Using 24-channel surround-sound landscapes synchronised to 7,500 channels of lighting, systems integrator Sound Environment is treating the city of Melbourne, Australia, to a spectacular Christmas sound and light show,

The centrepiece of the city’s Christmas Festival, the display uses JoeCo BlackBox Players scheduled (via AMX control) to play pre-programmed shows that run day and night throughout the festive period.

‘I love the machine,’ says Sound Environment Director, Bryce Grunden, ‘We have one unit installed in the show that runs over Christmas, as well as a permanent installation in a viewing platform here in Melbourne. For the Christmas show, the unit runs as a Master with 7,500 channels of synchronised lighting and also slaves to time code. The other unit is permanently looping material and also plays other tracks when instructed over RS232 from the AMX.’

The BlackBox Player is a software add-on for JoeCo’s BlackBox Recorder that has been developed for synchronous replay of backing tracks and surround stems for live shows and themed entertainment. Playlists can be stored on USB Flash drive and tracks cued up for instant replay. The Player can be triggered using time code, GPI, QWERTY keyboard, Midi commands and JoeCo Remote for iPad. Multiple playlists can be stored for quick changes or alternative show formats.

‘We’re delighted to see our BlackBox Player used in an increasing number of large-scale, creative projects such as this’ says JoeCo’s Joe Bull. ‘It’s good to see its role developing from replaying audio tracks in a performance situation to integration in more complex installations that involve a range of different synchronisation and control parameters. Congratulations to Bryce and his team on this successful festive installation and Merry Christmas to everyone from JoeCo.’

JoeCo is represented in Australia by Gigpiglet Productions Pty Ltd of Surry Hills, NSW.