What sets Speed of Sound apart, however, is that production designer Michael Keeling used PRG's Mbox media server to provide the video to the LED lights. Mbox allows designers to manipulate source material - including video, still images and effects - directly from a DMX lighting console. Programmers instantly can change colour, scale, 3-D rotation, rate of playback, degree of transparency and other elements, all without waiting for rendering time, say PRG.
"The Mbox is a phenomenal unit - it allowed the Wholehog control console to send media files to the LED light sources and gave us an unlimited variety of end results," says Keeling. "In recent years, I've been bored with doing the same thing with lighting. Tools like this have rejuvenated my soul about what lighting can be." He adds: "I'm really impressed with PRG's attention to the video market and what they are doing to cross between lighting and video."
"Using Mbox to provide video to the LED lights allowed the designers to make adjustments on the fly," explains John Lee, account executive, concert touring for PRG. "Because Mbox creates real-time effects, they could operate the tube wall much like they would operate moving lights for a concert."
(Lee Baldock)
