Watchout and Ovation combine for Ghoemas Music Awards
Published: MEA
SOUTH AFRICA: The Ghoemas Music Awards in South Africa saw a combination of Dataton’s Watchout multi-image display and presentation software and Merging Technologies’ Ovation put to use.
The two hour broadcast demanded 16 high quality audio feeds running alongside the Watchout visuals. Once the program was loaded onto both servers, all that was needed was to set the IP addressing, naming the audio track grouped file with the same names as the auxiliary timeline in Watchout.
When the visuals are triggered, the audio follows in what the manufacturer describes as ‘frame-accurate synchronisation’. Ovation can also be used as the master controller. It will send triggers to the Watchout timeline to keep the video content synchronised to the audio. Although communication is via TCP/IP, the manufacturer states that no programming is necessary because the drivers are already integrated into the main applications.
‘Our experience with the first outing of this Merging Technologies solution is that it “does what it says on the tin”,’ said Malcolm Finlay from local Watchout premium partner, Penmac Audio Visual. ‘The initial (Ethernet) linkup between the two systems was achieved within five minutes and remained solid for the duration of the event. Other than the link to Watchout, Ovation provides a great deal of flexibility to integrate audio with modern digital mixing consoles by way of any of the multichannel IP streaming audio platforms now available via fibre or copper. On this type of event, Ovation could also very simply extend its functionality into multi-track recording of the same event,’ he reasoned.
‘Aside from mainstream music applications, Penmac is very excited about the new possibilities Ovation provides for surround sound multi-stream audio productions, particularly with a growing demand for stereoscopic productions,’ continued Mr Finlay. ‘Literally hundreds of high quality audio streams are now possible to synchronise with your visual production. Theatres, museums and visitor centres can also benefit from this “audio on demand” technology where not only digital communication triggers requests, but discrete contacts are also a means of instant content playback as and when required.’
‘I always prefer to run a multitrack audio session with live performances as it provides good support, particularly on the backing vocals,’ concluded event sound engineer, Murray Lubbe. ‘At this event we used Ovation – synchronised to Watchout – as the multitrack backup system and it was fantastic!’