The custom built, Cold War themed Def-Con video controller. Photo - Devin Becker

Controllerism is undoubtedly becoming a more common approach to performing live music, but it’s no one-trick pony. Many controllerists are using some of the same techniques and philosophies for live visual performance.

“It’s really fun to treat video as an instrument and just feel like you’re jamming alongside the audio performers,” said Devin Becker(aka Mzo), a Sacramento Calif. based VJ who has been using controllers to perform live visuals for more than three years.  Becker has accompanied many live musical performances,  including: Dan Saenz in Las Vegas, parties hosted by Big Up Magazine and LoveTech in San Francisco.

Becker uses a custom-built, Soviet Cold War tech-themed controller, the Def-Con, to manipulate video clips in Resolume Avenue.

“It’s basically 3 different controllers hacked up a bit and built into a custom built laser-etched plastic box,” Becker Said, “I am really big on re-purposing control surfaces rather than always building everything from scratch because there are a variety of great, cheap consumer products that can be reprogrammed for awesome audio/visual uses.”

The Def-Con, which Becker helped design and build with Craig Dorety, combines the buttons, pads, knobs and faders from an M-Audio Trigger Finger, Mixman DM2 and a Belkin Nostromo n52 gaming controller. Becker created custom midi and key mappings that allow the three devices to control clip launch, effects and other functions in the software.

Formerly a DJ, Becker decided to feed on his love of cinema and skill with music technology to take his work in a new direction.

“The nature of how the DJ scene works and the hustle just got to me, and I burnt out on going out for a while.” Becker said, “I saw some amazing AVJ performances on YouTube from TV Sheriff, Coldcut and Eclectic Method that I really felt were much more exciting. I really enjoyed sampling audio clips from movies and that naturally lent itself to the idea of doing the same for video clips.”

Becker’s visual aesthetic is similar to that of a hip hop artist that samples bits of popular music and rearranges them into something new, yet lovingly nostalgic.

“My style is about taking pieces of movie culture, a mix between well known films and obscure B movies, and re-contextualizing them in a different entertainment medium, usually with a good dose of humor,” Becker said, “In some ways I’m mocking the films themselves by stripping the clips of their context and manipulating them in often goofy ways, such as making Robocop dance, but I’m then providing a new context from the music vibe that allows you to enjoy that piece of cultural history in a new way.”

Be sure to check out Becker’s website for videos and more information about his work.