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SPYDER TAKES CENTER STAGE IN BOSTON
Staging Company A Better Resolution Employs Spyder System for Numerous High-Profile Corporate Events
Phoenix, AZ (January 14, 2005) --Clients rely on Frank Miranda of A Better Resolution to provide high-quality, innovative solutions for their corporate events. When he saw Vista Systems Spyder, he immediately knew he could enhance those solutions. What he didn't expect was how soon he could put Spyder to work. Merely days after receiving the 5-input, 3-output configured system, A Better Resolution employed it for the annual CVS awards show, a multi-screen event featuring a 4096 x 1080 pixel image. The company has not looked back since, utilizing Spyder on numerous other jobs and preparing for some innovative applications in 2005.
Boston-based A Better Resolution specializes in corporate staging and production services for clients of all sizes. The company acquired Spyder in Audust, 2004. "We're thrilled with it so far," commented Miranda. "We've used it for a wide range of projects requiring the edge-blending capabilities of the system, the enhanced switcher capabilities or both."
The company's first job with Spyder, providing speaker support of live IMAG capture and pre-produced video, was the largest to date. For the CVS Pharmacy marketing-operations meeting for 2,600 people in Orlando's Disney Dolphin the system comprised a 4096 x 1080 pixel space over two 16:9 projectors. The main images, from two sets of two Digital Projection 18000 lumen 35hd's, were projected onto two 32 x 17-foot screens flanking the stage. The Photoshop-created background image was a single 32x9 with 0 pixel space between the projectors (a new feature of Spyder); foreground images were mirrored between the two projectors. The images were repeated onto a number of other 24 x 13.5-foot delay screens as well. Sources numbered four PCs, Beta SP and DVCAM video plus live video cameras.
"CVS was very happy with the results, and so were we," said Miranda. "I'm thrilled with Spyder. The best part is the lack of frame delay. This is very important because we didn't have to delay video at all; other systems have bigger frame delays requiring us to delay audio to sync up with video."
Miranda also used Spyder for Boston's Hatch Awards for regional advertising as well as CVS Pharmacy's annual analyst meeting in the New York Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom and a charity event for the Asian Task Force against Domestic Violence at the Westin Boston Hotel. Several upcoming jobs will feature a single 24 x 13.5-foot screen and use one of Spyder's inputs as a background showing flash animations constantly in motion. Three separate images, showing different PC or video sources, will be inset against the background. "We're going to be edge blending two projectors for these applications," Miranda reported.
"I bought Spyder for the CVS show but was anxious about the timing of the delivery relative to the date of the show," he noted. "I didn't know how much time I had with it. I was really surprised by the system's short learning curve and its great functionality. Spyder also worked right out of the box, which made me very happy. What's more, Vista Systems continues to revise Spyder software, anticipating user needs."
About Vista Systems:
Since 1996, Vista Systems' video switchers and windowing products have become the industry standard for blended projector video and mixed data signal switching and display. Montage, Vista's flagship product, and Spyder, based on proprietary Montage architecture, are the leading choices for live presentations and Command-and-Control applications and video-wall concepts, which are often in fixed installations. Currently, Montage creates the in-studio backgrounds on "ABC World News Tonight" with Peter Jennings every evening. Spyder uses a building-block approach allowing the user to easily expand the number of inputs and outputs and to add several command consoles. In addition, Spyder may be configured to control upstream routing switchers and playback sources.
For more information on Vista Systems, visit www.vistasystems.net.