The new Panasonic cameras are slated to be used on Phish's fall/winter tour
201 Productions (Clayton, MO), specialists in multi-camera live coverage of major music tours, festivals and corporate events, utilized new 4K mobile fly-pack systems equipped with Panasonic HDR-capable cameras (AK-UC4000 studio/field and AW-UE150 pan/tilt/zoom cameras) on the spring/summer cross-country tour of legendary rock band Phish.
201 Productions’ principal Trey Kerr explained that, with the purchase of five AK-UC4000s and six AW-UE150 PTZs with AW-RP150 controllers, the company’s primary fly-pack systems now boast HDR capture across all the cameras. (Cameras with HDR are capable of capturing brighter whites and/or deeper blacks.)
“Concert productions are the mainstay of our business, and the combination of larger camera sensors, 4K and HDR affords us so much clarity and exceptional performance in low light,” Kerr said. “We’re committed to providing the best available solutions for our clients, and given music performances’ varying contrast levels, with HDR we are able to capture the wide gamut of what we’re trying to shoot.”
201 Productions' chief assignment for Phish is live production, but the company is also tasked with providing a feed for live webcasts on LivePhish.com, as well producing performance videos for the band’s YouTube page and archiving each concert.
“The UC4000 delivers exceptional performance in low light, and really enables us to deal with whatever red, green or blue washes the lighting designer calls for,” Kerr noted. “The UC4000 can handle a solid blue wash better than any other camera I’ve ever experienced.”
For the majority of The Ghosts of the Forest’s performances, a staff of only two--working with the two AW-RP150 controllers--was able to manage 10 cameras the (six AW-UE50s, three POV cameras and a locked-off Panasonic AK-UC3000) for live IMAG and the recording of archival video.
“There’s so much functionality with the AW-UE150 and the AW-RP150 controller,” Kerr said. “It was so impressive how we were able to start a move, then transition to another camera, and it was simply remarkable what we could accomplish with only two people.
“Because of AW-UE150’s advanced features, we are now able to bring our same professional, award-winning production values to smaller, lower-budget events.”
Kerr typically shoots and archives music tours in 4K, 3840 X 2160 29.97. The UC4000s are outfitted with UHD UA107X8.4 Box-Type 107x Zooms for the main front of house lenses, as well as the Fujinon UA70x8.7 box-type zoom and the Canon HJ22ex7.6b multipurpose production lens. At most venues, he uses one AK-UC4000 each in the pit, handheld on stage and at the front of the house mix position, with two deployed in various ways contingent on the layout of each space. Four AW-UE150 PTZs are always used on stage (left, right, on the drum kit and upstage center), with the fifth reserved as a “bonus-cam” for interesting aspects or angles.
Having previously invested in AK-UC3000 4K studio/field cameras and AW-UE70 4K/HD PTZ cameras, 201 Productions now offers clients three discrete 4K mobile fly-pack systems: one with the AK-UC4000s + AW-UE150s; a second with the AK-UC3000s + AW-UE70s; and the third, smaller system built entirely around the AW-UE150s.
About 201 Productions
201 Productions specializes in 4K HDR multi-camera live coverage of major music tours, festivals, and corporate events utilizing 4K mobile fly pack video recording systems. Offering clients industry-leading production quality, 201 Productions creates outstanding, award-winning videos and films. For more information, visit https://www.201productions.com/, or contact Kerr at Treykerr@201productions.com.
About the AK-UC4000 4K Camera System
The AK-UC4000 studio camera joins the current AK-UC3000 4K HDR capable-camera and the AK-HC5000 1080p 4x high-speed HDR capable-system in Panasonic’s camera systems line, bringing together the features of both and raising the bar for 4K HDR performance and future-proof infrastructure. The AK-UC4000 utilizes LSSIEL optics to capture 4.4K native resolution improving the UHD resolution (more than 2000 TV lines, both horizontal and vertical), dynamic range and S/N ratio (62dB) over the UC3000. It maintains the same broadcast lens compatibility and operation and keeps the same camera form factor--matching or surpassing the best performing 4K HDR B4-mount cameras on the market.
The AW-UE150 PTZ and Companion AW-RP150 controller
This new flagship model PTZ features 4K/UHD 60p output and a wide horizontally viewing angle of 75.1 degrees (both firsts in their class), plus a 20x optical zoom/32x intelligent zoom (in HD mode).The UE150 is equipped with a large 1” MOS sensor and various 4K interfaces including 12G-SDI, HDMI, optical fiber and IP connectivity. The camera simultaneous outputs 4K and HD, assuring the right output for the production. The camera teams with the AW-RP150, a new touchscreen camera controller. Offering a 7” GUI LCD screen for monitoring and menu settings, the controller offers intuitive, single-hand operability with a joystick (with a seesaw lever for zoom or focus control).
About Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America
Panasonic System Solutions Company of North America, a division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, delivers game-changing technology solutions that deliver customized experiences to drive better outcomes—for our customers and our customers’ customers. Panasonic designs and manufactures reliable, flexible and dependable products and solutions to help create, capture and deliver information of all types, especially where, when and how it is needed. The complete suite of Panasonic professional solutions for government and commercial enterprises of all sizes addresses unified business communications, mobile computing, security and surveillance, retailpoint-of-sale, office productivity, audio and visual systems (projectors, displays & digital signage) and professional video production. To learn more and Panasonic’s business products and solutions visit https://na.panasonic.com.
About Panasonic Corporation of North America
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is committed to creating a better life and a better world by enabling its business-to-business customers through innovations in Sustainable Energy, Immersive Entertainment, Integrated Supply Chains and Mobility Solutions. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation. One of Interbrand’s Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2018, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. Learn more about Panasonic’s ideas and innovations at www.na.panasonic.com/us.