Programming Lo-Fi Hardware Video Synthesizers
Explore the lo-fi aesthetic of early computer art by programming a custom digital video synthesizer.
In this four-session course, students will program their own portable digital video synthesizer — the Video Gem, designed by instructor Ramona Sharples. The class will focus on the creative parts of programming a custom video synthesizer: writing compelling generative art programs and controlling parameters with physical input devices in the Arduino framework (which uses C++). Each student will receive a pre-assembled Video Gem video synthesizer and foundational video synth code that handles generating the base video signal and scanning inputs.
What is a video synthesizer? Imagine a musical instrument… for making video art! The Video Gem has 16 buttons and 16 knobs, and it can run code that generates endlessly-evolving colorful patterns of geometric shapes that you can display on any TV or projector with an HDMI port. The video art we’ll make in this class is intimately tied to the unique capabilities and constraints of the hardware it runs on — with a 320×240-pixel canvas and 256 gorgeous colors, we’ll learn how to write generative art programs that embrace the lo-fi aesthetic of early computer art. We’ll also learn how to make these programs respond to the buttons and knobs on the Video Gem. Finally, we’ll explore ideas in interface design and talk about how to make something engaging to play in both idle exploration and active performance.
And best of all, you get to take your Video Gem home with you so you can continue to build, customize, and play.
This Course has limited capacity. Enroll today to secure your spot.
Course Logistics
Enrollment Deadline: February 25, 2026
Dates: March 4, March 11, March 18, and March 25, 2026
(Every Wednesday in March)
Times: 6 – 9 PM
Cost: $540 for a four-day course
We also offer Diversity Scholarships. Apply by February 15, 2026. Scholarship notifications will be sent within 1 week after the deadline.
Format
In-Person Workshop
Experience Level: Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Some experience with computer programming is recommended. Arduino experience is helpful but not necessary — if you’re familiar with other programming languages and have an understanding of concepts like variables, functions, for loops, conditional logic, and arrays, you’ll likely have a good time in this class! If you have experience with Processing or even HTML Canvas drawing techniques, the framework we’ll be using for writing art programs (Adafruit GFX) will feel familiar.
Requirements:
- Any laptop with at least two USB ports (one for the microcontroller, one for the video capture card that students will be loaned for class).
- Software (install before class):
- Arduino IDE version 2.3 or higher
- Video capture software (e.g. Quicktime on a Mac, Camera on windows, Cheese on Linux)
Additional Information:
• No Refunds or Exchanges.
• View our FAQ here.
• Contact [email protected] with any questions.
About Technologies
- The Video Gem video synthesizer is powered by an Adafruit Feather RP2040 With DVI, which is an Arduino-compatible microcontroller.
- The physical interface is a custom open-source circuit board designed and assembled by the instructor.
- The base video signal is generated using LukeWren’s PicoDVI library.
- The graphics are generated using Adafruit’s GFX library, which provides Processing-like functions for drawing simple shapes into the framebuffer and managing the somewhat limited color palette.
Workshop Outline
Session 1
We’ll get all the basic parts working, and by the end of class be able to control basic shapes in grayscale with our physical inputs.
• What is video art? What is a video synthesizer?
• Early computer art history
• How a tiny microcontroller can generate a 240p video signal
• Creating basic geometric shapes
• Mapping buttons and knobs to shape parameters
• Free exploration time
Session 2
We’ll learn how to make interesting patterns of shapes with beautiful color palettes — after this class, you’ll be able to really let your imagination run wild!
• All about 16-bit indexed color
• Generating gradients
• Alternative techniques for generating interesting color palettes
• Linear and oscillating motion
• Using loops to make patterns of shapes
• Making radial patterns with trigonometry
• Free exploration time
Session 3
We’ll move beyond basic shapes and color palettes and learn how to incorporate small images, text, and create surprising visual effects by messing with the video memory.
• Advanced graphical techniques: bitmaps, text, persistent objects
•.Modifying the color palette for fun visual FX
• Modifying the framebuffer for fun visual FX
• Modulation with low-frequency oscillators
• Free exploration time
Session 4
We’ll learn how to customize the behavior of the buttons and knobs to add more features to the Video Gem, and how to extend it with other kinds of sensors. We’ll also have a little show-and-tell time to share our hard work!
• Designing interface behavior for creative expression
• Adding features like modifier keys and modes to your video synth
• Expanding the hardware with additional sensors
• Show and tell
• Misc Q&A
Experiential Goals
In this workshop, participants will:
- Survey the capabilities of the RP2040 microcontroller and how it can be used to generate a video signal
- Implement a variety of techniques for generating interesting geometric patterns
- Experiment with digital color and various approaches for generating color palettes
- Explore techniques for creating motion and modulation in generative art
- Craft well-tuned visual programs that are fun to play on a physical interface
- Apply interface design principles for creative tools
- Describe how to build or expand on a circuit board like the one used in this class
- Develop an appreciation for early computer art and generative video art techniques
- Feel ownership over their video synthesizer, and empowered to make it do what they want
- Students will finish class with a video synth running their custom generative art code!
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