A large number of the projectors used are from Barco's latest high-brightness range: 28 HDQ-2K40 projectors, 13 of which will be blended and warped into a spectacular back wall - the main feature of the stage design. Content will be fed from Green Hippo servers, via a Barco Encore system contacting five video processors, Matrix PRO DVI 8 x8, Matrix PRO II SDI 3G and a large controller. Other destinations are also fed by additional video processors. The proprietary BarcoLink technology guarantees swift and rugged signal distribution between the projectors and image processors, thus enabling a much easier set-up and cost savings.
With 28 HDQ-2K40 projectors being used, the ESC 2013 will be the largest show with HDQs to date. The brightness and colour depth of Barco's flagship product, which recently received the LiveDesign award of 'Best Projection Product of 2012-2013', exceed the expectations of everyone involved in the ESC production. "I have worked with many different Barco products over the years, resulting in a strong relationship and trust in their products," explains lighting designer Fredrik Jönsson. "However, this new beast, the HDQ-2K40 projector, is by far the brightest projection instrument I have ever seen. I'm particularly impressed by the perfectly stable 7kW Xenon lighting source inside."
Video designer Mikki Kunttu calls the HDQ "the brightest star of Eurovision": "It is changing the idea of how bright projection can be in a show situation. Usually it is hard to get the projected image appear brighter on stage with all the lighting going on so we used to dim the lights for video. Now it's the opposite. With the HDQ-2K40 it takes guts to go 100% and in open white; we will surely wipe the others off the stage."
"I'm very happy to have Barco back onboard as a technical event supplier. We've done many spectacular and crazy things together in the past, and we are up for it again. I am also amazingly thrilled over the fact that we now have a projector that can compete in output with a moving light. It has been needed and sought for, for many years," adds Ola Melzig, technical director of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.
"Every year, the ESC stuns the world with a fantastic visual show," concludes Reggy Mortier, director market development at Barco. "It's a great opportunity for Barco to showcase our innovative video and projection solutions to an immense audience. There have even been shows where the ESC premiered the use of some of our products, like in 2007 with our MiTRIX LED screen. This year, our HDQ-2K40 projector will be the star. We're so much looking forward to the show."
Before the rehearsals and semi-finals kick off, industry professionals were invited to take a look behind the scenes of ESC and meet with the technology suppliers during PLASA Focus: Leeds. Visitors to the Barco booth saw the 3D warp from the Eurovision backdrop rendered on a smaller scale model. In addition, Barco's Abbe Westerlundh gave a presentation entitled Breaking the Rules: The Barco Eurovision Solution during the PLASA seminar part. Westerlundh is Barco's technical director for the ESC, working closely together with project manager Lotta Schieffer.
(Jim Evans)
