Working with PRG's Robin Wain, lighting designer David 'Fuji' Convertino, is touring a system that utilises a selection of PRG's proprietary products and on the European dates marks the touring debut of PRG's new Best Boy 4000 Spot Luminaire.
Recently launched at LDI, the Best Boy 4000 is a physically smaller, lighter brother to PRG's Bad Boy Spot Luminaire, but remains a precision-engineered automated light with an all-inclusive feature set.
The UK & Ireland arena tour used PRG's BAT Truss and Series 400 Power and Data Distribution System to allow fixtures to travel safely pre-rigged on the truss and then be quickly and easily flown at each venue with fixtures able to travel without their flight cases, the 'low pro' truss type also reduces the truck space required by the tour, saving costs and reducing the environmental impact.
Following the 2011 acquisition of Nocturne Video and subsequent launch of European operations this January, PRG Nocturne European account director Stefaan Michels worked with Robin Wain and the production to supply a video package with LED screens and cameras for the UK & Ireland dates of the tour.
The set's backdrop, made up of 21 squares measuring 1.8m x 1.8m, each used 16 LED tiles, flanked by two 3.6m by 4m side screens. The screens all comprised of PRG Nocturne's 18mm V-18 LED tile system. Designed and built in house to exacting standards, PRG Nocturne LED panels use Nichia 3-in-1 LEDs to deliver 16-bit colour and 12 bit dimming for control and superior, high-resolution imaging.
Thanks to the consistent tile size, frame construction and unified cabling approach, different resolutions can be mixed within screens for creative use. With individual panels held in place using industrial magnets, it is even possible to swap out individual panels in situ for maximum flexibility on tour.
Controlling the central backdrop screens and side screens from FOH, the designer 'Fuji' used a PRG MBox Extreme to switch between live feeds and pre-prepared content. Feeds came from a primary long lens camera and a wide angle spy camera at front of house and two Sony robotic cams on the stage.
PRG Nocturne record the line cut on a AJA Ki Pro digital drive as standard for all shows, providing the band, LD and production team with a flash card and DVD of both this feed and the wide shot to review the performance later, making adjustments as required for future shows.
(Jim Evans)
