Jon Shrimpton is directing the live camera mix, lighting is designed by Paul Normandale and the stage, set and overall visual vibe has been created by the band's long time artistic director, Anton Corbijn. Filmmaker Corbijn also produced 10 bespoke films for the tour. The project is being co-ordinated from the XL Video UK office by Des Fallon.
It's Shrimpton's first DM tour as director. He says: "The chance of working with someone as imaginative and influential as Anton is truly inspiring. Initially, I was a bit like a teenager meeting my pop idol for the first time, but I soon relaxed because Anton's whole ethos is about the creative process becoming a shared experience and involving others. I have learnt an enormous amount from his vision and approach."
In terms of hardware, XL is supplying two Lighthouse R7 side screens, positioned as close as possible to the stage to avoid becoming emasculated from the onstage screen, comprised of 42 x 42 panels of Barco MiTrix in seven of XL's bespoke touring frames. The MiTrix screen is 28 panels high and the same width as the stage set.
Flown in front of this is a 3 x 3m MiTrix ball, specially engineered by XL Video. This is primarily used for playback footage - with carefully selected IMAG moments - and sometimes as a block-colour lighting effect.
The content appearing on the ball is composed to be blended or contrasted with that appearing on the large MiTrix screen and/or the sides - all elements creating a harmonious, stimulating visual experience for the audience. Shrimpton is using five operated cameras - all Sony D50s - standard definition chosen because of its appropriateness for the MiTrix surface - plus two Sony BRC 300 robot cameras, joystick controlled by him at the mixer. Shrimpton mixes using his GV Kayak console.
They are using a customised version of XL's touring PPU rack, engineered by John Steel, which also contains a Magic DVE for backup and for helping make a 'virtual ball' for the festival shows where the real thing can't be used.
There's a continual active exchange of camera/content feeds between the Kayak and the Catalyst, operated by Richard Stembridge. Catalyst footage is fed to the Kayak to be output to the side screens, and camera feeds are sent to Catalyst for treating (a combination of Shrimpton and Corbijn ideas), sizing and outputting to the back screen via a Barco D320 processor, and for being mapped to fit the ball.
Stembridge operates the latest version of Catalyst running on SSD from a WholeHog II console - with XL supplying a complete hot backup system.
Depeche Mode have just finished up their first European leg of the tour and go to the US for two months before returning to Europe in November. Live performance dates are currently scheduled to continue until February 2010.
(Jim Evans)
