Weekends with Adele Home Topics Video Share: Working with Solotech makes your event spectacular on-stage and behind the scenes Expertise, service, and communication: key ingredients for remaining at the forefront of live concert video For Solotech’s Director of Special Projects, Ian ‘Woody’ Woodall mixing those ingredients perfectly is integral to achieving balance and harmony; his watchwords for aiding in the creation one of a kind video experiences for artists and audiences.Woodall explains that cutting-edge technology is an important consideration. Still, relationships are perhaps even more critical in designing video systems that meet clients’ needs, citing Solotech’s work on Adele’s Weekends with Adele, Las Vegas residency.“Last summer, Adele was doing two nights at Hyde Park for British Summertime, her first live shows in some time. We worked really hard with Adele and her team to ensure it went well. What we do out in the field is our ‘shop window,’ so it was a natural progression for us to get involved as early as possible for the Vegas shows.” Achieving excellence begins with honest conversations Ensuring an artist’s vision is captured perfectly and supported by the video infrastructure and design.From early conversations through the demo and design process, Woody worked closely with Adele’s production team, design firm Stufish Entertainment Architects, Creative Director Matt Askem, Treatment Studio, and others to provide the ideal infrastructure to realize their overall vision.That did include very new technology, notably a large number of Disguise GX3 servers, the first ones on the market globally. However, determining what technology to deploy wasn’t based on what was the biggest, brightest, or closest to hand but on those early conversations. “The whole industry is relationships and people,” Woody notes. “Speaking with everyone involved, saying, ‘I understand the picture, I understand the technical requirements, but what are you trying to achieve, to create? That’s very important.”In doing so, Solotech demonstrated its dedication to keeping up to date with the latest technology available and willingness to be an early adopter and work closely with manufacturers to iron out the nuances that accompany new products but to ensure every element of the system supported the intent of the artist and designer. “If you can get a feeling of what someone wants to achieve, that helps the design, even down to what cameras you use – some cameras are a bit more sympathetic, some are highly detailed. We’re trying to understand the flavour of what they’re trying to achieve, all the pieces that make the show the sum of the parts. We’re very conscious that our packaging, our equipment, our people, our approach reflects the company.” — Ian ‘Woody’ Woodall, Director of Special Projects, Solotech Technical roadblocks – then and now With so many possibilities available due to ongoing, rapid innovations in video technology, the challenges in achieving a balance between the look and feel of a show and harmony between the technology and performance have changed over time.“A technical roadblock twenty years ago might have been that you couldn’t technically achieve someone’s idea. Whereas in today’s world, you have to strip out the ‘noise’ and choose technology that has value for the production,” Woody says. In doing so, it’s vital to have honest conversations with everybody involved and be selective in choosing the right tools for the job.“At Solotech, we’re really good at winnowing out the technological ‘noise’ and focusing on products and manufacturers that add value and benefit the projects we do. Obviously, with Adele, it is a technical show, but it needed to remain authentic. I describe it as the visual version of listening to vinyl as opposed to listening to Spotify.” Scaling authenticity For Weekends With Adele at the Colosseum in Caesars Palace, the mandate was to maintain an intimate atmosphere for what is very much a large-scale show, achieving balance and harmony between the performance, the setting, and the technology inhabiting it and ensuring the focus remains on the artist even though the video elements in play dwarf them.That’s no small feat, given the scope and size of the system deployed at Caesar’s. With 180-degrees of projection surfaces stretching virtually across the entire width of the space, you’d expect the audience to focus on the system immediately. But the show’s tone is set beautifully off the top, with just Adele and a pianist performing the first few songs framed by what appears to be an A-shaped virtual proscenium.In short, the sense of authenticity increases because the audience is so focused on just the piano and Adele initially so that when the scope of the video surfaces are revealed as the show builds, it feels natural, an organic extension of the performance – a sense of the artist inviting you deeper into their world, rather than a distraction. While the show ramps up dramatically, ultimately becoming a breathtaking spectacle, it remains intimate and authentic. “When Adele first enters the stage, everybody feels like she’s singing to them individually. Then the backing singers join her at the piano. It’s not until several songs in that you start to see the scope. The video surface is in front of you the whole time, but when you walk in, you see it as part of the venue.” — Ian ‘Woody’ Woodall, Director of Special Projects, Solotech Establishing trust to push the envelope Pacing and technical considerations aside, trust is the main ingredient to creating a uniquely compelling concert experience. “When an artist walks out on stage, they put their image, their reputation, in the hands of the people putting that show together,” Woody says. As an equipment provider, he adds, “whilst Solotech is not officially involved in the creative process, we’re working together. We want to understand the creative process to help the system and everything else work together as one.”At the core, establishing trust depends on human resources, expertise, and service, emphasizing transparent communication within the company and between partners, and the willingness to adapt swiftly and increase your agility as a company. That requires investing as much in technology as in people whose dedication to ensuring every client has access to Solotech’s wide range of resources and full attention is unshakeable.“In terms of the number of shows, other companies definitely do more. It’s not a numbers game for Solotech. We’re very conscious about not going ‘one gig too far.’ That’s important. If you’re not looking at a project from a resource standpoint – the right people, the right equipment, the right relationship, and every other aspect – if you’re thinking, ‘I’m going to do the show because it’s a big artist, then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.” CONTACT OUR EXPERTS FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE OUR RELATED WORK The Weeknd – After Hours Til Dawn Tour Luke Bryan at Resorts World Las Vegas BST Hyde Park See all of our work KEEP READING Delve into AVL industry best practices View More
Discover 2023’s Trending Workstyles Home Topics Video Share: Discover 2023’s Trending Workstyles In collaboration with Returning to the Office As companies and people are eager to get back to normality at work, new health, safety, and productivity challenges appeared and need to be addressed to make everyone comfortable and efficient in their new reality.According to a survey in which Envoy asked a thousand Americans working full or part-time jobs, 73% of the respondents showed worries about their return to the office, and half of them would even consider leaving their job if safety was not made a top priority by their employer. Contact Us Top Concerns About the On-Site Workspace Not knowing if someone sick comes into the office Too many people in the workspace at once Lack of proper ventilation Top Concerns About the Hybrid Work Environment Not knowing if someone sick comes into the onsite workspace Not seeing friends and teammates as often Missing out on birthdays, activities, and other events The Hybrid Workspace Organizations are therefore implementing hybrid workplaces, where employees can work remotely or on-site. This flexibility allows team members to choose their work environment based on their schedules, projects, and needs of the day.According to the same Envoy survey, most workers (94%) would like to be in the office at least once a week. The hybrid work environment can maximize productivity by allowing employees to choose what fits their reality best. Fully Remote Workspace The experiment of regularly working from home showed unexpected and tangible benefits.Many organizations realized that this new working flexibility concretely increased productivity. One Gartner study revealed that giving employees the flexibility to choose when and where to work boosted top performers by 19 points to 55%, meaning that a majority of companies’ top performers are now remote-working employees. Read Full Article From Zoom Here A – 60% increase in volume of job searches using the “Remote” filter since March.B – 4x the number of jobs that offer since March. DELVE INTO INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES * indicates required Email * * indicates required Email * Keep Your Teams Connected - No Matter Where You Work According to a report from Gartner, a leading technology and research consulting company, hybrid work is the future. 31% of all workers worldwide are now remote. The U.S. accounts for 53% remote workers of the U.S workfirce. Social and collaboration tools will continue to be a ‘‘must have’’. The World Of Work Has Changed Supporting a hybrid office environment with both in-office and remote workers will be critical to the success of organizations around the world as they return to the office.At Zoom, we’re committed to helping businesses get the most out of their workspaces, no matter where their work happens. See What’s Possible With Hybrid-Work Friendly Tools Being ready for remote and hybrid working arrangements means having tools that support your teams, making collaboration seamless across home offices and shared conference rooms.See how these tools can be put to use across work environments. Accomplish More With Zoom’s Reliable Meeting Solution • Unified Communication and Video Collaboration• Network Management• IT Security The World Of Work Has Changed Supporting a hybrid office environment with both in-office and remote workers will be critical to the success of organizations around the world as they return to the office.At Zoom, we’re committed to helping businesses get the most out of their workspaces, no matter where their work happens. See What’s Possible With Hybrid-Work Friendly Tools Being ready for remote and hybrid working arrangements means having tools that support your teams, making collaboration seamless across home offices and shared conference rooms.See how these tools can be put to use across work environments. Accomplish More With Zoom’s Reliable Meeting Solution • Unified Communication and Video Collaboration• Network Management• IT Security Create Hyper-Customized Solutions For Any Corporate Space With Solotech : Collaboration Spaces Multifunctional Spaces Conference Spaces Your Workspace Setup Delivered To You in Easy Steps : WorkshopPreparation On-SiteShipping CompleteInstallation SystemConfiguration Online Training and Documentation RemoteSupport CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION KEEP READING Delve into AVL industry best practices View More Citation: Gartner, Inc. (2021). Forecast Analysis: Remote and Hybrid Workers, Worldwide. www.gartner.com/en/documents/40021/0/forecast-analysis-remote-and-hybrid-workers-worldwide https://explore.zoom.us/docs/en-us/hybrid-workforce.
Worship Technology Strategies for Spaces Old and New Home Topics Video Share: Worship Technology Strategies for Spaces Old and New DELVE INTO INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES * indicates required Email * * indicates required Email * The term House of Worship (HoW) is a broad term that often covers many different types of architecture: it could be a 700-year-old cathedral, a traditional church, or a purpose-built modern auditorium. Yet, each environment has its own set of challenges that need to be identified and considered. Understanding what the client wants to ultimately achieve is the most important thing, and this translates into how we can then provide a service to them that offers a cost-effective solution that meets their requirements in the long term and delivers the best experience for their congregation. Before any in-depth planning or design, I would try and ascertain what the space is predominately going to be used for. Sometimes, the solution required isn’t what is initially asked for. Often small changes in how they approach their services can dramatically improve the quality of delivery. For example, switching from stage wedges to IEMs and removing excess stage noise in highly reverberant spaces can often lead to huge improvements to the quality of sound possible in the space, at times even more so than updating the console or the PA system. Finding the limiting factor in the current setup and fixing it builds client trust and allows the Church to get the most out of its system in the long term. Prioritise the project Quite often, a client will approach us with a brief containing many different elements, which can make it difficult to identify the main system requirements. In this instance, we would work with them to identify the priorities and the key investments required to achieve the ultimate goal. My personal advice: it’s better to wait for what you want and make several investments over time in high quality products, rather than squeezing lots of different elements into a budget for a lower quality offering. This phased approach to upgrades and new builds will provide greater long-term satisfaction and return on investment, ultimately delivering a better, more future-proof system. Live music within worship has always played its part in congregational worship, and it continues to be an integral part of the modern Church. Large Churches often have high levels of production value and complex requirements. An example of this would be the work we’ve carried out for Hillsong Church UK, which requires multiple systems that can be set up and operated by their team of volunteers across all their UK locations. These systems needed to be scalable to allow them to be used as part of the AV solution for some of their larger events, which historically have been held in venues such as Wembley Arena, the O2 Arena, and various West End theatres. There’s no doubt that Solotech’s experience and knowledge of the live and touring industry have helped us to realize the production values needed to deliver all types of HoW events. The diverse nature of HoW requires a team with varied skillsets. From Cathedrals to small Church halls, from the O2 Arena to large outdoor festivals and everything in between, we have a highly talented and experienced team of experts that we can draw from. This breadth of knowledge and expertise across Solotech is what gives us our credibility. Networked systems and the future of HoW We are seeing more and more how technology can be utilized to solve specific problems within the HoW sector. A common problem is the multi-purpose nature of their buildings, which can be used throughout the week by various groups and people, each with their own requirements. In this instance, a networked system such as the QSC audio, video, and control platform, Q-SYS can be used to help manage the building-wide AV system, simplifying what can be a time-consuming and challenging job. With the use of timed snapshots, Q-SYS can recall specific system configurations at specific times. This allows us to reset a whole building back to a known Sunday state, for example, with no additional human interaction. This saves time and improves the consistency of services and events throughout the week.Systems such as these can be customized specifically for the client and help in providing a solution to the problem of the multi-purpose nature of a cathedral or Church that might require services across various rooms and spaces, including breakout and meeting rooms and coffee shops. A perfect example of how this technology can be implemented effectively is the York Minster project that we completed.This was a complex brief, which included audio for spoken word and music easy to use and flexible enough to serve across the Minster’s many spaces for a variety of uses. d&b audiotechnik column speakers were installed throughout the Minster, with the entire system running through a QSC Q-SYS platform. The ease of use of the system means that both technical and non-technical staff can operate it via touch screen interfaces, selecting the various zones throughout the Minster. Any faults or issues, such as a blown speaker or faulty amp, are detected via the Q-SYS system and reported directly back to us so that we can access the Q-SYS Core and identify and rectify the problem immediately, or with an engineer being sent to the site. York Minster now benefits from a cutting-edge system that is sympathetic to the building, easy to operate, and delivers superb audio clarity at all times. Training to stay on top To get the most out of any new system the client must be trained to master every element. At Solotech, we recommend and provide training and guidance throughout the entire project. There are also excellent manufacturer online training videos, which are a great resource for upskilling volunteer teams.Our relationships with our HoW clients are a testament to our skills in providing service, advice, and support in this sector as they continue to invest in cutting-edge technology to bring their message of worship to a congregation.Rich Harris is a Senior Project Development Manager for the Solotech UK Group Systems Integration Team, specializing in live events and installations within the House of Worship sector. SEE OUR RELATED WORK Pinelake Church York Minster FishHawk Fellowship Church See all of our work KEEP READING! Article Lighting Up the Stars at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards Solotech + DX7 Design + ACME Pixel Line IP = Simply Spectacular! Read More Article Deployment in atypical environments A project of this magnitude required its share of cutting-edge equipment to honour the designers' astonishing vision. That's where the Solotech team comes in. Read More Article Spotlight on our work in the shadow Nothing is left to chance, and every detail is considered to ensure a seamless performance from the first note to the final ovation. Read More Article Four Trends In Command And Control Centers A spectacular event on-stage and behind the scenes thanks to Solotech Read More View more
AVL technology to bring a creative vision to life Home Topics Video Share: AVL technology to bring a creative vision to life When we think about Audio, Video and Lighting in the traditional sense, we often associate it with the corporate sector, LED screens and audio systems for collaboration and communicational purposes, or in theatres where a 2D approach is used to create a show. However, an area where AVL is making a real impact is within the entertainment, arts and attractions industries, where sound, vision and light are combined and being developed into an immersive experience, not just for the movie-goer, but anywhere where there is a need to create a better story.In many ways, this area of AVL is pushing innovation further with demands on using the very best technology available to create the very best immersive experiences.Initial conversations with clients tend to be very detailed, with the majority knowing exactly what they want to achieve from the experience itself. A common way of doing this is the creation of a Theme Book, which helps deliver the concept of the project by including clear and concise objectives, initial ideas, attraction layout, stylistic approach, video content, lights and the general mood of the experience. Bringing ideas to lifeThere are so many possibilities on offer with the latest technology, and many clients are unaware of the applications. We don’t expect them to be up to speed with everything regarding immersive experiences; that’s what we’re here for! Guided by a team of seasoned experts in theatre, live sound, broadcast and corporate sectors, a client can detail any creative vision and Solotech will make sure it comes to life with the best and latest technologies. “I’m in my element if a client says: I want this to be bigger and better. What can we do to make this happen? It gives us the flexibility to make suggestions along the way that will be incorporated into the specifications from the beginning.” DELVE INTO INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES * indicates required Email * * indicates required Email * Once the initial concept has been discussed, packages can be offered based on needs and requirements, along with varying budgets to help deliver the project. By proposing a range of options, the client has a better understanding of the project scope and can make an informed decision. There are some extremely innovative pieces of technology that we can consider to help create the vision and story that the client is trying to capture, which in turn enhances the visitor experience.There should be a ‘Wow!’ and a finale. Video tends to be ‘the’ thing leading an immersive experience currently, with a focus on innovative use of projections and LED. However, audio is quickly catching up as immersive sound systems become more widely used. This can be found at the Outernet in London where an L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive sound system is used to augment the world’s largest high-resolution wrap-around screens.With most installations, we’ll create our own networks as part of the process, although some clients have now built their own AV networks to run everything. Generally, once they’ve been created there aren’t a lot of changes with them: the client can be trained to manage them effectively and we can offer support when the need arises. Testing mechanisms can be implemented to verify that a process is in place to ensure every element of the system has been checked in each room every day and that each element of the AVL infrastructure is working.In addition, Solotech also offers the Service+ Plan, a monitoring software that provides 24-hour, seven days a week, real-time monitoring of each device on the system, and remote diagnostics as and when required. Any issues with devices on the system will automatically trigger an alert to the Service Team.Timing is everything along with attention to detail, and each project has its own complexities to consider. Collaborating closely with clients to exceed their expectations and create the ultimate immersive experience for visitors is the key to a successful installation.Dan Seal is a Senior Project Development Manager for the Solotech UK Group Systems Integration Team, specializing in creating bespoke immersive experiences across various sectors including corporate, theme parks, arts and entertainment. SEE OUR RELATED WORK Currents: Niagara’s Power transformed Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart Area15 – Immersive Entertainment and Events Complex See all of our work KEEP READING! Article Lighting Up the Stars at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards Solotech + DX7 Design + ACME Pixel Line IP = Simply Spectacular! Read More Article Deployment in atypical environments A project of this magnitude required its share of cutting-edge equipment to honour the designers' astonishing vision. That's where the Solotech team comes in. Read More Article Spotlight on our work in the shadow Nothing is left to chance, and every detail is considered to ensure a seamless performance from the first note to the final ovation. Read More Article Four Trends In Command And Control Centers A spectacular event on-stage and behind the scenes thanks to Solotech Read More View more
