Tom Andrews

Samsung - IBC 2024

For IBC 2024 we were asked to provide technical production for the samsung stande. They were showcasing various models of their ‘The Wall’ LED products (IVC, IFR-V, and IWC). To showcase these in their intended use cases we designed and delivered two separate xR systems, powered by disguise, that were used to produce a newscast style demonstration at multiple points through each day of the show.

We used Disguise media servers and render nodes, Panasonic UC4000 camera channels, Panaconic Kairos vision mixer, Redspy 4.0 camera tracking and blacktrax presenter tracking.

My role was overall video system functionality, but focussed on the xR systems. Disguise programming, camera and LED calibrations, camera tracking and network infrastructure. The entire signal chain was running at 10-bit, and we utilised the various features of the S-Box processors to ensure that the LED was running in an optimal manner for the complex camera setups we were using.

I also was working on the unreal content, allowing the functionality we needed to showcase the colour accuracy of the Samsung LED products, as well as blueprint scripting triggerable actions.

The Samsung stand also won the award for Content Creation, for…the complex, multifunctional broadcast studio.

2024 - d&b Solutiions

For ISE 2024 we were again asked to produce the technical aspects of the d&b audiotechnik demo room, showcasing their soundscape immersive audio system.

Four projection surfaces and three LED walls provided a canvas of over 11k wide by 1k tall. Utilising spatially mapped audio and video content the demo was designed to immerse the listener in the experience demonstrating the use cases of the technology.

We utilised blacktrax tracking to track the presenters for both audio and lighting.

My role covered disguise pre-/programming, video system design, projection, tracking data manipulation and control systems programming.

June - August 2024 - Riyadh KSA - Bright GMBH

For the Esports World Cup I was asked to be part of the team dealing with camera tracking and calibrations. Over the three main stages and the six live studios there was a total of 20 tracked cameras. Each of these needed a full lens profile as well as offset and alignments.

The systems used were a mixture of Stype Redspy 2.0 and 3.0 mounted on a mixture of Sony broadcast camera channels as static positions and flown spider-cam’s. All tracking data was taken into Stage Precision for manipulation before being send out to nDisplay render nodes.

Once the event began, I then was part of the swing tech team, helping maintain the various stages and calibrations, and helping resolve any issues that appeared.

2024 - White LIght - Mercedes F1 + Sky

Lighting design, programming.

Promo shoot for Sky and Mercedes F1, launching the W15.

2023 - White Light - d&b audiotechnik Soundscape demo room - ISE 2023

As part of d&b solutions we were asked to provide technical delivery for d&b audiotechnik’s soundscape demo room at ISE 2023. This was the most ambitious demo they had conceived as it fully combined Audio, Video and Lighting to create an immersive experience to demonstrate the capabilities of a soundscape system.

We delivered an LED canvas over 11000 pixels wide driven with both pre-rendered and realtime content through a disguise GX2c based system, presenter tracking through blacktrax, and timecoded lighting from an MA2 system.

Stage Precision was used to tie the full system control into a single point of operator interaction, as well as to do positional translation between blacktrax, the DS100 soundscape engine, and Disguise’s coordinate system. This allowed presenters and content to be accurately tracked in lighting, video and audio.

My role on this project was overall video system design, network infrastructure, Disguise programming and operation, control systems (Stage Precision) programming, and minor content creation and management.

2023 - White Light - Samsung - Video

For the European launch of their new The Wall IVC panel, Samsung contracted WL to deliver the full solution to demonstrate the quality of their new product.

Utilising Disguise’s xR and mixed reality workflows to drive a combination of presentation and real-time content, as well as their ACES colour management to ensure that the colour reproduction was accurate through the entire render pipeline.

2021-2024 - Whtie Light - Various

As part of the SmartStage product, White Light offered a production xR stage. This allowed corporate and other companies access to the full power of a production xR stage with a dedicated team to run the production and guide them through the process of putting on an xR event.

There were multiple iterations of the production stage offered, varying in location, size and capabilities; but there was constant development of new processes, techincal capability, and this formed the basis for a lot of knowledge that was able to be transferred back into wider event production.

A few examples of video systems I’ve designed and run for different sectors, from basic presentation setups, to ultrawide projection installations, to turnkey xR solutions for live events.

2023 - White Light - d&b audiotechnik USA and Japan

After the success of the soundscape demo room at ISE 2023 it was decided to take the main content to other trade shows, Infocomm in Florida, USA; and Interbee in Tokyo, Japan.

Integrating a disguise workflow into their existing plans and adapting the content to work with the different formats being used. Also working through cultural differences and language barriers to deliver the highest quality experience to the attendees at each show.

2023 - White Light - Mercedes F1 + Sky - Lighting Design/Programming/Operation

For the launch of the Mercedes W14 F1 car, we delivered a lighting rig formed from 68 Titan Tubes following the shape of the car.

Merging pixel data coming from Resolume Arena with intensity and colour data from a GrandMA2 system, to allow dynamic effects while retaining the accurate colours required by the strong branding of the client.

2021-2024 - White Light + Eurosport - Various

As part of the xR stage development I was involved with, I became involved with the broadcast studio production. With Eurosport I helped deliver both the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 2022 Beijing Olympics, as well as their other programming around the Tennis Grand Slams, Superbikes, Boxing, and Cycling Grand Tours.

This role encompasses both the disguise operation for the live transmissions as well as unreal engine integration and development to allow new functionality to their broadcasts. For instance, the incorporation of hawkeye data to allow presenters to visualise and discuss the performances in real-time without needing to pre-record or to be done as asynchronous content.

The current live events environment is filled with different control solutions, the more ways you have of controlling something the easier you can achieve your goal, and more often you can create novel ways to incorporate multiple systems to behave as one.

2022/3 - White Light - MPTS Keynote Theatre

For the 2022 and 2023 MPTS show in London we delivered a production SmartStage xR stage for the keynote theatre. With a two day build to deliver a fully functional xR stage including presenter and camera tracking, real-time content and a full multi-camera setup.

My role on both these instances was overall HoD Video as well as Disguise Programmer/Op and camera tracking.

2021 - 2024 - White Light - SmartStage Installs

As part of the SmartStage product line White Light offer custom xR production stages as an install product for corporate and educational clients.

As part of the delivery of these projects I was involved in both an active on-site delivery role as well as in pre-commissioning and consulting roles.

Stages have been delivered both in the UK and to international clients such as Michigan University (Ross Business School), Portsmouth University, Rose Bruford College, as well as private corporate entities.

From designing for a live music artist, or a nightclub event, or for a corporate themed presentation, this is a selection of the design work I have undertaken for various clients.

While at university I worked at the students union in the technical department. We were responsible for the delivery of all nighttime events for the Union. As well as the reguklar student events we produced events for local event promoters, corporate shows and university sponsored events.

During this time I developed skills in lighting design/programming, video systems and graphics, as well as overall stage design for a large number of events.

Some of the highlights included artists such as: Craig David, Sigma, Paul Van Dyke, Wilkinson, The Hoosiers, High Contrast, Duke Dumont, Professor Green, Fred V & Grafix, and Skream.