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Vista Systems Spyder Plays Winning Role in MTV's Video Music Awards Telecast
Phoenix (OCTOBER 20, 2006) -- Vista Systems’ Spyder came up a winner at MTV’s live Video
Music Awards (VMA) telecast at Radio City Music Hall in New York City where a number of
systems processed the video clips and eye-dazzling imagery displayed on the theater’s walls,
curtains and LED screens for the high-profile annual awards ceremony.
“We introduced the producer to Spyder,” says David Lemmink, of the staging company,
Nocturne Productions. “We had used Spyder successfully in our rock ’n roll tours for Bon Jovi,
Madonna and Nine Inch Nails and were confident that it would be equally successful on the live
broadcast of the VMA.”
While Nocturne had provided video support for the show in the past, this year the company’s
role was expanded thanks to its expertise in HD production and playback. “The previous vendor
had not done HD playback and projection before,” Lemmink notes. “We were able to provide
the HD playback package with Spyder handling all the HD feeds.”
Typically, three mobile units provide the broadcast feeds for the VMA’s preshow, main telecast
and Internet show. A custom control room was built to meet the visual requirements of the
shows; it was outfitted with video monitors, sources, routers and a complement of Spyders.
Three Spyder 353 processors, one Spyder 344, one Spyder 364 and a 240 input expander were
networked together to produce five HD outputs from 14 DVI and 20 Standard Definition
sources.
Nocturne Productions brought in High Resolution Engineering to configure the Spyders. “The
system was designed to seamlessly run multiple HD sources to all the display destinations: the
walls, LED screens, main sheet, and ‘eyebrow’ above the stage,” notes Mike Taylor, a partner in
High Resolution Engineering. “Spyder processed all the images and eye candy that filled the
theater and enhanced the broadcast.” A total of 13 million pixels were processed by the system.
Spyder lived up to Nocturne Productions’ expectations, winning kudos of its own from
Lemmink. “Spyder worked great, just flawlessly for the show. I’m looking forward to using it
again soon.”
About Vista Systems
Vista Systems has pioneered and led the industry in live multiple-destination video and data
windowing and switching. Since it's release the Spyder video processor has been the benchmark
by which all other processors are measured. Vista offers complete source control and windowing
solutions for command and control, broadcast, visualization, large venue presentation as well as
worship and home theater applications. For more information about Vista Systems contact them
at (602) 943-5700 or visit their website at www.vistasystems.net.