Green Hippo joins Depeche Mode global tour
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SRae Productions, the full-service design and production company owned by Sooner Routhier and Robert Long, takes charge of the tour lighting direction for Anton Corbijn’s production design. Commenting on the Global Spirit Tour, Sooner described some of the duties she and her team demand of the Hippotizer gear: “For Depeche Mode, the Hippotizer is a playback machine. We used the system for IMAG effects on the rear wall. We also used the colour block system in some way, shape or form. We trace the screens to give them the look of being lined in modern, neon-esk lines. We also were able to use each LED tile as a lighting fixture, taking a bit of pressure off the content team.”
Key to the success of this world tour’s video & lighting show is Hippotizer, Green Hippo’s award-winning proprietary software, including its ZooKeeper user interface. ZooKeeper talks to ‘The Engine’ (the core of the Hippotizer system) and the latest version enables best-ever real-time control. Sooner is a ZooKeeper fan: “We love the new layout and its workflow,” she said. Evaluating the latest version of Hippotizer V4 with previous release, Sooner added: “It’s still similar to V3, but with a bit of added flare, new functions and features. The ViewPort controls are fantastic! And we were absolutely thrilled with the technical support. It was really easy to get someone on the phone, the instant we needed help with anything at all.”
Cory Froke, supertech at Green Hippo Media Technology, commented: “SRae has really become one of the foremost driving forces in touring production design today. Sooner and Robert love to push the limits of technology with their designs, requiring every piece of the system to work in unison in order to give the show the cohesive, seamless relationship between lighting and video that they are so well known for. We, at Green Hippo couldn't be more honoured to be given the opportunity to support their designs, while also expanding the toolset. Hippotizer affords designers who are looking to push the limits.”
(Jim Evans)
