For control of the video, Metcalf is using a Catalyst digital media server run from his WholeHog II console. Additionally he has six camera inputs - three Toshiba 'lipstick' devices, two Sony surveillance cameras on the drums and a handheld DV cam, operated throughout the show by the band's video co-ordinator Tom Kirk. These are also fed into the Macintosh, where Metcalf manipulates and adds them to the overall mix as he would lighting fixtures.
The video feeds are output to three upstage LED screens - hung in portrait format - on motors that track in and out vertically to different positions through the show. The screens are made up from 82 panels of XL's newly purchased Lighthouse SMD 10mm screen. From the outset Metcalf wanted to combine and control the aesthetic dynamics of both lighting and video together via one seamless user interface. He's taken this process to a new streamlined level with a combination of lateral thinking, and collaboration with XL Video director Des Fallon, who's project managing the Muse account.
Fallon commented: "It's a real pleasure to work with someone who is as creative and progressive as Oli Metcalf. He's currently one of the top practitioners of visual art in live music". Running the two mediums - lighting and video - simultaneously with the Catalyst allows Metcalf to treat and effect images on the fly and colour them to match the current lighting scene. With impeccable timing, and the full visual control integration, he keeps pace with the phenomenal energy levels of the band as they power thorough the set, never running out of ideas and always coming up with a surprise for the next song!
Metcalf is running a specially tweaked version Catalyst v 3.5 software, which includes the facility to switch cameras within the Catalyst. Some of the video is locked into track and MIDI triggered, whilst Metcalf can cue other elements live. Metcalf also created the content using Catalyst, made up of reworked band archive footage combined with graphics created from ArtBeat royalty free media.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
