MA Case Study - MA Lighting

MA Case StudyEurovision Song Contest 2011Control, Video & NetworkRalph@Larmann.comConcert Touring/Events Theatre/Musicals TV/Studios Architainment

Eurovision Song Contest 2011Full grandMA2 system controlling 42,000 parameters including all videoIn 2011, the Eurovision Song Contest returned to Germany for thefirst time since 1983, breaking many records including those forthe amount of equipment used and audience size. Because of theseparameters, the contest was staged in Düsseldorf Arena presenting abig challenge for all participating companies and individuals.The IdeaGerman Lighting Designer Jerry Appelt, known for delivering big spectacularlooks for live music shows, television productions and everythingin between, specified a huge lighting rig to transform the soccer stadiuminto a giant TV studio. More than 2,100 DMX controlled moving lights(out of 5,638 fixtures in total) with almost 42,000 parameters of controlwere used. The idea was to ensure that all 43 countries plus three intervalacts and an awesome opening performance all had completely uniquelooks during the 3-hour broadcast.RequirementsTo fulfil the needs of such a sophisticated lighting design and to handlethe enormous data flow across the network, the lighting team needed acontrol solution that could easily deal with the amount of parameters.It also had to offer a comfortable, flexible and fast programming toolwith the potential of handling timecode.Furthermore there was a need to pre-program the show with 3Dvisualisation software, so all fixtures could be programmed weeksbeforehand. Additionally, lighting and video had to be co-ordinatedin advance to match the looks of the two different mediums together.Finally all the truss movements required visualisation to show whereeach fixture would be during the show.As video was an essential element, it had to be easily and comfortablycontrolled separately from the lighting, with the content handled fromthe console, and the video server also set-up from the desk.Additionally a network solution was needed to offer a sophisticatedback-up for both lighting and video control, with just one showfilecontaining all the video and lighting data and that could be editedusing a multi-user function.Therefore the choice was to go 100% with MA Lighting´s grandMA2 series.Realisation4 grandMA2 full-size consoles, each with a console running in fulltracking backup, and 5 grandMA2 faderwing were utilised, triggeredvia timecode. 11 MA NPU (Network Processing Unit) devices handledall the data traffic in one session via MA-Net2. Additionally, 8 MA NSP(Network Signal Processor) were used as 4Port Node for local DMXdistribution.“It’s not practical to do a show like this without timecode, andgrandMA2 is the best. Absolutely every millisecond is cued andthen rehearsed again and again and again. There is no room for anerror in a show of this size. The MA system delivered a great result.”Jerry Appelt, Lighting DesignerRalph@Larmann.comRalph@Larmann.com2 3

Ralph@Larmann.comTimecode and Multi-User ProgrammingThanks to the sophisticated system layoutof the grandMA2 all the programmers couldwork in one session, with only one of themhandling all the different timecoded elementsfor each artist. Because all the consoles werenetworked, every user could monitor whichevent was edited, deleted or moved. If allthe users had created their own timecodedshows, it would have been far more confusingand time consuming.Fortunately this was not the case, so theprogrammer responsible for the timecodedshows just had to press ‘record’ and start thetrack, and the (for example) moving light programmer,then synced their cues. When therecord was finished, only small adjustmentshad to be made. Furthermore the timecodeprogrammer could jump to any point in timein the show and directly adjust things there.Four programmers ran the desks: one for video,one for effects lighting, one for white light, andone for audience and green room lighting. Preprogrammingbegan in Hamburg at NDR fromMarch 21 st through April 8 th , 2011, utilising thegrandMA 3D visualisation software running onfour custom built Cape Cross PCs. Programmingcommenced in Düsseldorf April 11 th -15 th .In total there were 70 patched DMX universesand 2,921 cues.Because of the needs of different pro grammers,the show was programmed and operated viathe grandMA2’s Multi-User function. Thisgave each programmer access to the wholeshow, with the great advantage that, for example,the conventional lighting programmercan also edit a moving light for focusing ifneeded. Another advantage of Multi-Usermode was the fact, that all grandMA 3Ddata was saved in the showfile as well, so nofurther file was needed. All the TV cameraspresent during the live show were visualisedbeforehand in grandMA 3D, and their positionsstored as macros for the programmer.They could easily be accessed repeatedly,allowing the lighting designer to watch theshow from the viewpoint of the differentcamera angles, and get an impression of howthe per formances looked from their variousperspectives.4 www.malighting.comwww.malighting.com 5

Another of many reasons for usinggrandMA2 was the sheer size of the 1,6GBshowfile, which would have been too big forgrandMA ‘series 1’ because of the extendeduploading times needed. On the grandMA2,this was uploaded in just 17 seconds!During the pre-programming phase, the teamhad their own collection of reference lightsfor all the fixture types used in the show.This enabled them to adjust the 3D accuracyof each fixture. The whole lighting plot wasdrawn in 3D, so proper fixture positions couldbe added to grandMA 3D via XML data, whichwas a huge benefit, and all fixtures weredisplayed exactly in grandMA 3D as they wererigged in the real show.Additionally, all the show LED screens werevisualised in order to balance the lightingwith the video content beforehand. The teamalso built in moving paths for all the automatedtrusses in grandMA 3D, which showedthe exact positions of the different lights ineach song, so the kinetics team could easilyprogram their axes.Integrating VideoAll video content was operated off 8 MA VPU(Video Processing Unit) each with a fullback up. A Barco Encore screen managementsystem routed the signals from the OB truckto the LED walls. All media equipment waspositioned next to the FOH mixing position.Video content stored on all the MA VPU wasalso part of the overall showfile which wasalso stored on all MA VPU. This enabled allthe video content to be handled from thegrandMA2 consoles as well, including the setupof the SDI inputs, the resolution, changingof the cameras and all basic settings in theMA VPU. At the same time this was perfectto deal with a backup situation. If an MA VPUhad crashed, a backup MA VPU would havebeen selected via the console, and a serverfarmer would then just have to have switchedthe output manually.Video content was displayed on a 67-metrewide by 18-metre tall CT Spider 30 N5 LEDscreen which formed the back wall of thestage. 2,100 Barco MiSTRIP 1,480mm and165 MiSTRIP 375mm elements plus 2,480Barco MiTRIX tiles were used for visualdetailing around the stage and the movablerings overhead. Twelve Barco R20 projectorswere used to feed the audience screens.Even the satellite stage and green roomreceived special treatment with 400 metresof Schnick Schnack Systems’ LED strips builtinto the surfaces.Cape Cross of Cologne, Germany, provided alllighting and rigging equipment for the show,which filled 130 trucks each with 40 tons ofequipment.“grandMA2 is a very popular brand forus. The grandMA2 is a smart consoleand it’s great that we can totally rely onMA Lighting.”Thomas Brügge,Managing Director of Cape CrossWhen the final was broadcast live on 14 thMay 2011, 120 million people watchingexperienced a flawless and unique show.Ralph@Larmann.com Ralph@Larmann.com6 www.malighting.comwww.malighting.com 7

Ralph@Larmann.com8 grandMA2 full-size (4 main + 4 back-up consoles) plus 5 grandMA2 faderwing helped to turn the soccer arena into a TV studio of unique sizeSome of the 16 MA VPU at the video control positionAlso pyro-technics were controlled with grandMA2M & M ProductionRalph@Larmann.comProject team:Lighting Design:Stage Design:Technical Coordinator & Gaffer:Head of Lighting:Head of Lighting Greenroom:Effect Programmer:Video Programmer:White Light Programmer:Jerry AppeltFlorian WiederMatthias RauMatthias HagelWolfgang NöhrerSascha MatthesMichael GiegerichMarkus RuhnkeGreenroom & Audience Programmer: “Matze” MeyertGraphics:Gravity (Julien Rigal,Falk Rosental, Thomas Neese)Production:Show Producer:Stage Producer:Lighting & Rigging:Video:Moving LED screen:Set construction:Pyro:Host broadcaster:Executive Producer Show:Executive Supervisor of EBU:Brainpool TV GmbHJörg Grabosch (Brainpool)Ola MelzigCape CrossCreative TechnologyStage KineticMCILunatXNDRThomas Schreiber (NDR)Jon-Ola Sand8 www.malighting.comwww.malighting.com 9

Schematic Network DiagramFOHDimmercity ADimmercity DMA VPU1 – Main192.168.0.1112.2.2.111MA VPU2 – Main192.168.0.1122.2.2.112MA VPU1 – Backup192.168.0.1212.2.2.121MA VPU2 – Backup192.168.0.1222.2.2.122Server – Main“Michael”192.168.0.142.2.2.14Server – Backup“Michael”192.168.0.242.2.2.243132333439404144SpareDimmercity B3536373842434546SpareDimmercity CMA VPU3 – Main192.168.0.1132.2.2.113MA VPU4 – Main192.168.0.1142.2.2.114MA VPU5 – Main192.168.0.1152.2.2.115MA VPU3 – Backup192.168.0.1232.2.2.123MA VPU4 – Backup192.168.0.1242.2.2.124MA VPU5 – Backup192.168.0.1252.2.2.125Moving Lights – Main“Sascha”192.168.0.112.2.2.11Conventionals – Main“Markus”192.168.0.122.2.2.12Moving Lights – Backup“Sascha”192.168.0.212.2.2.21Conventionals – Backup“Markus”192.168.0.222.2.2.22212347495153555660616263646566676871727374Spare31,32,33,34,39,40,41,4421,23,47,49,51,53,55,5660,61,62,63,64,65,66,6768,71,72,73,74,22,59,79SpareDC-B – Spare – 192.168.0.232DC-B – Main – 192.168.0.231DC-B – MA NPU1 – 192.168.0.31DC-B – MA NPU2 – 192.168.0.32DC-B – MA NPU3 – 192.168.0.33DC-B – MA NPU4 – 192.168.0.34DC-B – Spare – 192.168.0.35UPS14151617181920223048505254575860Spare75767778Spare35,36,37,38,42,43,45,4614,15,16,17,18,19,20,2230,48,50,52,54,57,58,6075,76,77,78SpareDC-C – Spare – 192.168.0.242DC-C – Main – 192.168.0.241DC-C – MA NPU1 – 192.168.0.41DC-C – MA NPU2 – 192.168.0.42DC-C – MA NPU3 – 192.168.0.43DC-C – MA NPU4 – 192.168.0.44DC-C – Spare – 192.168.0.45UPSMA VPU6 – Main192.168.0.1162.2.2.116MA VPU6 – Backup192.168.0.1262.2.2.126Dimmercity EDimmercity FMA VPU7 – Main192.168.0.1172.2.2.117MA VPU8 – Main192.168.0.1182.2.2.118MA VPU7 – Backup192.168.0.1272.2.2.127MA VPU8 – Backup192.168.0.1282.2.2.128Audience/Greenroom – Main“Matze”192.168.0.132.2.2.13Audience/Greenroom – Backup“Matze”192.168.0.232.2.2.2312345624252660Spare1,2,3,45,6,24,2526,60SpareDC-E – Spare – 192.168.0.248DC-E – Main – 192.168.0.249DC-E – MA NSP1 – 192.168.0.51DC-E – MA NSP2 – 192.168.0.52DC-E – MA NSP3 – 192.168.0.53DC-E – Spare – 192.168.0.54UPS7891011121327282960Spare7,8,9,1011,12,13,2728,29,60SpareDC-F – Spare – 192.168.0.251DC-F – Main – 192.168.0.252DC-F – MA NSP1 – 192.168.0.61DC-F – MA NSP2 – 192.168.0.62DC-F – MA NSP3 – 192.168.0.63DC-F – Spare – 192.168.0.64UPSServer-Backup – (CT)192.168.0.215Server-Main – (CT)192.168.0.214FOH – Backup – 192.168.0.212FOH – Main – 192.168.0.211FOH – Spare – 192.168.0.213UPSgrandMA2 full-sizegrandMA2 faderwingMA VPUMA NPUSwitchUPSMA-Net2Art-NetDMXNetwork RackMA NSPDMX-BoosterOptical Fibre10 www.malighting.comwww.malighting.com 11

Company ProfileMA Lighting International, based in Paderborn, Germany, is the dedicated sales, support and service entityfor the renowned grandMA control systems, digital dimming systems, networking tools and media servers ofMA Lighting Technology, based near Wuerzburg, Germany. The product range offers cutting-edge solutions forcontrol and dimming, including the award-winning grandMA/grandMA2 consoles, the popular Lightcommanderand reliable digital dimmer racks and packs. With its innovative MA VPU (Video Processing Unit) MA bridges thelighting and video worlds.Today, MA Lighting is respected for its technical knowledge and has achieved a unique international reputationfor its operational philosophy. The company offers 25 years experience and strictly follows a professionaluser-centric approach, getting as close as possible to the market via its own international offices and supportcentres in the UK, North America, Latin America, the Middle East/India, Asia Pacific and Scandinavia/EasternEurope/Russia – supported by a world-wide distribution and service network.MA Lighting International GmbHAn der Talle 24 - 2833102 Paderborn / GermanyPhone: +49 5251 688865 -10Fax: +49 5251 688865 -88info@malighting.comhttp://www.malighting.com© 2011 MA Lighting InternationalVersion No. XI.01All technical specifications are subject to change without notification.We do not assume liability for any incorrect information in this case study.