The recent Grandslam tour, which brought together iconic bands Simple Minds and The Pretenders, relied on a live production workflow powered by Blackmagic Design's URSA Broadcast with ATEM Camera Control Panel.
Live Production Workflow
Event specialist LHG Live produced and promoted the entire tour, utilizing a live solution that relies on Blackmagic Design for acquisition and IMAG relay. The setup featured three URSA Broadcast cameras equipped with Blackmagic Camera Fiber Converters and Canon B4 lenses.
The B4 mount allows for flexibility when hiring in lenses, providing more options for capturing high-quality footage. The cameras were used for front-of-house shots as well as pit units to capture the performances of both Simple Minds and The Pretenders.
Camera Control Panel
Jacques Batchelor from LHG Live praised the ATEM Camera Control hardware, stating that it has been designed with function and ease of use in mind. 'It makes color correction and iris control a dream, and has turned the URSA Broadcast into a feature-packed live solution with an easy-to-use and recognizable workflow.'
Routing and Switching
The production team used a Smart Videohub 20x20 for routing and an ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K switcher to handle camera feeds, prerecorded adverts, and VTs between sets. The live mix was cut on an ATEM 1 M/E Advanced Panel.
The unit also featured a pair of Teranex AV standards converters, allowing the production team to provide live feeds in the right format regardless of the display technology at a venue or if an artist wants to incorporate an additional source at short notice.
Cost-Effective Solution
Bathtelor concluded that the URSA Broadcast camera chain offers a significantly cheaper solution than alternatives, with incredible image quality and comparable features. 'By choosing the Blackmagic route, we have been able to develop a live solution with broadcast-quality cameras and features for a fraction of the cost, seeing a swifter return on our investment.'