Blackmagic Design solutions in N.E.R.D. immersive show
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The software allows live operators to enhance an artist’s onstage performance by extracting images and elements from live camera signals and graphics, creating multiple outputs to LED screens or projectors on stage and throughout a venue, immersing the crowd within the live performance.
Catalyst’s capture elements are built around Blackmagic hardware and for N.E.R.D’s summer schedule, Stuart has built a compact media server rack, featuring a series of UltraStudio HD Mini capture and playback devices connected to two MacBook Pro. Signal outputs are then distributed via a 4K matrix.
“Every picture on the screens at either side of, and behind the band is timed and produced to run frame accurate to each song, so it’s essential that each element of the video system is reliable and offers minimal latency,” explains Stuart Merser, Vis-à-Vis director. “The UltraStudio’s Thunderbolt 3 is critical to this, and makes sure the content and live capture are perfectly synchronized with the action onstage.
“We designed and built this system on Blackmagic capture hardware knowing the tough schedule and multiple fly dates with this tour. The hardware’s reliability is unsurpassed, particularly for our outdoor summer schedule,” adds Merser. “We’ve already had to deal with incredibly hot temperatures in both the US and UK this summer, however the I/O hardware has continued to perform well, exactly when we need it to.”
(Jim Evans)
