Welcome to Stagetracker FX seminar2012. John Skjelstad R&D / Founder About us.

Welcome to Welcome to Stagetracker FXStagetracker FX

seminarseminar20122012

John Skjelstad R&D / Founder

About us

About TTA

TTA R&D and production are located in Trondheim, Norway

Established in 2004 following extensive research in areas such as RF, acoustics, software algorithms since 1999.

All parts developed and manufactured in Norway.

All R&D, software development, system assembly and testing are carried out in-house at TTA in Norway.

TTA Background

About TTA

Laboratoryand FactoryTrondheim Norway

Acknowledgements

Product of the month: LiveDesign Magazine, US. May 2007

Why Stagetracker FX ?

Amplified Theatre Audio

The challenges:

Amplified theatre audio leaves audiences feeling less connected to a

performance.

Voices of the actors do not originate from the performers themselves but

from a detached place above or beside the stage.

Difficult to tell which actor is actually speaking with many actors on the

stage.

Amplified Theatre Audio

Amplified Theatre Audio...

For many years, creative sound technicians have been striving to

achieve audio localization to give the audience a more immersive, realistic experience.

Expectations of audiences have increased

Full multi-channel surround sound is now commonplace in movie theatres and even

widely adopted in people’s own living rooms. A standard audio system is simply not

acceptable anymore.

As the line array and digital mixing revolutions are getting behind us, we are convinced that localised, natural sound will become one of

the next “big things” in audio.

We aim for Stagetracker FX to be at the forefront.

TheatresOperahousesHouses of worshipMusic venuesChurchesCorporateRental

Users

R&D Achievement 1:Tracking People on Stage

2006: First time ever, a commercially available tracking system is launched.

Taken into use with great success almost from day one on well known shows round Europe.

R&D Achievements 2:Smoothmove™ algorithm

Matrix needed to be able to change delays in realtime without any audible artifacts.

Smoothmove™: Proprietary algorithms developed to overcome problems inherent in moving audio sources ”transparently”.

R&D Achievement 3:PanBetweenPoint™

algorithmAll audio localisation systems have

been set up using a similar principle:Divide the stage area into defined areas or "zones" and then time align all the speakers in the house to the centres of each of these zones.

Demands complex calculations. Take days to complete and often

resulting in unnatural sounding audio.

R&D Achievement 3:PanBetweenPoint™

algorithmAs soon as the performer crosses the border into an adjacent zone, the result is a large and sudden shift in the position of the audio even though the performer only took one step!Listeners may experience speakers suddenly increasing or decreasing in level – or even being turned on or off!

Audio perceived to be constantly either behind or ahead of the performer’s actual position.

R&D Achievement 3:PanBetweenPoint™

algorithmGoal 1: To move audio smoothly, naturally, continously.Goal 2: Achieve effective audio localisation quickly.

PbP: A new concept. Traditionally, audio has been panned between speakers. The V4 Tracking Engine pans between Points.

May be as simple or as complex as the user requires. (e.g. the Width Control). Keeps complete coverage.

R&D Achievement 4:Automatic Mode

Take this technology out of the hands of specialists and make it viable for use by sound technicians and touring productions everywhere.

Using V4 Automatic Mode, a few simple distance values are all that is required in order to achieve amazing audio localisation.

R&D Achievement 4:Automatic Mode

On-stage Points, depth delay calculations and upstage audio level attenuation are all calculated and entered automatically by the software.

Front fills, out fills or balcony delays may be added to the system as required and V4 will automatically tune the necessary level and delay values relating to the upstage Points for these speakers.

Stagetracker FX

Three main functions of Stagetracker FX

1. Tracking of performers and moving objects

2. Editing and playback of sound effects

3 Localisation of the audio (Automatic via tracking or pre-programmed) - on the stage or into the auditorium

Stagetracker FX Hardware

1. Tags

2. RadioEye

3. Audio Matrix

Stagetracker Tags

LightweightMaintenance freeDual antenna designHigh output, 40 packet pulses per secondTCU – Tag Control Unit: Syncronises tag data

transmission with time slots: Avoid packets being jammed or lost.

Stagetracker RadioEye™

Stagetracker RadioEye

Intelligent deviceNinety degree conical coverage patternOnly one unit necessary for system operationNo calibration requiredUp to X units may be used together to cover an

area up to 5000 sq. metres.*

*FXR software required

Stagetracker Matrix

Stagetracker Matrix

AES/EBU, MADI, Dante +++Ethernet control interfaceLevel & delay on every crosspointParametric EQ on every outputSmoothmove™ algorithms Computer basedEasily upgradable

System Diagram

Stagetracker FX

Required hardware (not supplied)

1. One or two computers (PC or Mac)

2. Network switch

3. CAT 5 cables

Stagetracker FX Software

Two software engines:

1.

2.

Stagetracker FX

Stagetracker FX

Tags and audio assignmentFilters for optimal tracking response Selection of matrix operating modeAllocation and creation of Audio PointsMonitor real time tracking/Tag signal

strength Monitor input and output audio levels

via VU metresLog tracking data

Pan between points Mode

For ultra-fast set-upFor use with long throw, wide coverage

speaker systems (e.g. line array)Requires no measurements or

calibrationTouringQuick technology demonstration“Points” may contain one or a time-

aligned group of many speakersNo specialist set-up requiredLocalisation not as precise as Zone

mode

Zone Mode

For precise audio localisationFor use with distributed sound systemsFor use on long-running productions or

installationsSpecialist set-up requiredSet-up can be time-consuming

QLab Show control

Recently integrated with the industry standard Qlab show control software from Figure 53

QLab is now the sound effects playback and control component in Stagetracker FX. The way we’re doing this is with a new cue in QLab: The Stagetracker Cue.

QLab Show control

• 

QLab Show control

What does this mean?

- This means that you can localize sound effects very fast and easy. Draw a path of where you want the sound to go, and it will go there! - Controlling one audio input in the Stagetracker Matrix, the new Stagetracker Cue can take a sound effect and fly it around onstage or anywhere else in the auditorium, using the Stagetracker Matrix for stunning localization effect.

- In addition, the Stagetracker Cue also opens up options for controlling live audio inputs, making it easy to localize live audio from wireless microphones in QLab. At any time, Stagetracker Cues can be fired from QLab to control performers' localization on stage.

Latest development: The V4s

Stand still detection

- The Tag incorporates movement sensors (3 x accellerator sensors).

- As soon as a performer on stage is coming to standstill, the Stagetracker FX software locks the position, and moves into a state of just fine adjustments of the position.

- Threshold for stand still can be set individually to cover any type of show (and type of actors!).

Latest development: The V4s

Stagetracker references

Royal Albert Hall, LondonLa Boheme - Show Boat - Madame Butterfly

Stagetracker references

Norwegian Opera, OsloStagetracker FXR16

Stagetracker references

Stagetracker references

Les Miserables, Trøndelag Teater Huge success, and became known for its sound. 136 shows, 66100 tickets sold.

Stagetracker references

Royal Danish Theatre, Copenhagen

Stagetracker FX32 Tracking system

Stagetracker references

Svenska Teatern, Helsinki FinlandStagetracker FX16

Stagetracker references

Kolarac Concert Hall Belgrade, Hungary

Stagetracker FX16XR

Stagetracker references

Schlossfestspiel, Schwerin Germany

Stagetracker FX32 Tracking system

Stagetracker references

Promessi Sposi in San Siro ItalyStagetracker FX32 Tracking system

Stagetracker references

Fela! Musical European tour 2011Stagetracker FX16 Tracking system

Stagetracker references

Würms Festspiele 2011 GermanyStagetracker FX16 Tracking system

Stagetracker references

Malmo Opera SwedenStagetracker FX16 Tracking system

Stagetracker references

Luleå Sweden: Stagetracker FX8

Stagetracker references

Luleå Sweden: Stagetracker FX8

Stagetracker references

St. Galler Festspiele SwitzerlandStagetracker FXR16 Tracking system