TDS MultiMedia: Toronto concert venue production with Blackmagic

The Mocambo, Koerner Hall and Budweiser Stage, iconic venues in Toronto, Canada, are expanding their projection thanks to the services of TDS Multimedia, which uses 黑魔法 solutions to record and broadcast concerts by some of the scene’s biggest bands.

From The Mocambo, Toronto’s iconic 650-seat concert venue, to Koerner Hall, the renowned classical and jazz concert hall, to the 1700-seat Budweiser Stage, TDS MultiMedia adapts its workflow to the specific needs of each client to deliver cinematic-looking broadcasts that bring the essence of live music to the audience. Possibly the most emblematic of these venues is the first, which since the late 1970s has hosted shows by combos such as The Rolling Stones, U2, Blondie and Stevie Ray Vaughan。

Today, El Mocambo has been upgraded to host world-class live productions. The venue has a 4K control room suitable for recording and streaming content. Terry Walker, founder and director of TDS MultiMedia, elaborates: “To capture detailed shots of the performers and their instruments, such as keyboards and drums, a Blackmagic Micro Studio Camera 4K is strategically placed during concerts. Its compact size makes it a perfect fit for many venues, especially at Koerner Hall for capturing the orchestra’s conductor without any visual distractions. Larger cameras simply cannot fit in certain locations, and these compact cameras allow us to capture unique perspectives that you wouldn’t normally get.”

The company uses up to seven Blackmagic URSA Broadcast cameras to capture multiple shots in these venues: “The URSA Broadcasts deliver exceptional results, capturing every moment with precision and clarity. The cameras’ performance and affordability make them the most logical choice, and their connectivity via SMPTE fiber ensures consistent and high quality data transmission during live productions,” adds Walker.

TDS also uses two portable systems consisting of 黑魔法设计 mixers, recorders and other devices. Signals from the cameras are transmitted to an ATEM 4 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K or ATEM 1 M/E 制作工作室 4K mixer, and in parallel, an ATEM Camera Control Panel device is used to unify the look of the images. In addition, the team uses multiple HyperDeck Studio 12G recorders and a Blackmagic Web Presenter 4K device to stream content over the Internet using platforms such as Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, so that fans in remote locations around the world can access the presentations and generate more revenue: “With our Blackmagic Design kit, we have an economical solution for achieving a 4K TV control room workflow that allows for full camera control, tally, and return,” remarks the head of TDS Multimedia.

A multi-camera approach and new life in post-production

In addition to carrying out productions in El Mocambo and Koerner Hall, TDS MultiMedia also broadcasts from the Budweiser Stage: “We took the same approach here, using an ATEM 4 M/E Broadcast Studio 4K in the venue. The cameras are placed so as not to encroach on the audience’s sight lines, yet still get the shots we need,” says Walker.

On the other hand, the production company uses a multi-camera system based on Blackmagic Design devices when generating video signals for different locations in the venue: “We beam our signal to the large LED walls flanking the stage for patrons to see artists up close. The performances are also disseminated to the rest of the building, backstage areas, concourses, and bars with the help of numerous Blackmagic Mini Converters.”

TDS MultiMedia uses 达芬奇解决工作室 to fine tune each song, remove unwanted elements from the footage and color grade it, as well as to shape content for social media. DaVinci Resolve Studio can also be used to add graphics that enhance the look and feel of the content. The ability to add additional shots increases the “dynamic nature of the footage” and provides a “smooth transition” between different segments of the performances, concludes the TDS MultiMedia member.