Disguise da vida al universo steampunk de Kaizers Orchestra

Colorspace, responsible for video management of the return tour of the Norwegian combo Kaizers Orchestra, deployed VX4+ media servers and Designer software Disguise to coordinate a scenic proposal focused on steampunk aesthetics.

According to Morten Øvergaard, Colorspace video engineer, Kaizers Orchestra is a band that likes to do things “the way they do.” analog way”. This means that they do not use or click trackers in time coding, which means a paradigm shift when it comes to the latest grand touring trends.

The team of Colorspace worked with designers lightning y camera operators to find out how to enhance the band's theatricality, exploring prerecorded loop segments and the use of multiple cameras focused on the band members. Meanwhile, Øvergaard needed to find a video settings that was adaptable enough to satisfy both the technical team and the band itself.

To respond to the scenic and technical proposal of Kaizer Orchestra, Colorspace made the decision to deploy the servers VX4+ and the software Designer by Disguise. The team chose to use seven IMAG screens (five small and one large) and manage seven camera sources simultaneously, all of them fed through two VX servers from Disguise, designed to handle large volumes of content.

Some of the venues on the tour needed custom solutions for specific screens. The festival Tons of Rock, For example, had square IMAG screens and a screen at the back of the stage. The team was able to make adjustments same day of the festival, while overcoming the problem of changing from daylight to nightlight by avoiding excessive use of black spaces in the LEDs.

A new era from Disguise

Despite the preferences of Kaizer Orchestra, Colorspace used the Disguise ecosystem to play a click track during a song, which was a new experience for the band. The team used the track clic to give the start signal to a one-minute session with the lead singer and pianist, which then synced with a pre-recorded video: “Kaizers have always been an analog band, no metronomes or click tracks, no time code, all marked by instinct and musicality and old-fashioned spectacle. For the band it was important to add video without losing any of that. Disguise allowed us to prepare and preview the entire show on a laptop, and then enter each room and adapt that same day, which is exactly what a band like this needs”.

The team used this video technology to enhance multiple songs during the set. For example, during the songHeart breaker”, Colorspace used Notch to apply glass refractions to the camera lens. This created a distinctive aura which complemented the practical effects on stage, like the strobes and smoke.

“I have been using Disguise for six years. You can take Designer to the client and show it where you are without having to carry a server. It is the best tool when previewing a live show. You can try everything on your laptop, then upload it to the server and that's it”, concludes Øvergaard.