PLASA 2008 will witness Norwegian theatre specialist TTA’s unveiling of Stagetracker FX, the latest generation of its award-winning Stagetracker performer tracking and audio localisation system that has brought a new dimension to the world of theatre sound.

    TTA developed its first tracking system in 2003, which was used on shows such as Les Miserables (Norway), La Bohéme, Showboat and Madame Butterfly (London). Version One of Stagetracker was released in July 2007, and the system has evolved swiftly ever since.

    Recently installed at the National Opera House in Oslo, at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen and the Svenska Teater in Helsinki, TTA’s systems have captured the attention of the international production design community at the highest level.

    Available this autumn, the new firmware and software that comprises Stagetracker FX finally delivers the system which theatre and musical sound designers have been waiting for.  This latest version expands Stagetracker system capability to handle an unprecedented 32 performers, all of which can be tracked and localised independently within the software.

    TTA’s Stagetracker system overcame problems associated with the audience experience of localised sound (or lack of) by utilising sophisticated hardware and software which enables the positions of performers on stage to be tracked in real time. The actor’s position is applied to their microphone signal and their voice appears to follow them as they move around the stage.

    The result is a more realistic and natural sound, making it easier for the audience to become immersed in the action and the story.

    Stagetracker FX now takes the pursuit of ‘naturalism’ a stage further. If an actor should leave the actual stage area, appearing on a balcony or at the rear of the auditorium, for maximum realism the voice of the actor should also appear to come from these positions. Stagetracker FX now makes this possible.

    Used in conjunction with a surround sound speaker configuration, Stagetracker FX can position the voice of a performer anywhere in the theatre or have it follow any pre-programmed movement around the auditorium.

    The same tracking and localisation options which Stagetracker FX brings to performers’ microphones are now also available for sound effects. Any sound effect may be placed under tracking control and it will automatically follow a performer or object moving around the stage. Sound effects can also be positioned or panned anywhere in the auditorium or moved to any on- or off-stage position, independent of all performer tracking which continues seamlessly in the background.

    TTA has incorporated its powerful TTA FX Audio Editor into the Stagetracker FX system, providing comprehensive editing and playback tools, designed to allow fast, real-time sound effect ‘editing on-the-fly’ during rehearsals. The FX Audio Editor is still available as a stand-alone package, ideal for pre- and post-production environments which can edit material on a network shared with the main house system.

    The Stagetracker FX matrix now features two operational modes, Zone mode and the new Pan Between Points (PbP) which has further increased Stagetracker FX’s versatility, widening its appeal to touring productions and also to venues without an extensive distributed sound system.

    While Zone mode is designed to work with a distributed sound system, in which every loudspeaker covers a small area of audience, the new PbP mode is ideal for use with line array systems, now the popular choice with many auditoria. PbP mode offers a vastly simplified and streamlined system set-up which can be completed quickly and without the skills of a trained technician.

    Stagetracker FX is pre-calibrated so in situations where ultra-fast set-up is required, as with a touring production, the PbP mode achieves complete plug-and-play status. Anyone can use it.

    The hardware elements of the Stagetracker FX tracking system are fully weather-proof and therefore suitable for use on outdoor productions. The same tracking technology is currently being used in Norway by professional football clubs.

HARDWARE
The Tag is a lightweight, maintenance-free RF transmitting device, carried by the performers or objects to be tracked by Stagetracker FX. Each Tag features a motion sensor to detect periods of inactivity. When the Tag is not in motion, the transmission rate is reduced, greatly increasing battery life.

    The RadioEye detects the positions of the Tags on stage and is mounted above the stage or around the performance area. It is an ‘intelligent’ device and calculations of the raw data Tag positions are carried out within the RadioEye itself.

    The RadioEye has a 90° conical coverage pattern. The radius of the coverage area is equal to the mounting height of the RadioEye.  Only one RadioEye is necessary for operation. Connection is via standard CAT 5 network cables and no calibration is necessary. With additional software, several RadioEyes may be linked together in order to cover a performance area up to the size of a football field.

    The Stagetracker FX matrix is where the positional information from the Tags and the microphone signals from the mixing console are combined.

    The matrix outputs control the audio signals sent to the theatre speaker system. Every crosspoint in the matrix features audio level and delay and every output features parametric equalisation for precise system set up. Proprietary Smoothmove algorithms are incorporated to allow distortion free audio movement between Virtual Audio Zones. The matrix is computer-based to provide a system which is scalable and easy to upgrade.

SOFTWARE
Stagetracker FX consists of two software engines which can be run on either one or two computers.

    The Tracking Engine is the software at the heart of the tracking and audio positioning system in Stagetracker FX and features a 3D user interface where the movements of the performers on stage are reproduced in real time on the computer screen.

    For even more realism, actual 3D stage set details may be entered directly or imported into the software and depicted on the screen. The Effects Engine is a cue-based platform used for creating special audio and localisation effects in Stagetracker FX.

    First previewed in May at Stockholm’s NOTT seminar, Stagetracker FX will be launched internationally at PLASA through its new UK distributor, Amber Sound, on stands K23/L21.

TPi

www.tta-sound.com