Videomancer
Real-time FPGA video effects console.
Videomancer is a standalone video instrument — fifteen years of LZX Industries video synthesis design in a single box. Plug in any video source and transform the signal live with dedicated hardware controls.
Six rotary knobs, five toggle switches, and one linear fader. Every effect parameter maps directly to a physical control. Turn a knob, see the image change.
An ever-expanding library of programs spans dozens of categories: color processing, glitch, pattern generation, keying, posterization, displacement, and feedback. Select a program, adjust the controls, and perform.
Videomancer processes video through programmable FPGA logic — not a GPU, not software plugins. The result is ultra-low latency measured in microseconds, not frames. What you do with the controls is what you see on the screen, instantly.
- Plug In Anything — HDMI, Composite, Component YPbPr, Component RGB, and 1V DC-coupled RGB. S-Video via adapter. Connect cameras, game consoles, computers, media players, and modular video synthesizers.
- HDMI and Analog, Both Directions — Supports NTSC, PAL, 240p through 1080p, and 1080i. Converts between HDMI and analog in either direction.
- 10-Bit Color Depth — Full 10-bit processing across both analog and digital streams. Precise colorization, proc-amp adjustment, and gradient-preserving effects.
- Hands-On Control — Twelve dedicated hardware controls for every effect parameter — no software menus between you and the image.
- External Modulation — Four Audio/CV inputs accept line-level audio, LFO-rate control voltage, and audio-rate modular signals. Full MIDI CC control via TRS Type A jacks, USB MIDI Device, USB MIDI Host, and USB HID support for joysticks, gamepads, and more.
- Instant Recall — Save and recall complete system states. Automatic state retention on power-up — the instrument remembers where you left off.
- Firmware Updates via USB — Update through LZX Connect, our free desktop app. Manual drag-and-drop update also supported via BOOTSEL.
- Expandable via microSD — Load additional programs from the built-in microSD card slot.
- Built to Perform — Rugged powder-coated steel enclosure with industrial screen printing. Powered by standard 12V DC barrel supply.
What will you create?
Perform visuals the way you perform music — with your hands.
Videomancer sits between your camera and your projector, processing live footage into real-time visual effects. Map MIDI CC messages from your existing controller to any parameter. The instrument responds as fast as you move.
No laptop in the signal chain. No crashes mid-set. No latency you can see.
Every program has analog character — not a filter preset.
Feed any video source into Videomancer and process it through dedicated FPGA hardware. Analog inputs and outputs give the signal path real analog character: the warmth, the noise floor, the artifacts you only get from real circuitry.
Programs span color destruction, bit reduction, displacement, feedback, and noise synthesis. Each program responds differently to different sources. The same knob turn on a camera feed and a synthetic pattern produces two completely different results.
One box. HDMI and analog. Both directions.
Videomancer converts between HDMI and analog video formats in either direction: composite, component, and 1V DC-coupled RGB. Connect vintage equipment to modern monitors, or route modular synthesizer output to an HDMI capture card.
Even with no effects applied, Videomancer is a broadcast-quality format converter with 10-bit color depth and proc-amp controls for brightness and contrast adjustment.
Your music controls the image. No code required.
Plug a line-level audio signal or control voltage into any of the four modulation inputs. The built-in modulation engine routes incoming signals to any parameter on any program — audio amplitude drives color saturation, an LFO sweeps a displacement offset, a MIDI CC fader crossfades between two looks.
Setup takes minutes: select a program, patch a cable, assign a modulation target. The instrument handles the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a computer to use Videomancer?
No. Videomancer is a standalone instrument. Plug in a video source, connect a display, power it on, and perform. A computer is only needed for firmware updates.
How do I get started?
Connect a video source to any input. Connect a display to any output. Power on the instrument. Select a program from the menu. Turn the knobs. The quick-start guide walks you through the rest.
What video sources work?
Any device with HDMI, composite, or component video output — cameras, game consoles, media players, computers, and modular synthesizers all work.
Can I use this for live performance?
Yes. There is no perceptible delay between your input and the display. MIDI and audio/CV modulation inputs make it a responsive performance instrument.
Will Videomancer get new programs and features?
Videomancer is a complete, stable instrument today. New programs and features arrive through regular firmware updates — every update is free and backward-compatible. The open-source Videomancer SDK also allows community developers to create and share their own programs.
How do I update the firmware?
Connect a USB cable and open LZX Connect on any computer. Select the firmware file and click update. A manual drag-and-drop method is also available as a fallback.
What comes in the box?
Videomancer device, 12V DC wall adapter with international plugs kit, mystical velvet pouch, 12-sided oracular polyhedron, Videomancer vinyl sticker, star stickers, fortune telling fish, and connectors & controls reference card.
Full documentation.
Every program includes a detailed guide with signal flow diagrams, parameter descriptions, and creative exercises. The quick-start walkthrough gets you from unboxing to your first patch in under ten minutes.
Read the Quick-Start Guide · Browse Program Guides
What's in the Box
- Videomancer device
- 12V DC wall adapter with international plugs kit (US, EU, UK, AU)
- Mystical velvet pouch
- 12-sided oracular polyhedron
- Videomancer vinyl sticker
- Star stickers
- Fortune telling fish
- Connectors & controls reference card
Device Specifications
| Dimensions | 234 × 178 × 75 mm (9.2 × 7.0 × 3.0 in) |
| Power | 12V DC barrel, center-positive (included) |
| Video Inputs | 1× HDMI, 1× Composite, 1× Component YPbPr/RGB, 1× 1V DC RGB (S-Video via Pb/Pr with adapter) |
| Video Outputs | 1× HDMI, 1× Composite, 1× Component YPbPr/RGB, 1× 1V DC RGB (S-Video via Pb/Pr with adapter) |
| Supported Formats | NTSC, PAL, 240p, 288p, 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p |
| Color Depth | 10-bit |
| MIDI | TRS Type A input and output |
| Modulation Inputs | 4× 3.5 mm audio/CV (line-level or modular) |
| USB | USB-C (firmware update, future expansion) |
| Expansion | microSD card slot |
| Enclosure | Powder-coated steel with industrial screen printing |
Learn more about Videomancer on our documentation website!
Or download firmware binaries from our public repository.
