Emma Duckett
•August 02, 2024•4 min read
You might know On Air for cinematic live concert streams. However, behind the stunning Dolby-induced visuals and immersive audio, our in-house teams are busy bringing the magic to life with everything from propelling production to top-tier marketing.
So, if you’re considering streaming your event and want to know what happens behind the curtain, we've got you. Here’s an insight into how we capture and deliver world-leading artist performances to screens globally, featuring the indie
In the weeks leading up to Bombay Bicycle Club’s performance, On Air’s production team was at the helm of pre-show preparations. This includes arranging a kick-off meeting with their technical team, vendor, and promoter to gather details on setlist, show length, lighting and SFX plans, stage plot, venue map, power / parking arrangements, and more.
12 July 2024. It’s 1.30pm, and we’re at the infamous Alexandra Palace Park where the band are set to play in 8 hours. The stage is built, the band are in rehearsal mode, the general crew are finessing props and equipment on stage, and our on-site teams are busy in motion.
We frequently team up with Spiritland Productions for their world-renowned expertise in audio (arguably the most essential part of any show, but more on that later!). Spiritland’s team has connections across the board, having worked with touring and Ally Pally’s audio crews before.
“We’re extremely proud of our production partnerships with On Air. Together, we have filmed and recorded premium quality live streams in 4K and Dolby Atmos from some of the most iconic venues in the world. Our partnership continues to push the boundaries for live stream audience experiences.”
– Andy Wood, Project Manager at Spiritland.
In-person introductions
Checking crew list, setlist, and all access for stage camera operators / assistants, photographers, meal tickets, etc
Arranging a time slot for marketing to spend with the artist
Walking through On Air’s requirements with the show director
Leading meetings with Spiritland, who take charge of the best camera angles / sound checks
One person from production also stands on stage with a ColourChecker Video chart, allowing the cameras to accurately colour-match their surroundings before filming. This pioneering piece of tech allows everyone on the team – from producer and cinematographer to editor and colourist – to work with consistent colour information, achieving balanced visuals and exposure in post-production.
Meanwhile, our photographer snaps high-quality images throughout the day, while our marketing team collaborates with Bombay’s drummer Suren De Saram for the post-show live stream announcement (scripted by yours truly). Marketing also captures video content in close contact with the band’s management from start to finish.
8.30pm, it’s showtime and Spiritland’s crew are in their trailers ready for action. The footage is captured on six operated Sony FX9’s and four Sony FR7 PTZ’s in 4K UHD from front-of-house, then fed through to Spiritland who calls the shots (what camera angle comes next, quality checks – all that fun stuff). Trailer equipment includes high-tech controller switchers, sound and vision mixing studio desks, and time code systems.
Probably. There’s a reason we rave about Dolby across our website – it translates the show’s immersive elements on screen. But for those who don’t know, we enhance our live concert streams with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound to provide a realistic (and cinematic) viewer experience.
These technologies are weaved into the post-production process, which involves:
Transferring footage directly to our HQ in Baarn (Amsterdam), including line cut, edit notes, timeline, sequence, and more (prepared the same night by our digital imaging technician)
The DIT focuses on data wrangling and data protection, storing the footage on not one but three hard drives
Once stored, they then scrub through the footage and data information to make sure all copies are identical and uncompromised
Each drive is handed to separate crew members for security and peace of mind
Back in Baarn, the show is edited and colour-graded using DaVinci and audio is finetuned with ProTools and Reaper
Back on the marketing side, the team are busy piecing together show trailers, dropping social teasers and announcements, crafting compelling mailouts and show copy, as well as stand-out artwork; communicating with the band every step of the way.
Dolby Atmos turns the typical recorded live show on its head, trailblazing a new way for music addicts to tune into the most iconic music events of the year.
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