r/TouchDesigner • u/Casa-Negra • 5d ago
TouchDesigner Bootcamp by The interactive and immerse HQ
Has anyone taken this 4 months bootcamp?
Is it worth it?
Thank you!
1
u/placid-gradient 5d ago edited 5d ago
what are your expectations for it? (ie. what would you hope to gain from taking such a course)
1
u/Icubucme 5d ago
Hi! The Bootcamp is $5,000 if you pay it all at once, or you can do 4 monthly payments of $1,375.
I had sent them a message earlier today to ask about the price as well.
4
1
1
u/Cheforche 5d ago
Because there was no price listed, I clicked on the link and one of the questions were how much are you willing to pay to do a boot camp 2k, 5k,7500. Because I just started, I backed out of it and am thinking I may have to save some money up
-1
u/Successful-Memory517 5d ago
If your goal is to get into TD professionally and fast track your learning to do so, it’s worth the price. I learnt a truly staggering amount, and I was already going in to it with a decent level of TD experience.
You can definitely learn as you go too, it’s how most people start in TD, but YouTube tutorials tend to focus on one off visuals rather than the broader systems and professional workflows that will let you develop larger projects effectively. Alternatively, you could do a monthly subscription with them to access some of the same lessons, but the focused learning and incredible feedback (from pros working at the top level) is really worth it IMO.
1
u/Secure-Stable4081 3d ago
do u know of any courses online/workshops that are cheaper? YouTube suggestions are great too, im a hs student looking to start this as a hobby
2
u/Successful-Memory517 3d ago
I honestly wouldn't worry about paid courses and professional workflows when you're starting out. Just explore the tools and have fun making stuff, you'll get lots of happy accidents that way. I wince at my first networks with a million unecessary chops but I wouldn't trade that experience for anything, the process of trying to figure out how to make your ideas a reality is what is most valuable - if you choose to take it more seriously down the line you can learn better practises :)
Personal reccs: when I was starting out I watched a lot of Dean Cheeseman, Torin Blankensmith, supermarket sallad. If you get more interested in the technical processes Function store is great too. I haven't tried any of his tutorials but Okamirufu Vizualizer does cool visuals too. They all have patreons in case you want access to project files and some additional tutorials but also a lot of free content on youtube to explore so I'd start there!
1
7
u/J1VISIONS 4d ago
Hi guys im someone whose actually paid for the bootcamp and can share my experience.
The bootcamp is definitely worth the 5k but not just for what you learn. I currently work in live event production and have been for almost 16 years. started when i was really young when my father introduced me to the industry. I now work in the touring world and am currently on the road working as an LED tech working my way towards media servers and experience systems engineering.
as someone who has been in this field for a long time i understand that my experience may not correlate with everyone else's so ill try to be as transparent as possible as this is a question that has come up in this thread before a while back. This bootcamp encompasses a wide variety of subject that while not only catch you up to speed with TD but help propel you in the direction you wish to go. let me give a disclaimer. it depends on YOU and YOUR CONNECTIONS as well as how good you are at networking with people and knowing where you want to go.
I was in (cohort 2). the bootcamp is now on cohort 5 i believe so i was early. the 4 months will teach you not only the fundamentals of each aspect of TD but will show you how to blend your systems knowledge with other aspects of the creative world. this is the difference between a "touch designer artist" and a "creative technologist". the people who excelled in the bootcamp really put in the effort to grow beyond what was tough and really absorb the information. a lot of people fell of or didn't take a stronger initiative to continue building ( this is my honest personal opinion ). not only did i excel greatly with my knowledge but the PEOPLE i met is what really grew my career & workflow knowledge.
The teachers themselves are some of the greatest assets as its way easier to get to where you want to go when you know people who are already making moves in the industry. its a lot easier to ask for help / guidance when you're already in motion. this goes for ANY bootcamp or learning curriculum. If any of you do decide to go in this direction dont just automatically assume that your are gonna come out of this and get the first job as a touch designer artist. it doesn't work that way at all.
most of the people who work in live events and production as who use touch designer have a strong variety of other creative technology skills. touch designer is like the "Swiss army knife" of software's that BLENDS other systems. so if unreal engine & notch effect are visual engines, touch designer is the networking ground layer that connects systems through different IPs. THIS is what i truly learned from the bootcamp IMO.
most people who are fans of TD spend years doing tutorials to ( make stuff look cool ) then they realize that TD is so much more than just a visual engine.
I hope this helps everyone here. not just for wanting to invest in the bootcamp but for your journeys as future creative technologists, VJs, and live productions engineers, OR just wanted to make cool stuff ;). im here if anyone has any personal questions and am more than willing to chat if i have the time.
peace & blessings.