American singer Halsey kicked off her Manic World Tour 2020 in Madrid in February supporting her just released studio album, also called Manic. The Manic World Tour spans 48 shows, and kicked off in Europe, with the next legs currently being planned for Asia and North America later this year. disguise gx 2c media servers were selected by All Of It Now to drive the show’s video and Notch IMAG real-time effects.

Numerous features of the disguise solutions came into play for the tour starting in pre-pro. “The show’s video design used a multi-layered frame, and the 3D workflow of disguise Designer allowed us to create parallel maps that placed content on the screen spatially without requiring specific renders for certain songs,” explains Danny Firpo of All of It Now, a disguise Rental Partner and Workflow Specialist based in San Francisco, who did the tour’s video programming with Cade Moore. “This gave us the creative flexibility to move content around the screen and explore different approaches for certain songs.

When Guns N’ Roses’ successful ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour switched to disguise for its North American leg, it opened up new creative possibilities to enhance the already visually spectacular rock show.

The tour wrapped last November with two shows at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. The three-year world tour played 158 concerts selling more than 5 million tickets and grossing $584 million. The ‘Not In This Lifetime’ tour that started in 2016 marked the first time that Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan played together since 1993. Screenworks-NEP Live Events was the disguise rental partner for the tour.

Jeremy Leeor, Managing Director and Dan Potter, Creative Director, at disguise studio Creative Works London, coordinated the creation, execution and delivery of the Ghostrain and traditional show walk-in opening sequence using the new disguise and Unreal integration, currently going through Beta testing.

"A lot of what we created for the Guns’ tour visuals was built similarly to the way triple-A game assets are made using highly creative and flexible 3D tools like Cinema 4D, ZBrush, 3Ds Max and Substance Painter to create high-quality assets that can then be moved into real-time render engines like Unreal Engine,” explains Dan. “This is how we’ve always done it, and it makes a lot of our content stand out for its depth, texture and richness."

He points out that, “the rendering process on any project, in a conventional sense, presents many render engine and creative compositing options, and is central to how we achieve the diverse range of visual styles in our work. With the introduction of real-time render engines, you’re shifting the focal points of stages when you are developing a look to different points in the project timeline. This can be quite liberating if you’re working on something that plays to the strengths of the look you want to achieve and using the right tools to do it."

JVC has announced new firmware for its range of CONNECTED CAM models – now shipping – including the handheld GY-HC500 and GY-HC550 4K camcorders and the GY-HC900 broadcast camcorder, available in ENG and studio configurations. The latest firmware upgrade (v0110 for the GY-HC500/550 and v3.0 for GY-HC900, available free to existing customers) lets the cameras record to both SSD and SD media in a wide variety of formats, including Apple ProRes 422 recording and backup mode recording to an SSD drive.

The GY-HC500 and GY-HC550 handheld models feature class-leading streaming and IP connectivity, with the new firmware delivering 10-bit Apple ProRes 422 50/60p recording in both 4K and HD to SSD. The update on all CONNECTED CAM models also enables HEVC/H.265 live streaming via the KA-EN200 streaming encoder; this adapter can be inserted directly into a slot on the GY-HC500, GY-HC550 and GY-HC900 camcorders, supporting up to 1920x1080 resolution and reducing network bandwidth by half compared to H.264. Other features added by the new firmware include support of SRT protocol and Network Time Protocol, plus integrated broadcast overlay graphics on JVC’s GY-HC900 broadcast camcorder.

Customers will be able to see the range of JVC CONNECTED CAM models at the KitPlus show in London at the end of this month. 

Multi-location production solution provider, Presteigne Broadcast Hire, has joined Sports Video Group (SVG) Europe as a Gold level member.

For nearly 15 years, SVG has provided support for all professionals who rely on video, audio, and broadband technologies to produce and distribute sports content. In addition to its mission to advance the creation, production, and distribution of sports content, it also strives to enable service providers such as Presteigne to access new business opportunities by providing a contemporary, informed understanding of the current state of the sports production marketplace.

Presteigne Broadcast Hire CEO Adrian Young explained, “SVG Europe is an invaluable platform for sharing insight into the latest workflows, applications of technology, and emerging developments in the delivery of content across multiple channels.

“Presteigne has a nearly 30-year track record as a service provider to the live sports market, and it has never been more important that we not only listen to the requirements of our customers and partners, but share the depth of our practical, hands-on experience. Being an SVG Europe Gold member enables us to do this through participation in regular summits, seminars, and roundtables in parallel with SVG Europe’s robust, year-round digital marketing programme.”

SVG Europe Editorial Director Fergal Ringrose said, “Gold Membership provides a wide range of benefits, including attendance at European and regional SVG Europe summits that have proven to be the most advanced, and talked about, professional exchange and development events in the sports production industry. We are delighted to welcome Presteigne to our team of industry-wide manufacturers, suppliers and technology developers who continuously work to improve the quality and profitability of sports programming.”

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About Presteigne Broadcast Hire

Established in 1991, Presteigne Broadcast Hire is a leading dry hire and complete multi-location production solution provider. With offices in the UK and operating globally, Presteigne Broadcast Hire has the expertise to offer worldwide solutions to meet a wide range of production needs. Its rental department is one of the most comprehensive in the industry, with access to more than 30,000 items of equipment, while specialising in project solutions where they bring their extensive RF, Audio, PPU, Server, Video, 4K, Lighting, Specialist Cameras, Communications and Project divisions together to offer customers a unique and seamless broadcasting experience.

Be it live sports, drama or documentaries, major global production companies and international broadcasters rely on Presteigne Broadcast Hire to satisfy their needs and provide the ultimate in support, 24/7, 365 days a year. Presteigne continually invests in the latest technology and solutions to ensure the ultimate customer experience. For more information, please see: http://presteigne.tv/

Globally recognized award underlines how Dejero exponentially improves flexibility in location coverage for newsgathering and live events crews

Dejero, an innovator in cloud-managed solutions that provide award-winning video transport and Internet connectivity while mobile or in remote locations, has been awarded a second prestigious Technology and Engineering Emmy® Award. The award, in the category of Video over Bonded Cellular Internet (VoCIP) technology, recognizes Dejero’s innovation in the industry, thanks to its Smart Blending Technology and unique hybrid encoding approach.

Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, Dejero has perfected its patented and patent-pending Smart Blending and hybrid encoding technologies over the course of the last decade. The technologies work in concert to form a tightly integrated system which responds in real time to changes in network quality and video content. This has helped transform how broadcasters contribute live content from the field using cellular networks, providing newsgathering crews with greater flexibility in terms of the location from where they can transmit a live shot, at a fraction of the cost of conventional uplink technology.

“We are thrilled to win not just one Emmy® – the most recognized broadcast award in the world – but two,” said Bogdan Frusina, founder of Dejero. "Last year the committee rewarded our decade of innovation for pioneering reliable transmission methods that enable live contribution and distribution of TV signals over the public Internet. This year they have gone on to further recognize our industry-leading technologies, showing that our continuous development is raising the quality and reliability standards of mobile video and data transmission.”

Medialease has won best ‘Asset Finance Intermediary’ at the Leasing Life 2019 awards, which brings together the most successful and innovative businesses throughout Europe in the leasing industry. 2019 has been a busy year for Medialease and the company was delighted to have been recognised for this award by industry-leading panellists.

The award judges commented that Medialease showed excellent growth and had a highly-targeted asset/industry focus, providing strong value to a very specialised end user. Medialease were also deemed to have very clear empathy and support to its chosen market, which is reflected in its exceptionally-high repeat customer statistics.

Medialease arranges asset funding tailored to the needs of the broadcast, film, television, AV and live events markets. Its relationships with many of its customers go back several years, with broadcasters and post-production companies returning to Medialease at each phase of their business plans to upgrade equipment or improve facilities. With a deep understanding of audio and video-based industries, the company supplies editing, grading and audio equipment for post-production facilities, along with the latest 4K cameras and location playout equipment for the world’s biggest sports and motorsports broadcasters. For further information, please contact us on 01327 872531 or visit www.medialease.com.

Videosys Broadcast, a leading supplier of quality camera control systems, RF links and camera backs to outside broadcast providers has announced that it has supplied two DTC 4K AEON-CC digital video transmitter systems to Cloudbass, a leading provider of broadcast solutions.

Specifically designed for high-quality wireless camera applications the AEON-CC uses DTC’s next-generation HEVC encoder technology facilitating UHD images. The system consists of one single 4K transmitter unit from DTC coupled with a built-in Videosys Camera Control system. The advantage of the AEON CC with Videosys’ camera control receiver built into the unit is a reduction in the equipment count and the complexities that come when managing 4K transmission and camera control simultaneously.

Cloudbass have been successfully using the systems on UHD, 3G and HD setups across a variety of live Outside Broadcasts, including both SKY Boxing and BT Speedway in UHD, on the British Touring Cars for ITV Sport, and The Lord Mayor’s Show for BBC Events.

Bubble Agency, the global PR, marketing and events specialist for the media and entertainment technology and services sectors, today announced the appointment of Kelli Neve-Read. Kelli joins as Business Development Manager having spent 10 years at IBC, the world’s most influential media show.

Kelli will be based at Bubble headquarters in London and joins Managing Director Sadie Groom, across new business efforts and client services.

At IBC Kelli was Head of Exhibitions for three years, and Head of Events for the past three years. Propr to that she held various senior events positions at organisations including Informa Telecoms and Media. Kelli has worked with many clients throughout her career giving her extensive experience proving strong leadership and the ability to successfully manage relationships, as well as produce high customer satisfaction rates.

Dutch megastar Marco Borsato recently played a stream of sold out record breaking shows at De Kuip stadium in The Netherlands. The set included a huge scale canvas in the form of a 1,000 square-meter LED screen. To power the impressive visuals needed for this event, Michael Al-Far of MalfMedia and Jo Pauly of Visual Solutions turned to disguise servers to provide the power. Six disguise vx 4 and four disguise gx 2 media servers played key roles in the innovative production driving the video content and facilitating real-time IMAG grading of the live feed and the integration of Notch VFX and multicam AR in the massive main screen graphics.

Marco Borsato consistently has been one of the most successful and biggest grossing artists in the Netherlands in the last twenty years. For the 2019 shows, Marco specifically requested that the starting point for the De Kuip shows would be the level of last year’s Sportpalais concerts where the team first introduced cinematographic content. “As an artist and photographer Marco felt the time had come for him to be involved in every step of this exciting project, so we had creative freedom, but he had the final say. Together with Set and Lighting Designer Carlo Zaenen we created the content book in which we outlined the look and feel of every song.” says MalfMedia founder Michael Al-Far.

“Marco Borsato was adamant that the live feed would be treated to fit better in the cinematographic content,” Michael notes. As a result, MalfMedia approached Lewis Kyle White to apply his vast experience in IMAG grading for live shows on this project.

The outdoor show posed a number of challenges: starting in daylight and transitioning to night; a canvas that was by some measures the largest screen ever used for an arena rock concert; the IMAG live feed embedded into the content and not shown on side screens; and a set list of 37 songs that all needed to have the same standard of quality.

Ariana Grande’s Sweetener World Tour is underway with disguise 4x4pro media servers and OmniCal projector-calibration engine playing a key role in facilitating the ethereal, galaxy-themed visuals on stage.

The tour supports the artist’s fourth and fifth studio albums, ‘sweetener’ and ‘thank u, next.’ It kicked off in March 2019 in New York and wraps in December 2019 in California, comprising three legs and a total of 102 dates in North America and Europe.

“The tour was designed to highlight the range and femininity of Ariana and create an ever-transforming space for her to perform her latest albums and give the audience an immersive experience to dive into as they witness Ariana's journey through her music,” says Loren Barton, Media Department Director with Lumentech. He has overseen the projection and media departments in support of many recent projects by Production and Lighting Designer LeRoy Bennett. Possible Productions produced the motion graphics for the show, which sees the stage brought to life with visuals of space during the song ‘NASA’, the visuals then turn the stage into a planet, a moon and a galaxy. From conversations with Ariana herself, Michael Figge and his team at Possible created a stage theme for each song that reinforced the choreography and lighting.

Tyrell is heading out on tour with a series of events under the campaign ‘Tyrell’s Take on Tour.’

The Tyrell’s Take on Tour is kicking off next month with ‘The Top Players in News and Sports Production,’events which will take place in London, Manchester and Dublin. These events, which are almost like a mini tradeshow with hands-on demos, will give the opportunity for attendees to see how Tyrell and its partners can help with end to end production workflows.

PHABRIX, a worldwide leader in test and measurement solutions, is pleased to confirm that Creative Technology, an NEP Live Events company, has purchased a fourth Qx rasterizer for the company’s new portable production unit (PPU).

Esports Championship Series (ECS) Season 7, the latest iteration of the world’s most-watched CS:GO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) tournament, took place earlier this year, culminating in a four-day final in June at The SSE Arena, Wembley, London. The 16 groups that started the event were gradually reduced to four teams, which then battled through a knock-out competition to determine the season’s champions.

Bubble Agency, the global PR, marketing and events specialist for the media and entertainment technology and services sectors, today announced the appointment of Season Skuro, as the business expands its US offering. Season is based in Los Angeles and will join Denise Williams, based in Portland, Oregon, in providing PR and marketing services to US and global clients.

Videosys Broadcast, a leading supplier of quality camera control systems, RF links and camera backs to outside broadcast providers is launching Stagebox at IBC2019, on stand 10.F21. Enabling the delivery of video, audio and data from A to B over fibre, Stagebox allows outside broadcast operators to multiplex all audio and video components (microphone, monitors, talkback panel) onto a single SMPTE fibre cable and power remotely.