Without any rehearsal time before the first show in Mexico, pre-visualization of both lighting and video was essential to the success of the initial shows. In order to achieve this, Diagonal Research's own WYSIWYG studio in Newbury Park, California, was utilized. This allowed for the pre-visualization of lighting and video at the same time, while also having Diagonal Research's Breck Haggerty on hand to answer any questions and receive feedback. "It was great," remarks Wilson. "We come in and invade Breck's space, but he is really great about it, and it is a very comfortable environment. We have five screens, so that means five projectors in the studio. Being close to both Delicate Productions, who were supplying the video, and Ed & Ted's Excellent Lighting made it the perfect location."
Delicate Production's President, Steve Gilbard, who has been a long-time supporter of the NEV project, is equally enthusiastic about the new NEV8 System. "The NEV8 has unique creative capabilities, and when combined with the SDI broadcast quality video signals, it makes for an unbeatable combination. The incredible flexibility of the system, full genlock and no dropped frames makes it the obvious choice for these multi-screen types of shows."
Blink-182 are currently touring with No Doubt across the US. Video director for the tour is Rob McShane with Sam Kriemelmeyer handling the projectors. The tour features the first outing of the new stand-alone NEV8 system, which was developed on the road with Sting's current 'Sacred Love' world tour.
"This is a real landmark for the NEV System," comments the system's creator, Breck Haggerty. "Previous incarnations of the NEV System have been hand-built prototypes with no instruction manual and precious few replacement parts. With the new NEV8, we have a standalone 1U rack-mounting product that is simple and rugged and much easier to produce in larger quantities. It controls the video with a level of elegance and transparency that sets it apart from other lighting control/video solutions. Of course, it also gives the user the same unique capabilities for controlling video that the NEV Systems 6 and 7 have always offered."
(Lee Baldock)
