Tom Warden, project manager for IPS, explained the choice of Chauvet Professional. "The most important thing was that Chauvet guarantee all panels go through a rigorous quality control. UK-based spare parts and support made this a safe choice. And the product features were appealing, with the high resolution pixel pitch, intelligent rigging system and easy to use inter-panel connections."
Chauvet's service scored high with IPS at every point of contact, "Chauvet offered a demo and relatively short lead time for delivery to fit in with our project requirements. Plus they were able to suggest other rental companies with the same stock, which would allow additional panels to be sub-hired - a very important factor for any hire company."
The PVP S5 video panels boast a pixel pitch of 5.2mm for high resolution over short distances. The highly versatile panel is fitted with black face SMD LEDs enabling high quality performance of live videos and highly defined graphics for presentation at close range or from afar.
The system was supplied with LED Studio software and VIP Drivers for control and VIP Distributor units for larger screen sizes, as well as PVP rigging kits. To provide full control and programming, IPS use a Chauvet Professional VIP Media System Pro server running ArKaos software as well as a Green Hippo HippoCritter media server, all run alongside a fleet of rental laptops and MacBook Pros. The company will deploy alternative content via TV One CORIOscan units and Analog Way switchers so the screen can handle a range of inputs including DVI & HDMI, VGA, HD-SDI, SDI and composite video.
The first use of the screen also represented the first full technical production package supplied by IPS, sourced entirely from in-house stock. The panels were configured as a 12m x 10m double diamond at the rear of an outdoor roof structure for the Harper Adams Student Union Summer Ball, where Radio 1 DJ B.Traits and chart band Gorgon City featured amongst the performers on stage.
The screen was truss-flown with the rigging kits: a combination of scaffold tube and clamps made the diamond shape possible. Preconfigured in the warehouse prior to the event, the installation of the screen was 'painless' according to Warden. He added, "The screens are performing well, and as we explore more of the rigging and configuration options, we can be increasingly creative with the designs."
With the screens proving popular with clients and users, IPS is already looking forward to further success with Chauvet Professional's PVP technology: "We have been asked for screens configured with more panels than we have available, so we may already be looking at increasing stocks in the not too distant future."
(Jim Evans)
