Switzerland – Swiss band HECHT took to the stage at Zurich’s Hallenstadion with a visual production as energetic and spontaneous as the band itself. Combining live camera feeds, real-time Notch effects and programmed content across a large-scale LED canvas, the production used Hippotizer Media Servers from Green Hippo, an ACT Entertainment brand, to put video at the heart of the live experience.
Designed by Roger Staub, Creative Director at Leap of Faith, the visual concept brought lighting, video and the band’s performance together as a single, highly dynamic environment. Rather than treating video as a fixed backdrop, the system was designed to react to what was happening on stage, allowing the visual team to manipulate the live image and respond to the band in real time.
“I find the technical aspect of a show so exciting because it forms the foundation for the creative, musical and artistic parts,” says Staub. “Ultimately, we can only execute what is technically feasible. That is precisely why I am fascinated by using modern technology to continually push the boundaries of what is possible.”
A key part of the production was its extensive use of live camera feeds. Four operated cameras, alongside several fixed cameras, captured the action, with the footage integrated into the visual system and enhanced using real-time Notch effects.
On stage, a 16 x 7m LED backdrop provided a 2048 x 896-pixel canvas, built from 224 AR7.8 panels. Two additional 4 x 7m LED IMAG screens, each comprising 56 AR7.8 panels, extended the visual experience across the Hallenstadion.
Behind the system, two Hippotizer Media Servers were deployed in a main and backup configuration, with Barco S3 systems handling the main and backup switching. The Hippotizer systems were supplied by menzi ebz ag, Green Hippo’s official Swiss distribution partner, with Product Specialist Michael Kuhn providing network and technical support.
Kuhn has worked with HECHT on a number of productions over the years, helping to establish the relationship between the band’s production team and menzi ebz. For this show, the technical requirements were particularly demanding, with the production relying heavily on live video processing and real-time effects.
“Since we rely heavily on live camera feeds for this production and use Notch as well as real-time effects, we needed a media server with immense processing power to keep the latency as low as possible,” says Staub.
The workflow combined pre-programmed visual content organised in cue lists with live camera feeds and real-time manipulation. Using Hippotizer and ZooKeeper, the team could trigger cues and dynamic backgrounds, adjust colours and apply effects, while retaining the ability to override the programmed content whenever the performance demanded it.
That flexibility was particularly important for HECHT’s on-the-fly stage interactions. Several key moments in the show relied entirely on the band’s live energy, with the visual team reacting instantly to what was happening on stage rather than following a predetermined sequence.
For Staub, that responsiveness is central to the role technology can play in a live show.
“I am extremely happy with the whole show – the band is simply great. You can literally feel their energy and the wave of enthusiasm they ride on stage,” he says. “For passionate showmakers, it’s not just about playing the music: our goal is to support the performance through technology in a way that creates an unforgettable overall experience for the audience.”
Photo © menzi ebz ag
