What was the thought process behind the creation of the .dynamics MOVE app?
“.dynamics MOVE was the brainchild of Danyil Fedorov, one of our up-and-coming software developers. The combination of our robotic line source systems and PK .dynamics software already offers an unprecedented degree of remote and real-time directivity control, though during some recent site visits, Danyil realised that we could take ‘remote’ a few steps further. Imagine mechanically adjusting and optimizing your system’s coverage – vertical and horizontal – from anywhere in the venue, while you’re moving around. That realisation turned into a basic proof of concept, which eventually became a major development project and the app that’s available today.”
How will the app support end users in the field and benefit those operating in the dynamic world of live events/touring?
“Our robotic solutions already offer considerably faster and safer deployments compared to conventional line arrays. MOVE delivers an even bigger increase in speed and mobility during setup, tuning, and teardown. Before or even during the show, an engineer can traverse the venue and make mechanical or tuning adjustments on the fly from any listening position. This is an extremely powerful tool that both enhances the process and results in a better overall deployment for the whole audience.”
What challenges have you and the team faced bringing this app to the market and how did you overcome them?
“We didn’t encounter significant challenges during development thanks to our already established and tested workflows in .dynamics. We worked very closely with some of our core users during development in a closed Alpha program to ensure we were making something our users wanted and could integrate into their workflows. As for going to market, one that comes to mind is understanding the requirements to publish an app to the Apple and Google stores, which was a new experience for our team. Beyond that, honestly, the big challenge is relaying to people what this tool can actually do. Unless you’re familiar with .dynamics and our robotic arrays, it can be hard to imagine being able to reshape your system coverage remotely and in real time from your phone. That said, once people try it, the results always speak for themselves. This isn’t a gimmick or anything – it’s a real, first-of-its-kind solution and is turning a lot of heads out in the field.”
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How does .dynamics MOVE transform the way engineers interact and optimise systems?
“.dynamics MOVE gives the user even more freedom to easily make coverage and tuning adjustments without overly complicated software and workflows. .dynamics combines every stage of the modern live sound workflow in one very intuitive solution, and MOVE is an evolution of that. Since the two applications are synced and work together, users can switch between mobile and desktop seamlessly depending on the task or location in the venue.”
Are there any considerable differences in control scope versus the desktop platform?
“The simple answer is no. MOVE contains the same functionality as the desktop application, minus the ‘Venue’ tab, which is the simulation portion of the software. Additionally, as we add new features to .dynamics, we will also be updating the app to continue to deliver increased value and flexibility to our users.”
How does it handle system monitoring, data visibility, and service logging?
“Again, MOVE provides all the same monitoring and logging capabilities as .dynamics. This makes it a very powerful tool even during showtime, where you can adjust the output of every device in the system and monitor performance in real time down to the component level – even when you’re not at FOH. This includes input, output, and individual channel monitoring. Additionally, PK has an already established service note system for quality control and logging purposes. A user can save a service note to a specific loudspeaker for seamless communication with colleagues back at HQ, or the next shift at the venue. This feature is standard on all PK loudspeaker solutions.”
What has the response been like from end users and the industry at large?
“Everyone that’s used the app has absolutely loved the flexibility and mobility it gives them during their deployments. I think .dynamics MOVE will raise the bar of what people expect from loudspeaker control software. The ability to control devices from multiple sources and having everything synced seamlessly is not a new concept. Why shouldn’t you be able to do it with a professional loudspeaker system? A lot of our industry’s tools and workflows are stagnant and haven’t advanced with the times. Live sound engineers and technicians should challenge the status quo and expect a higher standard and better experience – something we are more than happy to deliver.”
Words: Colton Schmidt
Photo: PK Sound
