Three curved columns in a four x nine panel configuration graced centre stage, along with various other ground stacked curved screens - an impressive 160 panels of Lighthouse R16 in total. "The most complicated thing about this was that there was an overnight from Hyde Park up to Manchester," explains Phil Mercer, XL Video project manager for music and live events. "The screen needed to be quick and easy to set up and also lightweight because of limited weight loading on the stage. Lighthouse was the only screen that could do it all."
Processing was via Lighthouse LIP KXs and Snell and Wilcox supervisors. "There was one processor per screen," continues Mercer. "This was necessary because at times the central screens made up one large image and at other times individual images were fed to each screen. The whole thing had to be very flexible - it was a complete matrix with content dependent on what the video director was routing to where at any given time in the show, and included a combination of Catalyst playback, a lot of camera footage and special effects."
Video direction was the joint responsibility of lighting designer Nathan Wilson and video director Rob McShane, both of whom were at the front of house position. Wilson developed the original concept for the curved shape of the screen which was taken to XL's designers to be translated into reality. "We're well known for being able to cope with unusual configurations," adds Mercer. "We custom build most of the metal work for our screens, and can accommodate many idiosyncratic or off-beat requests, like the tracking screens currently out on Depeche Mode (video directed by Blue Leach) which are also R16.
"This is a very busy time for LED generally because of the World Cup, but we've made sure that we've kept our panels within the music market as that's our core business. Currently, we have over 250sq.m of Lighthouse R16 in stock," says Mercer.
"It's great to have a rental partner such as XL Video investing in our screens," says Lighthouse UK and Northern Europe sales manager Simon Taylor. "It's a real testament to the suitability of R16 for the touring market."
(Chris Henry)
