How to VJ on iPad: Live Visuals Workflow with VJ Stage
Start vjing on iPad with VJ Stage. Clip launcher, video loops, layer blending, reactive FX, and NDI output — a complete live performance guide for visual artists.
VJing — live visual performance synced to music — used to require a laptop, external monitor, and desktop VJ software. iPad has closed that gap. With a clip launcher, layer mixer, and venue-ready output, you can run a full live visuals set from a tablet you already carry.
VJ Stage is built for that workflow: fire video loops from a performance grid, stack generators and layers, ride FX on the beat, and send your program to projectors or streams over NDI. This guide walks through a practical first show — from prep to stage.
Build your clip launcher set
Start with loops that match your genre and energy curve. Import your own footage or use the built-in library, then arrange clips in the launcher grid in set order — openers, build sections, drop moments, and cooldown visuals. Think like a DJ: each clip is a track you trigger when the room needs it.
Add one or two procedural generators as safety nets — they fill dead air when you need a look instantly and keep LED walls alive between clip changes.
- Group clips by energy: ambient intros, mid-tempo grooves, peak-time loops, breakdown textures
- Keep high-contrast loops for drops; softer looks for breakdowns and ambient sections
- Rehearse transitions: which blend mode and FX you hit between launcher slots
Layer blending and performance FX
The clip launcher triggers content; layers and blend modes shape the mix. Stack a generator under a loop for depth, or crossfade between two clips during a breakdown. Performance FX are your transitions — push them on beat so changes feel musical, not random.
VJ Stage keeps preview and program separate so you can cue the next look before the audience sees it — the same preview-then-trigger habit Resolume users rely on, adapted for touch.
Output and rehearsal
Before the gig, route NDI to your target — OBS for streams, a venue switcher, or a test projector on the same network. Run a full pass with the same audio source you will use live so reactive modulations and beat sync feel natural under your hands.
Download VJ Stage free on the App Store and build a ten-minute rehearsal set. Expand into MIDI or OSC control once the launcher workflow feels automatic — your iPad becomes a portable VJ rig ready for the stage.