TouchDesigner & Unreal Engine: OSC Magic!

Hey guys! Ever wanted to create some seriously cool visuals and interactive experiences? Well, you're in the right place! We're diving deep into the awesome world of TouchDesigner, Unreal Engine, and the magical communication protocol known as OSC (Open Sound Control). Think of it as a superhighway for data, allowing these two powerhouses to talk to each other seamlessly. This guide is all about connecting TouchDesigner and Unreal Engine using OSC, and I promise, it's not as scary as it sounds. We'll break it down step-by-step, making sure you can get your projects up and running in no time. Buckle up, because we're about to unlock some serious creative potential!

Why Use TouchDesigner, Unreal Engine, and OSC Together?

So, why bother connecting these three in the first place? Well, each of them brings something unique to the table, and when combined, the results are mind-blowing. TouchDesigner is a visual programming environment, like a playground for real-time visuals, interactive media, and generative art. It excels at creating complex, dynamic visuals, data visualization, and interactive installations. It is also an excellent tool for prototyping your ideas.

Unreal Engine, on the other hand, is a powerhouse game engine known for its stunning graphics, realistic simulations, and interactive experiences. It's used in everything from AAA games to architectural visualization and virtual production. Think of it as the ultimate virtual world builder. And, finally, there's OSC. This protocol is the glue that binds them together. OSC is a messaging protocol optimized for real-time control, allowing data to be sent between different applications, hardware, and environments.

The Synergy

By using them together you gain:

• Real-time Visuals: Push pixel data from TouchDesigner directly to Unreal Engine for dynamic textures, real-time effects, and generative visuals within your Unreal environment. Imagine reactive environments that respond to audio, video, or user input in real-time. This is often used for creating LED displays, stage design and concert visualization.
• Interactive Control: Use controllers, sensors, or other input devices connected to TouchDesigner to manipulate objects, trigger events, and control parameters within Unreal Engine. This is where the magic of interactivity comes in. Now, you can build virtual installations where the user interacts with the real world, and the digital environment responds in real-time.
• Data Visualization: Visualize data streams from external sources within Unreal Engine using the processing power of TouchDesigner. This can be used for artistic expression, scientific visualization, or data-driven installations. You can create immersive visualizations that respond to changing conditions in real time.
• Workflow Flexibility: Use the strengths of each software. Create complex visual effects and generative elements in TouchDesigner, and integrate them seamlessly into a rich, interactive environment in Unreal Engine. You can iterate faster.

In essence, it's about combining the visual prowess of TouchDesigner with the rendering capabilities of Unreal Engine, all coordinated using OSC to get the desired result. Are you ready to dive in?

Setting up OSC Communication: TouchDesigner Side

Alright, let's get our hands dirty and start setting things up! First up: configuring TouchDesigner to send OSC messages. Here’s how you can do it:

1. OSC Out CHOP: This is your primary tool in TouchDesigner for sending OSC messages. Add an OSC Out CHOP to your network. You can find it in the CHOPs menu.
2. Configure the OSC Out CHOP:
   • Network Address: This is the IP address of the computer running Unreal Engine. If both programs are on the same machine, use 127.0.0.1 (localhost). If they're on different machines, you need the IP address of the computer running Unreal Engine.
   • Port: Choose a port number for communication. Make sure it's the same port you'll use in Unreal Engine. A common choice is 7000 or 8000, but you can choose any unused port.
   • Address: This is the OSC address to send your data. It's like a specific channel or path. It follows a /path/to/data format. For example, if you want to send the value of a slider, the address might be /slider1. It has to match what you set up in Unreal Engine to receive.
   • Values: Connect the CHOPs that you want to send data from. These could be sliders, audio analysis CHOPs, or any other data source. You can send different types of data, such as floats, integers, and strings.
3. Sending Data: Connect your desired data sources to the OSC Out CHOP's inputs. For instance, if you want to send the value of a slider, connect the slider's output to the OSC Out CHOP's input.
4. Testing the Connection: Add a Text DAT and a Network Monitor DAT to test and verify the output of your OSC Out CHOP. The Network Monitor DAT will help you to verify that your OSC Out CHOP is correctly sending the messages. Make sure that your Network Monitor DAT has the correct IP address and port number.

Example: Sending a Slider Value

Let's go through a simple example. Let's say you have a slider component named “Slider1”.

1. Add an OSC Out CHOP.
2. Set the Network Address to 127.0.0.1 (or your Unreal Engine computer's IP).
3. Set the Port to 8000 (or whatever you choose).
4. Set the Address to /slider1.
5. Connect the output of your slider to the input of the OSC Out CHOP.
6. Add a Network Monitor DAT and set the IP Address and Port.

Now, when you move the slider, the Network Monitor DAT should show OSC messages being sent to the specified address and port.

Setting up OSC Communication: Unreal Engine Side

Now, let's move over to Unreal Engine and set up the receiving end of our communication. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Install the OSC Plugin: Unreal Engine doesn’t natively support OSC, so you'll need a plugin. The most popular choice is the “OSC” plugin, often found on the Unreal Engine Marketplace. Install and enable this plugin in your project. This is a must if you want to receive data from TouchDesigner.
2. Create a UDP Receiver Actor: You need an actor to receive OSC messages. This can be done by creating a new Actor blueprint.
3. Add OSC Receiver Component: Inside your actor blueprint, add an OSC Receiver component. This component will handle the incoming OSC messages. Select the OSC Receiver component in the viewport or Components panel, then go to the Details panel.
4. Configure the OSC Receiver:
   • Port: Set the same port number you used in TouchDesigner. For example, 8000.
   • Network Address: Leave this blank to receive from any IP address or enter the specific IP address of the machine running TouchDesigner to limit the communication.
5. Bind Events: The OSC Receiver component can trigger events when it receives a message. You need to create event bindings to handle incoming messages. You can use the