2021 Fall Endsemester Concert Guide Salen
This wiki-page explains a possible setup in Salen for a telematic performance and communication via LOLA. It’s based on a concert held on december 3rd 2021. The concert can be viewed here.
The setup is based around the LOLA computer and the M32 mixer. Video is handled mostly by the LOLA computer's output and the streaming-computer. Audio is handled by the M32.
A dedicated streaming-computer is used to handle streaming to youtube. This is because the LOLA computer shouldn’t be used for anything more than running LOLA.
The musicians on stage both sent and received audio. This was done so they could resample the inputs from the other location.
A dedicated projector was also used to project visuals over the musicians. This was handled by a stand-alone computer and projector. The same visuals were used in the livestream to make it coherent.
Hardware (without stage-equipment)
- LOLA Rack
- LOLA Camera
- M32 Mixer
- Streaming Computer
- 2x HDMI to USB video-cards
- Visualiser Computer
- HDMI splitter
- Low latency monitor
- 1x USB3 Cable
- 2x Projectors
- 3x Cat6 Ethernet
- 4x XLR
- 7x HDMI cables
Software
The routing is split into audio and video routing, using multiple different types of cable and standards. Below is a guide on how we set up the routing.
A image of the technical booth taken from the M32 mixer's position. From left to right: Visual Computer connected to the projector, streaming computer, and LOLA computer.
The LOLA computer receives and sends audio over LOLA to the other LOLA computer. From the local LOLA computer, audio is transmitted via XLR back and forth between the M32.
The M32 handles three mixes:
- FOH mix for the audience:
- A stereo mix of both locations for the audience in Salen.
- LOLA mix for the performers in the other location:
- A stereo mix sent to the other location via LOLA.
- Livestream mix to the streaming computer:
- A stereo mix sent to the streaming computer for the livestream.
Transmitting audio from the M32 to the streaming-computer can be done in many ways. This setup used Dante to transmit audio, but it can also be done via XLR to an audio interface. When using Dante, it’s important to transmit the correct channels to the streaming-computer. This can be selected in the routing-menus of the M32 and in Dante Controller.
If Dante is not available, XLR to an audio-interface works just fine when sent from the bus outputs on the M32.
Most of the video routing is handled by the multiple outputs of the LOLA-computer and HDMI splitters. The LOLA computer already transmits and receives video over the LOLA connection, so to enable the musicians, audience and livestream to watch the other room or the livestream, we utilized mirrored outputs from its video card and HDMI splitters.
The setup used:
- LOLA HDMI out 1:
- Control monitor, for controlling parameters in the LOLA computer.
- LOLA HDMI out 2:
- HDMI splitter for stage-projector and stage video-monitor. This one provides videofeed of the performers in the other location.
- LOLA HDMI out 3:
- Mirrors HDMI out 2 and sends it to the streaming computer, then into OBS to enable steam of remote performers.
- LOLA HDMI out 4:
- Sends the camera that transmits video to the other location to the streaming computer, then into OBS to enable stream of local performers.
The streaming-computer accepted two feeds from two USB video cards. This is handled by OBS by using scenes. OBS is already great for streaming video to the internet, and it is a powerful tool for manipulating live video. By creating different scenes with different content, this can be switched live, so the livestream provides varying content.
Routing-diagram showing the connections done between components in the setup
| Type | Cable | Source | Destination | Placement | Comments | ||||
| #/# | (from) | Contact | Balanced/Unbalanced | RACK/U | (to) | Contact | # | ||
| USB3 #1 | USB3 | LOLA-Camera | USB3 | N/A | LOLA-Computer | USB3 | Stage | Camera feed of Salen-musicians to LOLA | |
| HDMI #1 | HDMI | LOLA Computer Video out #1 | HDMI | N/A | LOLA Computer Monitor | DVI | Technical Booth | For controlling settings in the LOLA computer | |
| HDMI #2 | HDMI | LOLA Computer Video out #2 | HDMI | N/A | HDMI Splitter | HDMI | Technical Booth | Splits the Portal-Musicians video-feed to sources | |
| HDMI #3 | HDMI | HDMI Splitter | HDMI | N/A | Projector #1 | HDMI | Roof-mounted | Projecting the Portal-musicians to the audience | |
| HDMI #4 | HDMI | HDMI Splitter | HDMI | N/A | Monitor Stage | HDMI | Stage | Video-link to the portal-musicians. | |
| HDMI #5 | HDMI | Visual Computer | HDMI | N/A | Projector #2 | HDMI | Technical Booth | For video projection in Salen for esthetic reasons. | |
| HDMI #6 | HDMI | LOLA Computer Video out #3 | HDMI | N/A | Streaming-computer Video-In #1 | HDMI | Technical Booth | Mirrors LOLA Computer Video out #2 (portal-musicians) | |
| HDMI #7 | HDMI | LOLA Computer Video out #4 | HDMI | N/A | Streaming-computer Video-In #2 | HDMI | Technical Booth | Camera feed of Salen-musicians. | |
| RCA>XLR #1 | RCA Stereo | LOLA Computer | RCA | U | M32 | 2x XLR | Technical Booth | Sends audio from LOLA to the M32 | |
| XLR>RCA #1 | XLR Stereo | M32 | XLR | U | LOLA Computer | 2x RCA | Technical Booth | Sends audio from the M32 to LOLA | |
| XLR Recive #1 | XLR 1-6 | Stage | XLR | B | M32 | XLR | Technical Booth | Lines from the musicians | |
| XLR Return #1 | XLR 1-4 | M32 | XLR | B | StageBox | XLR | Stage | Returns LOLA audio to Salen musicians to resample audio | |
| Cat6 #1 | Cat6 | M32 | RJ45 | N/A | Streaming-computer | RJ45 | Technical Booth | Dante for Live-Stream | |
| Cat6 #2 | Cat6 | LOLA Computer | RJ45 | N/A | Patchpanel booth | RJ45 | Technical Booth | Link to the other LOLA computer | |
| Cat6 #3 | Cat6 | Streaming-computer | RJ45 | N/A | Internet | RJ45 | Technical Booth | Ethernet-link to the internet for streaming |
Further improvements can be made to this setup as it is not perfect. The use of more complex routing in combination with a more complex audio mix can enable more to be achieved. In this setup, the musicians did not have any monitoring capabilities onstage. This decision was made as they judged the PA to provide enough monitoring for them.
The video production can also be expanded by using an external video mixer. This would enable the use of multiple cameras in multiple different locations.