. It has the ability to use a random start frame from the particle source. But, of course, Foam’s particles cannot be herded into a nice grid.

;’m not only AE machine at the moment but I think you can search the online help system for something like “random frame” and you should get a list of effects that offer the feature.

visit some of these AE Expressions forums and help sites and search for video wall and random frame:

https://www.aenhancers.com/
https://www.motionscript.com/mastering-expressions/simulation-basics-3.html
https://www.motionscript.com/mastering-expressions/table-of-contents.html
https://www.nabscripts.com/Downloads/downloads_en_1.php?id=7
https://aeioweyou.blogspot.com/

Hope you get better advice over the next few days.

BTW: There’s nothing “simple” about a 200 unit video wall!

bogiesan

[Mark Grossardt]

Thanks for your response and advice, bogiesan.

I actually think I’ve stumbled onto a decent AE solution. I’m using Trapcode Particular to create a grid emitter set up to my dimensions, then choosing a custom particle that points to a comp containing the video files and choose Random – Play loop. I just set a keyframe at frame one to emit 200 particles, then 0 particles at frame two, set the lifespan of the particles as long as I need it and bang, “simple” 200 unit video wall (kinda).

Thanks again, and I’ll check out those threads you linked. You never know when you’ll find a better way to do something.