MixOne Cinema shoots Pentatonix hybrid tour with Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2 cameras

Schwarze Magie URSA Broadcast G2 and URSA Mini Pro 12K cameras were used by production company MixOne Cinema to live stream The Evergreen Experience concert by Pentatonix in Blackmagic RAW format.

During the event, broadcast to zones in four different time zones via the Moment House platform, the Grammy Award-winning a cappella group performed several songs from their latest release, entitled Evergreen. Kevin Garcia, managing director of MixOne Cinema, believes that the Blackmagic solutions were key to the format’s success.

He explains how the production company benefited from the 6K sensor and the dual gain ISO of the cameras: “Being able to crank the gain without losing quality was very helpful for some of the darker moments of the show that otherwise may not have come out as clean; it made a world of difference. At times I was concerned, but we leaned on the URSA Broadcast G2s, and the resulting footage was incredible and maintained the very clean and polished look that the band and I had in mind for the show.”

Beyond these features, Garcia and his team benefited from other features of the URSA Broadcast G2, such as its ability to be easily mounted on a crane or stabiliser for greater control, and the additional CFast card ports for seamless recording: “Once we let the audience in during the show, there was no way to bring the jib down to swap cards. By having camera control via the ATEM Software Control and two cards in there, it was never a concern. I’m fully supported no matter what the job throws at me.”

A workflow featuring Blackmagic

In addition to the URSA Broadcast G2, Garcia used four URSA Mini Pro 12K units and several Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro Und Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, as well as an ATEM 1 M/E Production Studio 4K mixer, a Blackmagic Video Assist 7″ 12G HDR monitor/recorder, Mini Converter Optical Fiber 12G devices, and DaVinci Resolve Studio software for subsequent colour grading.

Garcia details the workflow: “We routed everything into the ATEM using fiber, as we were in an arena and had a lot of long cable runs. The Mini Converters aided in being able to go long distances very quickly with fiber and allowed camera shading via the ATEM. We recorded ISOs in each camera and the program out onto an SSD with the Video Assist.”

Finally, Garcia highlights the value of these hybrid concerts that are changing the way live music is understood: “With an ever changing industry going from live events into streaming and now a hybrid of both, it’s been a very exciting time working with Blackmagic Design products as the tools fully support any workflow,” he concluded. “The hybrid model is especially advantageous as it brings live performances to an audience at home who otherwise wouldn’t have the ability to view these events. I personally think this hybrid model is here to stay.”