„Pioneers with innovative equipment“
To equip Adele’s world tour, Black Box Music (BBM) has invested in kinetic equipment from Movecat. The decision was based on the technical requirements of the production. A complex sound reinforcement system is being used for the two stages requiring a seamless transformation between 270° and 360° arena coverage, whereby the acoustic localization follows the artist. The audio system—including all loudspeaker enclosures, drives, cable trusses, power and signal distributors as well as the motor controllers themselves—must therefore be positioned accordingly.
The systems were acquired at the request of Adele’s audio crew from BBM in Berlin. Audio System Designer Ulf Oeckel opted for Movecat equipment inter alia because he attaches considerable weight to the criteria Ease of Use, Safety and Flexibility. As he explains: „Movecat’s wireless control played an important role in our deliberations and represents an innovative feature.“
Radio controllers have long been standard in countries like Sweden and you often see them there—especially in the events industry. „In the case of major productions in particular,“ explains Oeckel, „cable-dependent operations disturb the work flow, imposing limitations at the same time on collaborators from other trades and disciplines. For the Adele tour, radio systems from Movecat are integrated into the BSTG audio rig. Since all the audio systems—including the amplifiers, power distributors and motor controllers—are flown, we wanted at all costs to avoid cables dangling from the rigging, with all the additional work involved, as well as to achieve as slim and compact a design for the 360° audio system as possible. This meant the kinetic equipment, too, had to be capable of operating without annoying cables. With Movecat’s wireless remote controls, it works out very well.“
Movecat designed the chain-hoist remote controllers in question specifically for the Adele world tour. They are suitable for use worldwide and, from now on, are also available to other users. The MRC R-Series includes models operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band for the remote control of four, eight or twelve Movecat D8/D8 Plus chain hoists. These Motion Remote Controllers feature the Tru-Diversity transceiver system. To provide for interference-free operation, this allows the user to choose any of ten channels or else opt for automatic channel selection.
The MRC R-Series is R&TTE, ETSI 300 220/328, DIN EN 60204-32 and EN 13849-1 compliant as well as being CE / Europe, FCC / USA, FC / Canada and ARIB / Japan certified. The basis for interference-free wireless operation all over the world is thereby assured. Other countries can be integrated upon enquiry.
On Adele’s UK and European tours, BBM is currently using MRC R-Series wireless chain-hoist remote controllers from Movecat to govern 20 of the 57 motors in the BSTG audio rig. Due to the greater loads of the pre-rigging and lighting setups, their number will increase on the upcoming US tour.
Ulf Oeckel is highly satisfied with the performance to date as well as the further possibilities of the Movecat equipment. „At the moment, the Movecat radio systems represent, to the best of my knowledge, the only wireless motor controllers on the German market that are approved for use worldwide. For this reason, I expect the system will be turning heads and the subject of favourable comment from other members of the international crew on the current Adele tour. If the Movecat material continues to perform to expectations, we will be expanding our system in cooperation with BBM to consolidate our reputation as pioneers with innovative equipment.“
Caption: Adele is on a world tour with the Movecat MRC 12RD8 (Photo: Larmann/Movecat, may be reproduced freely provided the source is named)
Movecat GmbH
Movecat is currently the only manufacturer of kinetic equipment for the stage anywhere in the world capable of offering practice-tested, certified and genuinely available integrated systems compliant with BGV C1 and SIL3 – these consisting of chain hoists, trolleys, winches, load-measurement systems and networks. The company was founded in 1986 by Andrew and Thomas Abele. Movecat products are both developed and manufactured in Germany. Kinetic solutions from Movecat are widely used in big-name national and international shows, tours and TV productions. In 2015, the company was awarded the VR Innovation Prize for Medium-Sized Companies by the cooperative financial group Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken.
Movecat GmbH
Rudolf-Diesel-Straße 23
71154 Nufringen
Phone: +49 (0) 70 32 / 98 51-0
Internet www.movecat.de
Contact: Andrew Abele
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