π± Deck A / B & crossfade
VJam has Deck A and Deck B β two visual channels. Mixing and switching between them like a DJ mixer is what the Cockpit is all about π±
ποΈ First, open the Cockpit
- PC = Space / Mobile = pinch π€ or the [VJ] button at the bottom
- It opens with Deck A (left), Deck B (right), and a crossfader in the middle
π °οΈπ ±οΈ The two decks are fully independent
- Deck A and B each have their own engine and run separately
- Touching one doesn't affect the other (preset, blend, filter, images β each deck holds its own)
- So you can move between A and B with the fader while each deck keeps its own state ποΈ
π§ How is this different from DJ decks?
With DJ decks, you often listen to the next track in headphones, cue it on the other deck, then bring it in with the fader.
VJam looks similar, but the workflow is different. When you tap a preset card in the browser, it does not secretly queue on the hidden deck. It goes straight onto the current Live Deck. If Deck A is live, the preset appears on A. If Deck B is live, it appears on B.
Visuals do not always need the same kind of strict headphone-style cueing as audio. VJam is tuned more for watching the screen, adding or replacing visuals directly, and mixing with the fader when useful.
If you want to prepare something before showing it, build states on Deck A/B first, or save and recall them with Deck β / FAV / scenes / video and image media.
βοΈ Mix & switch with the crossfader
The fader position controls both which deck you see and which deck the browser targets π
| Fader position | Screen | Presets picked in the browser |
|---|---|---|
| Full left | A only | Go onto A |
| Middle | A and B half-and-half (overlaid) | Go onto the current Live Deck |
| Full right | B only | Go onto B |
- Drag βοΈ to move smoothly between them (opacity blend)
- Tap A / B or the D key (PC) to slide to the other side over your set fade time (adjust it with [fade Ns] in Cockpit)
- When in doubt, think: the deck you are seeing is the deck you are editing
ποΈ Use the vertical faders to trim each deck
The thin vertical faders beside the crossfader are the output level for Deck A and Deck B. The crossfader decides which deck you are moving toward; the vertical faders decide how much of each deck is allowed through.
- Top = that deck outputs at 100%
- Bottom = that deck becomes dim / almost muted
- Use them when you want to thin out one deck without moving the crossfader
- Map them to MIDI channel faders for a hardware-mixer feel πΉ
π Load from the browser onto the current deck
The browser at the bottom of Cockpit controls the current Live Deck. If the fader is on A, it targets A. If the fader is on B, it targets B. If you are unsure, tap A / B to set the target.
- Browse presets in the All / P5 / MD / β (FAV) tabs + search π
- Tap a p5 card = add a layer to the current deck. If that deck is visible, it appears immediately
- Tap a MilkDrop card = replace the current deck's base visual. It swaps out the previous MilkDrop preset
π¬ This is the basic live move
- Show A
- Use the browser to add or replace presets on A
- Move the fader to B to switch decks
- Now use the browser to add or replace presets on B
Get this back-and-forth down and you can keep switching visuals without a break ποΈ
π What's on each deck (just learn where things are)
The deck panel has these. Details in their own chapters:
- Layer list β your presets (Γ to remove / π to protect)
- BLEND / FILTER β how they stack, color grading β π Blend/Filter chapter
- β Deck β β saves the deck's full state β β Scenes & FAV chapter
π― Design idea: keep one star at a time
VJam is built around the "show one effect big" VJ style. So don't overdo it β pick one star and switch decks (stack too much and you lose what the focus is) π―
π Related
- Choose what goes into a deck β π¨ Presets
- Shape the deck's look β π Blend & filters
- Save deck states β β Scenes & FAV
- Control decks with hardware faders β πΉ MIDI / ποΈ Controller mappings
- Send the visuals to an external screen β πΊ Projector