Click on of the links below to see Flash! video of the new Barco MiTRIX LED stage enhancements.
HLSR-produced video of the stage on YouTube
Concept, Fabrication, Installation, Show
CH39 News Segment
The newly enhanced stage for 2009. Technical additions include the addition of Barco Mitrix LED panels to the top headers, between-screen panels, stage skirt and stage background. The LED system is fed by two Green Hippo Hippotizer Stage 3 media servers controlled by the RodeoHouston video production team during competition and the LD Systems concert crew during the live concert performances.
Another enhancement is the addition of three stage thrusts that extend on three sides from the rotating stage. This allows the performers to get closer to the audience.
The unique feature of the new LED system is the ability of the audience to view the performers even when the front of the stage is turned away from the viewer.
How the 2009 stage enhancements came to life.
The new stage began as a 3D computer model to show proof-of-concept.
The 3D concept render was superimposed over a past concert photo to show scale.
Another 3D render shows the configuration in "competition mode" where the stage skirt begins as the bottom of the central video wall cluster.
Fabrication of the new stage set begins in LD Systems' Houston facility. The increased height of the final set meant it had to be constructed in upper and lower sections.
The set is an all-steel rail system bolted to an aluminum frame. Staff engineers custom designed the rail system to be able to alter the panel configuration for future years rodeo concerts.
Video technicians mount and wire the Barco Mitrix LED panels to the framework.
Rob Villalobos, AJ Freysteinson and John Dickson run the system through a series of tests and adjustments.
In final test phase, the lower section is deemed ready for show.
Electrovoice EV Xline line array speaker stacks dominate the roof at Reliant Stadium. The roof blackout and sound deadening fabrics are yet to be deployed.
The center cluster rigging takes place weeks before the rodeo begins. Motors are hung in concentric rings for the LED header, LED HDTV walls, LED filler panels, lower LED skirt, and center concert lighting rig.
It takes a fish-eye lens to capture the entire rig close-up.
The LED panels affixed to the rotating stage sit waiting for power and signal. To the lower right-hand corner of the picture are workers installing the new folding stage extensions.
The whole system comes alive during the days of programming before the concert series. Each media server holds literally gigabytes of background footage. Light colors, movements, and effects are pre-programmed with the various video loop backgrounds to create a large pallet of scenes for upcoming shows. As in past concert series the stage Lighting Designer is staffer John Dickson.
Final dress rehearsal with no audience shows the system completely operational for the first time.
During the performance LD John Dickson controls lights and media with the MA Lighting grand MA console. Video engineer Rob Villalobos sits close by and monitors the Hippotizer server system.
Up close, the new stage set background comes alive. Various visual media including live camera shots feed the system.
Show Pictures
