videobeaux/docs/programs/effects/lsd_feedback.md

lsd_feedback

Description

Applies a psychedelic recursive feedback effect inspired by analog video feedback loops and LSD-style visual hallucination.
The effect blends delayed frames into the live frame stream, producing spiraling trails, melting motion, neon echoes, and evolving kaleidoscopic distortions.

Purpose

lsd_feedback is designed for creators who want to:

• introduce trippy, hallucinogenic motion smearing,
• simulate analog CRT feedback loops,
• create spirals, streaks, or self-replicating visual echoes,
• build evolving feedback tunnels reminiscent of VHS/CRT experiments,
• produce psychedelic or surreal video art without patching hardware feedback systems.

How It Works

1. Frame Recursion
   A portion of each delayed frame is reinjected back into the live image, similar to pointing a camera at a monitor.
2. Temporal Drift
   Past frames influence future frames with increasing distortion as the effect accumulates.
3. Color Expansion
   Depending on implementation, colors may bloom or smear into neon gradients.
4. Motion Hallucination
   The viewer perceives warped, melting, or pulsating motion as feedback compounds over time.
5. Encoding
   Output is written using global Videobeaux settings (codec, pixel format, CRF).

Program Template

videobeaux -P lsd_feedback -i input.mp4 -o output.mp4

Arguments

• (No additional program-specific arguments; uses global videobeaux options only.)

Real World Example

videobeaux -P lsd_feedback \
  -i myvideo.mp4 \
  -o lsd_feedback_styled.mp4

Program Output

Technical Notes

• Feedback strength increases over time, making long clips more intense than short ones.
• Works especially well with neon lighting, strong edges, and symmetrical compositions.
• Compression interacts with feedback recursion — higher CRF values may create chaotic noise patterns.
• Because feedback accumulates, even subtle parameter changes (in underlying implementation) can produce drastically different visuals.

Recommended Usage

• Psychedelic music videos, rave visuals, and festival projections.
• VJ loops with evolving feedback tunnels.
• Experimental films exploring self-referential distortion.
• Visualizers for ambient, drone, or improvisational electronic music.
• Motion graphics sequences requiring surreal deformation.

Quality Tips

• For smoother feedback gradients, use lower CRF (higher quality).
• For chaotic glitch spirals, render at higher CRF or degrade using bad_contrast afterward.
• Combine with frame_delay_pro1 or frame_delay_pro2 to produce layered temporal echoes.
• Pre-process with convert_dims to square formats (e.g., 1080×1080) for symmetrical feedback structures.
• Pair with double_cup or ghostee for dreamlike, syrupy hallucination trails.