The tour originated from XL Video UK project managed by Des Fallon and Chris Ferrante with support from Phil Mercer and his XL Video LA team. Once again XL's international operation has been able to provide transatlantic continuity.
Des Fallon says, "This show creates a new benchmark for dance act visuals - we're very proud to be involved."
Phillips is well known for his work with Daft Punk. His design for Deadmau5 started with the DJ booth, a three-sided cube that looks like it's tipped forward at 45 degrees. This is clad with 75 tiles of Pixled F11 screen.
Behind that, on the mid-stage truss, is a barrage of 72 VersaTUBES, mounted in six custom touring frames that were fabricated by B and R Scenery in Camarillo, California.
Upstage of this are six vertical hangs of Barco MiTrix semi transparent screen, each column measuring two tiles wide by 36 deep, in seven touring frames, each 7m high.
The MiTrix columns are hooked on to rolling headers on a dolly track attached to the truss above, allowing them to be moved - manually - into three different screen configurations throughout the show - six slim columns, three fat strips and one complete surface with all six strips pushed together. On screen shifting duties are XL's Joe Makein and lighting supplier PRG's Ben Wingrove. Behind this, at the back of the stage is a 65 mm pitch pixel curtain.
XL Video's Richard Stembridge is managing all the control aspects. They are running three of XL's full spec Catalyst media servers, one of which is playing back content via both outputs to all the main LED surfaces. The second machine is used to run the LED Mouse Head, and the third is a spare.
All the Catalysts are triggered by the FOH lighting desk, a Road Hog Full Boar, currently being operated by John McGuire, and to be taken over later in the tour by Ben Wingrove.
The tour's production director is Mark Ward and production manager is Alex Keyser. Dates are scheduled through February 2011.
(Jim Evans)
