Video Curiosity...

[Teck]

Right now I'm sitting here watching the MTV Video Music Awards. The show isn't that great but the technical side is very extensive and complex. They have a lot of video screens around the stage and theater that show various things such as video clips, various backgrounds and logos, live performers, etc. It looks like a very complex and sophisticated setup. I was curious if anybody knew what the standard is for setting up and running the video aspect of a modern show is and what types of software and hardware they use. All input is appreciated!

[gabe]

I remember last week taking the tour of radio city while they were loading in, it was pretty cool.

[Footer]

Just about guarentee you that they are using either a catalyst system from high end or (more likely) a Watchout system.

[soundlight]

I'd have to say that with a system that size it'd probably be the Dataton Watchout system as Footer said. It seems kinda large for a catalyst, but it could be. The Watchout system would seem to be the ideal product for something like that.

[FamousLastWords]

While unlikey, they could've had linked Hippotizers from Green Hippo. Again, unlikely but it is what Cirque uses for 'Love'. They have 19 linked HippotizerHD's .

[gafftaper]

I realize this is an old thread but Live Design had an article about the MTV Video Music Awards in the November issue. And from it we can completely answer this question. Here's the link to the article. Here's the equipment list from the end of the article:

Lighting (Scharff Weisberg, Syncrolite Inc., TriCity Photon Research)
62 Vari-Lite VL500B
54 Vari-Lite VL2500 Spot
51 Vari-Lite VL2500 Wash
30 Vari-Lite VL3500 Spot
40 Vari-Lite VL3000 Spot
41 Vari-Lite VL3000 Wash
10 Vari-Lite VL1000 TS
32 Morpheus PanaBeam XR2 Wash Light
20 Martin Professional MAC 2000 Wash
10 Syncrolite SX3K
10 Syncrolite MX1000
120 Element Labs Versa Tube
60 Altman SpectraPAR w/MFL Lens
70 Color Kinetics ColorBlast 12
36 ETC Source 4 Ellipsoidal
30 ETC Source 4 PARs WFL
30 PAR64 Black, 1kW
3 6-Lamp PAR Bar, VNSP
4 2kW Fresnels w/ Screens and Barn Doors
12 1kW Mini-Broad as Footlight
24 Silver Birdie
5 ETC 48 channel Sensor Dimmer Rack
2 ETC 24 channel Sensor Dimmer Rack
3 Strong Super Trouper Followspot
3 Strong Short Throw Super Trouper
5 Lycian Stark Lite 1271
2 MA Lighting grandMA Console
8 MA Lighting Network Signal Processor

Effects
25 Martin Atomic Strobe w/Color Scroller
4 Reel Efx DF-50 Hazer
2 Martin/Jem ZR33 Hi-Mass Fog Machine
2 Reel EFX Fan (plus 6 Box Fan, 2 Snail Fan)

Projection Equipment (Nocturne)
553 Barco ILite 6 LED Tile
512 Barco ILite 10 LED Tile
21 Barco D320 LED Processor
28 Barco FLM R20 Video Projector
6 Vista Systems Video Processor (3 353s and 1 each 364, 344, and 240)
6 Barco Encore Video Processor
7 Thomas Grass Valley Turbo iDDR High Def Digital Disk Recorder
2 Sierra 16×16 HDSDI Router
1 Sierra 32×32 SDI Router
1 Sierra 18×18 DVI Router