Event Services is responsible for providing production support in Baker University Center (a student centre with state-of-the-art conference and event spaces), Templeton Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium (a 2000-seat concert hall), The Convocation Center (a 13,000-seat arena) as well as offsite locations.
ArKaos MediaMaster Pro has been used in support of the many university and community events that take place on and off-campus since it was first introduced by Jeremy Schaffer, associate director of operations and production for event services.
"We use Arkaos MediaMaster Pro for many different events from corporate and social functions to our University Commencement Ceremonies," says Schaffer. "Primarily we utilise MediaMaster Pro to create multi-frame projections from a single source. For example, we used it to drive four LED video walls at the Commencement Ceremonies in the Convocation Center on our Athens campus at the end of this year's spring semester. We also utilise MediaMaster's Video Mapper and Hog 4 CITP connectivity to create interesting mappings of surfaces in our Ballroom and other event spaces."
"The Ballroom, like many of our event spaces, has natural video surfaces in the form of blank walls, interspersed with doorways and windows. We can use these to completely transform the room with video projection. MediaMaster's Video Mapper allows me to map surfaces, break the surfaces into multiple 'windows', and add and blend textures and video content quickly and easily. It literally takes about ten minutes to create imaginative backdrops across multiple surfaces to enhance this multipurpose environment. The Video Mapper gives a huge impact for the minimal cost and time you need to put in!"
Schaffer references one particular event, the Bobcat Family Reunion, as an example: "All we needed was a console and a computer running MediaMaster Pro to create a number of picture frames into which we were able to stream multiple changing photos and videos that represented the family. We simply hooked the video into the lighting console and controlled the sizing, pan, tilt, etc of the image from the Hog 4, just as if it were a moving light. It's an extremely compact, flexible system to send out on the road and doesn't require our technicians to be media experts to operate it."
Schaffer and his colleagues first discovered ArKaos at LDI 2013 when looking to upgrade their lighting equipment across all campuses. "We were operating from a Hog 4 control platform and became intrigued by media servers and the newly emerging video mapping technology. We followed up by renting some LED video panels with an integral ArKaos MediaMaster Pro licence from local suppliers, Sound Rental Services, for use on our Commencement Ceremonies. This was our first experience of ArKaos and, at this stage, we used the technology in a simple fashion as media management triggered using the Hog 4's cueing software. Instantly we were hooked!"
Schaffer's team was so impressed that the University purchased its own ArKaos MediaMaster Pro licence and two projectors which are now constantly in use, both in teaching and event environments, across the main and all regional campuses. "We had intended to introduce MediaMaster Pro into our auditorium venue for use on large concerts but our current units are always too busy on events. We will therefore be looking to increase our number of ArKaos licences in the near future!" says Schaffer.
The University places a great emphasis on training the students in the latest and best technologies and has installed a Hog 4 and MediaMaster Pro software in the student training area to encourage students' creativity and lead them away from the limitations of using old fashioned banners to dress event spaces. MediaMaster Pro has proved easy to learn with a
