LIVE July/August 2025 – Web

With festival season in full swing, the July/August issue of LIVE celebrates the cutting-edge tech powering this year’s standout music events – from Glastonbury's awe-inspiring Dragonfly to site-wide sound and lighting marvels at other events around the globe. Also, we go behind the scenes of London’s immersive Tutankhamun experience, which blends VR, holograms, and the metaverse to bring ancient Egypt to life. Our Corporate AV special also takes the spotlight, with tools redefining communication and hybrid collaboration. Plus, we explore music’s evolution in the metaverse, while Industry Icon Filipe Carvalho shares how he merges magic and AV to craft stadium-sized illusions.

“30% of 18- to 24-year-olds felt their workplace wasn’t accessible for those with varying abilities ” Discover the technology helping diversify corporate environments on page 16

LIVEMAG.ONLINE

JUL/AUG 2025

PLUS Don’t miss our annual music festival round-up!

MUSIC IN THE METAVERSE Digital venues, infinite possibilities

ROUND TABLE: INSTALLATION 101 Uncovering the set-up secrets to AV excellence CORPORATE AV SPECIAL Is your business fully future-proofed?

ILLUSION MEETS INNOVATION Filipe Carvalho talks stadium-scale spectacles

TOMB RAIDER Entering a new era of exploration: Egypt’s mysteries unveiled through holograms, 360º VR and immersive projection

EDITOR’S WELCOME

EDITORIAL Editor Verity Butler +44 (0) 1223 492246 veritybutler@bright.uk.com Senior staff writer Katie Kasperson Features writer Oliver Webb Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Sub editors Zanna Buckland & Minhaj Zia Contributor David Davies Editorial director Nicola Foley ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith +44 (0) 1223 499457 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com +44 (0) 1223 499462 +44 (0) 7376 665779 emmastevens@bright.uk.com DESIGN Junior designer and ad production Holly May Senior designer Carl Golsby Magazine design manager Lucy Woolcomb Design manager Alan Gray Design director Andy Jennings PUBLISHING Managing directors Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck FOLLOW US Sales manager Emma Stevens

Read this year’s music festival round-up on page 36

A t time of writing it has been four days since I got home from Glastonbury 2025. My bones are still weary, my backpack still very much not unpacked and my sunburnt shoulders are still tingling. Despite this, I’m feeling that deep-seated post-Glasto glow as I happily process the special five days that I was fortunate enough to spend on the farm. The Glastonbury team, as always, put on a show that was nothing short of spectacular. Though my work cap was firmly off, I couldn’t help but marvel at the staggering feat of AV that unfurled as I made my way around the site. From the flashing pyrotechnics and expansive laser wings of the iconic Arcadia Dragonfly (pictured above) to the reverberating booms of all the sophisticated sound systems wired up at the festival’s many stages, it was quite simply a melting pot of creative technology. The July/August issue of LIVE features our annual music festival round-up – and Glastonbury is just one of many that stood out this year for its mind- bending technical achievements. Also in this issue, step into the Valley of the Kings as we go behind the scenes of the Tutankhamun experience in London – unveiling how holograms, VR, the metaverse and more can help bring Egypt’s gleaming secrets to life.

Head to page 16 for Oliver Webb’s corporate AV focus, where we explore some of the cutting- edge tools that are transforming communication, collaboration and brand experiences in the business world. From immersive meeting spaces to hybrid event solutions, While our festival focus delves deeply into the physical format of live music, on page 60 Katie Kasperson heads into the virtual realm instead, to dissect the rise of music in the metaverse – which has steadily continued to grow in popularity despite the conclusion of the Covid-19 pandemic. Finally, this issue’s Industry Icon is Filipe Carvalho, an illusionist and creative director who blends magic and AV to deliver stadium-scale read about the innovations completely redefining the corporate landscape. spectacles. He takes us through his career and offers hot tips for those hoping to follow a similar path. It’s a jam-packed issue, so dive in, and see you soon at IBC 2025!

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CONTENTS

LIVE.

06 NEWS AND UPDATES The latest AV scoops – from a

46 IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES Journey with us to the Valley of the Kings, as we get the tech BTS of the Tutankhamun experience in London

record-breaking glass floor to the tools powering Coldplay’s tour

16 CORPORATE FOCUS We take a closer look into the

52 ROUND TABLE

This issue’s panel sits down to discuss the dos and don’ts when approaching a pro AV installation

technology powering tomorrow’s enterprise landscape

26 INDUSTRY ICONS

60 EXTENDED REALITY

Meet Filipe Carvalho: an illusionist and creative director who combines tech and magic for dazzling results

The performance of live music is changing – with popularity for virtual concerts surging steeply

This issue’s cover was designed by Carl Golsby at Bright Publishing using images supplied by Tutankhamun London: The Immersive Experience

36 FESTIVAL SEASON ‘25 Music festivals are in full swing, and LIVE is here with our annual round-up of top innovations

68 BUYERS’ GUIDE

Any immersive environment requires a plethora of AV. Here’s our guide to the cream of the tech crop

MEDIA PARTNERS

Use this QR code to read the interactive version of LIVE right now!

CONTENTS

NEWS

L-ACOUSTICS ADVANCES LA VILLETTE

Paris’ Parc de la Villette plays hosts to a range of cultural institutions, from the Philharmonie de Paris to the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie. The Grande Halle de la Villette stands among them as a versatile performing arts venue – and now features the L-Acoustics L-ISA Hyperreal sound system to deliver an immersive audio experience. Building on a long-standing partnership, the Grande Halle has installed the eco- conscious L-ISA system, plus L-Acoustics X Series coaxial speakers in a dedicated pre-production studio space. Emerging from a trend towards spatial audio, the hall’s sound ecosystem supports the various theatrical and musical events that pass through its doors. Measuring 20,000 sq m and made from glass and cast iron, the Grande Halle presents considerable acoustic challenges as well as physical constraints. L-ISA adapts to each performance, showing the flexibility required to support La Villette’s diverse programming.

NEWS

MEYER SOUND TAKES TWO TONYS

With the controlled coverage of the Meyer Sound speakers, there are no bad seats for sound.” One block away at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Jonathan Deans was designing sound for Buena Vista Social Club , a musical inspired by Cuban culture. Deans drew on his decades of experience and respect for the show’s roots by hiring artists who knew the music by heart. To reinforce the audio, Deans embraced simplicity, deploying Meyer Sound Ultra-X40 and Ultra-X20 compact point source loudspeakers. “Meyer Sound gave me the transparency I needed to let the music speak for itself,” he concluded. Peter Hylenski, sound designer on the Jonathan Groff-starring Just in Time , also received a nomination in the musical category. His show blended a variety of Meyer Sound loudspeakers, covering the entirety of Circle in the Square’s theatre-in- the-round auditorium.

The 2025 Tony Awards have officially crowned two Meyer Sound-equipped Broadway productions for their exceptional sound design: Stranger Things: The First Shadow , designed by Paul Arditti, and Buena Vista Social Club by Jonathan Deans. Transferred from London’s West End to Broadway’s Marquis Theatre, Stranger Things allowed sound designer Arditti to start over. Building on the West End version in essentially every way, the team faced new material, additional effects and greater scale – including the demands of a larger venue. Arditti designed a sound system using a combination of Meyer Sound equipment, including Leopard compact and Lina ultra-compact line array speakers, Ultra and UP-4slim loudspeakers, plus both 900-LFC and 2100-LFC low-frequency control elements. “From the moment we powered up the system,” he said, “I knew I’d made the right decision.

NEWS

BULLETIN

VIZRT PARTNERS WITH PRASE Vizrt has partnered with Prase, combining its high-impact media portfolio – including Tricaster and Viz Capturecast – with Prase’s regional expertise. Together, the two companies can expand what’s possible in visual storytelling, from graphic overlays and extended reality to remote production and seamless live streaming. HK AUDIO UNVEILS SOUND SYSTEM HK Audio has unveiled a scalable sound system within its Linear 5 MK2 series, targeted at stadium- sized venues and open-air events. The Linear 5 MK2 High Power System boasts great sound quality across large distances, reduced feedback, remote management and integration with loudspeakers.

CLAIR GLOBAL HANDLES COLDPLAY’S COMMS

Artist-64 digital intercom network frames, 50 Bolero wireless beltpacks (as well as an extra 30 for the livestreamed shows) and six panels, as well as 200 Motorola XPR 3500e radios. Meanwhile, the back-of-house IT infrastructure required an advanced set-up with encrypted networks for each department and unique SSIDs for each crew member. Music of the Spheres ended up making history as the most- attended music tour of all time.

Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres world tour – which hit venues such as the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket ground – called on Clair Global to handle both its communications and IT deployments. Mixing pyrotechnics with LED screens and a three-hour Disney+ live stream, the tour required seamless communication between hundreds of crew and over vast distances. The resulting Clair Global comms system was made up of two Riedel

D&B GOES UNDERGROUND

Bristol-based creative company Underground Slate announced a six-month residency at London’s Immersive Technology Experience Centre, located in the Science Museum, in partnership with D&B group. The collaboration is aimed at accelerating audio-visual immersion, with technology like D&B Audiotechnik’s spatial audio system playing a critical role. MASQUE MOVES GARCIA’S CHICAGO Inspired by Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, Garcia’s Chicago is a part restaurant, part music venue that provides a unique dining experience to its visitors. Masque Sound and Dayglo Presents were recently tasked with designing and installing the venue’s sound system, successfully delivering a full systems integration.

STERLING NEW AV HUB IN LEEDS

GOING LONG Spanning ten centuries, Longplayer – composed by Jem Finer – has been playing at the Trinity Buoy Wharf Lighthouse listening post for 25 years. To celebrate its first quarter-century, the space recently upgraded its sound system with ten EM Acoustics EMS-51 loudspeakers. Donated from EM Acoustics, these don the Wharf’s public listening area, which contains a collection of singing bowls; the EMS-51s discreetly capture yet perfectly reproduce their sound. Greg Clarke, brand manager at EM Acoustics, was ‘thrilled’ to sponsor the Longplayer project.

Sterling Event Group has opened a new office and warehouse facility in Leeds to better serve clients throughout Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region. The facility will operate as a fully equipped base, staffed by a dedicated team and stocked with a curated inventory of high-demand audio-visual and production equipment.

NEWS

BULLETIN

LIGHTWARE EXPANDS EDUCATION

Lightware is further expanding its education initiatives. Its e-learning platform – Lightware Academy – hosts webinars, masterclasses and more, drawing thousands of users looking to improve their technical competence. LEICA GEOSYSTEMS ANNOUNCES NEW LIDAR TECH Leica Geosystems, responsible for AI-powered LiDAR technology, announced its latest solution: Cyclone 3DR. With applications in VFX, gaming, VR and more, this tool allows teams to upload a LiDAR scan of any environment – and identifies, edits and stores individual objects for future use. CONCERT STUFF DELIVERS ANNUAL COUNTRY FEST Live event specialist Concert Stuff played a key role in delivering the tenth annual Carolina Country Music Fest in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A total of five Concert Stuff subsidiaries across production and logistics helped bring the event to life, continuing a long-standing partnership with the coastal festival. COHESION SUPPORTS CAGE THE ELEPHANT Cohesion recently wrapped its work on Cage the Elephant’s Neon Pill tour, providing a PA system at every venue throughout. The solution blended a mixture of models, including CO12 and CO10 arrays, plus CP218 II+ subwoofers to cover entire arenas and amphitheatres across the US. ARCADIA COMES TO SINGAPORE The Singapore Repertory Theatre, one of the leading professional theatre companies in Asia, recently deployed Clear-Com’s Arcadia Central Station, resolving persistent communication issues and streamlining coordination across departments. The upgrade was carried out in collaboration with Clear-Com’s regional partner Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd.

ROCKING MOZART’S REQUIEM

enhance sound diffusion in the low-ceiling balconies and to adapt to stage and pit variations – even within a single performance. To meet these goals, Amadeus employed a brand-agnostic approach, combining Coda Audio loudspeakers with a Stagetec mixing console, Dolby Atmos playback and more. The result blends immersion with versatility and preserves the auditorium’s natural acoustic experience.

In 2022, Vienna’s historic Theater an der Wien presented Mozart’s Requiem , relying on Amadeus Acoustics to transform the space. Fine-tuning reverberation from scene to scene and wowing audiences with its sound, the Amadeus system proved so capable that it became a permanent installation. Amadeus approached the project with several aims in mind: to ensure vocals could be heard above the orchestra, to

ROYAL ALBERT HALL GOES WITH RIEDEL

requires a reliable and scalable solution that’s able to interoperate with the existing system. With ten Bolero wireless packs in its permanent inventory, the Royal Albert Hall is ready to accommodate most visiting events. But when technically demanding productions – such as the Olivier Awards – pass through, the venue can easily scale up by renting and implementing additional equipment.

London’s Royal Albert Hall has upgraded its in-house comms with Riedel’s Bolero wireless intercom system. One of Riedel’s most popular products, Bolero is an industry-leading solution that excels during live shows of all sizes. Being one of London’s most popular venues, the hall sees a constant influx of events, ranging from pop concerts and orchestral performances to ballets and book launches. Its packed schedule

NEWS

ANAHEIM DUCKS ARENA GETS AN UPGRADE Stage Precision’s software is at the centre of a projection-mapping project between Quince Imaging and the Anaheim Ducks. The pro hockey team’s home arena, the Honda Center, is installing a permanent solution for engaging visuals during games and intermissions. Quince Imaging has combined Stage Precision’s SP software – which enables precise tracking, calibration and real-time data integration – with Christie projectors, Mystique’s Pro Venue Edition platform and an automated rigging system. The complete solution encourages fan engagement and an elevated visual experience; it also expands what the Honda Center can offer during the 2028 Olympic Games. “Stage Precision is our Swiss Army knife,” commented Eric Gazzillo, VP of innovation at Quince Imaging. “It’s faster, more intuitive and allows us to automate complex workflows. This is the system we’ve been waiting for and the tool that brings everything together.”

Zhiyin Flower Moon Night is an immersive nighttime show at Wuhan’s Huabohui Scenic Spot. Featuring the 12 flower goddesses, it makes use of 13 Christie 1DLP laser projectors to transform the flower-themed park into a fusion of natural beauty and technical performance. Spanning five venues, Zhiyin Flower Moon Night blends projection mapping with traditional animation to create a striking visual and cultural experience. Christie’s line-up includes the Inspire Series DWU760-iS and DWU960-iS, along with the high-brightness DWU23-HS. In Wuhan, the DWU23-HS lit up the Appointment of the Rose church façade, while the Inspire Series models powered visuals for the floating sphere and Bell Tower Fantasy. The Huabohui Scenic Spot has become a high-footfall area, attracting thousands of visitors who have praised its immersive experiences. CHRISTIE LIGHTS UP SHOW

MARTIN AUDIO ENHANCES CENTURIES-OLD CHURCH

Tim Kuschel, founder of Guz Box. The church’s congregation is mostly older, highlighting the need for a speaker system tailored to their needs. St John’s also hosts youth services and music recitals, which prompted Kuschel to add Martin Audio subwoofers to the set-up. The final result included a mixture of Martin Audio products and software, striking the right balance between speech intelligibility and reverb.

To mark the 200th anniversary of Tasmania’s St John’s Anglican Church, its committee commissioned a major upgrade to enhance speech clarity. Guz Box Design + Audio led the project, selecting Martin Audio’s O-Line modular micro-array system for the sanctuary, platform and presentation areas. “With its compact form, O-Line excels in houses of worship where speech intelligibility is the main function,” said

NEWS

In May, Munich’s BMW Park hosted the first international volleyball match on ASB Glassfloor’s LED video sports floor. The game between Germany and Italy’s men’s teams marked the Bavarian Volleyball Association’s 50th anniversary and drew nearly 7000 spectators. The glass floor added visual spectacle to the sporting event, accompanying the match with animated player intros, country flags and post-point effects. Both fans and players responded with enthusiasm, with German team member Erik Röhrs touting the floor’s surface as ‘firm’ with a ‘pleasant warmth’ and praising it as ‘perfect for event-style matches’. BMW Park, which also hosts FC Bayern Basketball, is equipped with the world’s first permanently installed video sports floor, delivering a dynamic live experience to players, fans and sponsors. ASB GLASSFLOOR MARKS MAJOR WORLD FIRST

Premium fragrance brand Fueguia 1833 – having amassed a global consumer base for its scientific yet personalised approach to finding a signature scent – has opened a gallery in Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills. Fitting with the area’s emphasis on harmony and healthy living, Azabudai is Fueguia’s third Japanese site, brought to life with audio by Genelec. Designed to engage all five senses, the treehouse-like gallery features a Genelec sound system, chosen without hesitation by founder Julian Bedel. “He didn’t even consider another brand,” said Mr Uraoka, Fueguia 1833 Japan representative. Bedel uses Genelec products in his home, and curates the music played in each gallery, viewing music and fragrance as connected. The Azabudai solution included eight Genelec 8320A Sam studio loudspeakers, dispersed throughout the gallery to deliver even sound. To further optimise the audio, each speaker was calibrated with Genelec Loudspeaker Manager software. “What impressed me most was the sound accuracy,” said Uraoka. “By exposing our customers to the ‘essence’ of sound, it stimulates a range of senses – including smell as well as hearing.” GENELEC HELPS STIMULATE ALL THE SENSES

DIARY DATES INFOCOMM ASIA 23-25 July Bangkok, Thailand

INTEGRATE EXPO 27-29 August Sydney, Australia

PLASA SHOW 7-9 September London, UK

IBC 2025 12-15 September

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FletcherMachine provided a holistic spatial audio mix

“The simplicity of the user interface makes it possible to react quickly to the placement of objects and the adjustment of the mix” want. The engine knows where all the loudspeakers are, and it does the maths to create that spatial effect using time and amplitude panning methods.” FletcherMachine’s high object count meant the team could take full advantage of the complexity of the Gladiator score, by assigning nearly every element its own place in the mix – and it’s practical for touring. Despite its sophistication, FletcherMachine operates within a single piece of

software that can run on a standard laptop, and it requires minimal training. “It’s easy to get to grips with,” adds Florian Siegwald, FletcherMachine operator on the tour. “The simplicity of the user interface makes it possible to react quickly to the placement of objects and adjustment of the mix, which is essential on a tour where developed in FletcherMachine, as well as the excellent coverage achieved through use of Adamson’s S series loudspeakers, Gladiator in Concert exceeded the expectations of a traditional live sound experience. The spatial mix allowed for the celebration of each musical detail, and feedback from both audiences and engineers has been overwhelmingly positive. balance time is very limited.” With the spatial soundscape

managing up to 128 individual audio objects to 128 speaker outputs. Unlike channel-based mixing systems, where sound is routed through fixed outputs, FletcherMachine uses object-based mixing. Each sound element, be it an instrument, section of the choir or sound effect, is treated as a unique object. These objects are positioned in a virtual sound field, and FletcherMachine calculates how to distribute each one across the loudspeaker system to match the desired spatial location. “FletcherMachine offers a very accessible user experience for FOH mixers, allowing them to mix in sound objects rather than traditional stereo,” explains Denis. “Thanks to these sound objects, the spatial mix remains coherent and is identical for all spectators, whatever their position in the room, which greatly reduces the problems associated with concert hall acoustics. “It’s a different way of thinking about sound,” confirms Thevenard. “Every channel on the mixing desk becomes an object you can place wherever you

To find out more, visit adamson.ai

CORPORATE

Corporate AV is powering a new kind of workplace – one that is defined by seamless collaboration and hybrid productivity. LIVE delves into the evolving landscape and how businesses can stay on top BEYOND THE BOARDROOM

Words Oliver Webb

CORPORATE

In a boardroom setting, EW-DX supports multiple speakers without audio dropouts or interference

18 CORPORATE W ith the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a seismic shift in the ways in which we work. AV tools that before were considered optional suddenly found themselves elevated to essential, becoming crucial components to keeping businesses afloat during an extremely difficult time for the global economy. As the hybrid model continued to evolve in the post-pandemic years, corporate AV has consistently played a pivotal role in keeping teams connected, productive and engaged. Meeting room integration, unified communications, digital signage and touchless collaboration are just some of those tools that are galvanising the modern workplace. With an increasingly busy selection of options to play with, it’s more important than ever for both companies and businesses to stay ahead of the curve. AV FOR ALL “Whether it’s a small huddle room, a mid-size conference space or a large boardroom, our portfolio is designed to support modern hybrid workflows with a

focus on clarity, flexibility and ease of integration,” introduces Inesh Patel, business development manager for business communications at Sennheiser. Rather than offering a scattered array of products for the corporate market, Sennheiser’s flagship conferencing series, the Teamconnect Family, offers an entire ecosystem. From sound to AI-tracking and Microsoft Teams integration, it is built to scale across room sizes and technical requirements. “Within this range, we offer two ceiling microphone solutions: the Teamconnect Ceiling 2 (TCC 2) and the more compact Teamconnect Ceiling Medium (TCC M),” explains Patel. “Both feature our advanced dynamic beamforming technology, which automatically detects and follows the active speaker in the room – allowing for a completely hands-free and clean set-up without visible microphones on the table. The TCC 2 offers extended coverage and a 28-capsule array, ideal for larger or more complex spaces, while the TCC M provides the same beamforming precision in a smaller 15-capsule form factor, perfect for mid-sized to large meeting rooms. Both models are also equipped with Truvoicelift for voice

amplification and support features like exclusion zones, priority zones and camera tracking integration, all easily managed via our Sennheiser Control Cockpit software.” For smaller to mid-sized meeting rooms that require integrated audio and video, Sennheiser offers the Teamconnect Bar (TC Bar) in two sizes – TC Bar S and TC Bar M. “These all-in-one UC solutions combine beamforming microphones, high-quality speakers and a built-in 4K camera with AI-driven features like auto framing and person-tiling,” details Patel. “The bars offer plug-and-play USB connectivity for fast deployment, along with Dante support for more advanced AV set-ups. They’re certified for platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, making them an ideal solution for organisations seeking a professional yet user-friendly conferencing experience.” Complementing their Teamconnect systems is the Speechline Digital Wireless (SL DW) family – a good choice for speech in corporate, education and government environments. “SL DW includes various transmitters – handheld, lavalier, boundary mic and table stand options – and is optimised for spoken

CORPORATE

EW-DX is suitable for use in settings such as boardrooms, large campuses and hybrid workspaces

word, offering interference-resistant wireless transmission, long battery life and encrypted communication. The system is designed for easy deployment and remote management, making it a favourite for AV/IT teams who manage multiple rooms across a facility.” Some corporate use cases can be more demanding than others – something the team at Sennheiser has taken into consideration with its Evolution Wireless Digital (EW-DX). Designed to meet top-tier enterprise- level audio needs, EW-DX offers multichannel set-ups, AES-256 encryption and network integration via Dante. “With advanced auto-frequency coordination, remote monitoring through Control Cockpit and a flexible hardware line-up (including bodypacks, handhelds and desktop transmitters), EW-DX is ideal for boardrooms, large campuses and even hybrid work environments that demand crystal- clear, wireless audio with IT-friendly management,” says Patel. It’s easy to only consider the day-to-day requirements for the workplace. However, a 2020 YouGov poll found that 27% of offices lack sufficient access for wheelchair users. A similar poll also found that 30% of 18- to 24-year-olds felt their workplace was not accessible for those with varying abilities. As the data suggests, there is clearly a lot more to be done, and on a positive note, this seems to have become a greater consideration for the ed-tech and corporate AV manufacturers – with an increasing variety of accessible solutions becoming available to market. For example, when it comes to assistive listening and inclusive communication, Sennheiser also offers Mobileconnect – a Wi-Fi-based streaming solution that lets users listen to presentations, lectures or events directly on their personal smartphones with low-latency, high-quality audio. “It’s particularly useful in settings such as corporate training, town halls or multi-language environments,” says Patel. “Our corporate solutions – whether it’s ceiling microphones, conferencing bars, wireless systems or assistive listening – are built to integrate

Our corporate solutions are

Each TC Bar combines beamforming microphones, high-quality speakers and a built-in 4K camera

built to integrate seamlessly, deliver speech intelligibility, as well as provide flexibility for IT and AV professionals

EW-DX integrates with networks via Dante, enhancing compatibility with advanced AV systems

CORPORATE

seamlessly, deliver speech intelligibility and provide flexibility for IT and AV professionals. We are extremely proud to support more effective and inclusive collaboration across global workspaces. “It should go without saying, but I always have to say it, that everyone who should have a voice in the session, should also be able to be heard by everyone, without compromise. The reality is, corporate AV often suffers and the worst element to compromise is audio, and yet it is often the first thing someone will sacrifice, and the results are often detrimental to the experience of the participants. Corporate AV needs to take a leaf from our friends in higher education – where the student experience is paramount and there is often no compromise made for a great AV experience.” FROM BROADCAST TO BOARDROOM Vizrt offers a suite of broadcast-grade tools designed to elevate corporate communications. “Our solutions address key challenges across four pillars,” begins Katie Watts, product marketing manager for Tricaster and corporate solutions. “Firstly, virtual town halls and leadership updates. We help companies turn strategic communications into polished productions that resonate with employees and stakeholders. Secondly, employee training and onboarding. Our tools make onboarding dynamic and inspiring, ensuring new hires feel connected and motivated from day one. For livestreaming and webinars, we enable high-quality, interactive broadcasts that engage audiences and include remote contributors seamlessly. Social media and video marketing are the final pillar. Our solutions help brands stand out with attention-grabbing, high-production-value content that drives genuine engagement across social platforms.” Vizrt’s Tricaster Family is a suite of live production systems tailored to meet the needs of various workflows, from small events to enterprise-level productions. “Tricaster launched at a time when people began to realise you could have innovative products without all the expensive equipment,” reminisced Chris McLendon, senior product manager for Tricaster at Vizrt in an article featured in FEED magazine. In the article, McLendon reflected on the distant days of 2005 when the product was launched: a time when technology was taking off, and minimising stacks of pricey hardware was a top priority. “Tricaster came along then, and being software-based meant we were able to take amazing amounts of production power and put them into small packages,” explains McLendon. Tricaster’s launch was nothing short of revolutionary. Merging live video switching, broadcast graphics, virtual sets, special effects, audio mixing and more into a portable and compact appliance, it became the simplest answer to various issues faced by media firms at the time. Now, as found with

People began realising you can have innovative products

without expensive equipment

many products developed initially for the broadcast industry, the Tricaster family has firmly established itself within the corporate landscape – with recent updates further enhancing its suitability for the workplace. “Key features and highlights include Live Call Connect with Zoom integration,” says Watts. “The latest Tricaster update was the Zoom integration, enabling seamless remote contributions with improved video quality, per-caller audio and a simpler set-up. It also supports other platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack, WhatsApp, Discord and more. Further to this, Tricaster systems cater to both NDI and SDI workflows, making them adaptable for different production environments.” Corporate AV enables engaging internal communications. “Tools like virtual sets and augmented reality graphics make town halls and updates more dynamic and impactful,” adds

Tricaster supports integration with other AV components, making it a flexible choice

CORPORATE

The Vizrt Tricaster set-up enables switching between multiple cameras and media sources

time and bring their brand stories to life with stunning visual content.” VIRTUAL VENUES VR- and AR-based simulation training, virtual conferences and immersive product demos have found themselves increasingly integrated into the corporate sector – marking another significant shift in the ways in which businesses operate. Leading the way in the Italian market is Techstar. Founded in Udine, Italy in 2021, Techstar specialise in extended reality, industrial metaverse and AI solutions and work with renowned companies including the Italian Ministry of Education and Sky Italy. Techstar developed the first Italian metaverse platform designed specifically for the enterprise and industrial markets. “There are many great elements about our platform,” says Luca Griotti, Techstar chief operating officer. “Firstly, it works

Watts. “Features like live polls and real-time discussions foster active participation and deeper learning, and remote contribution solutions ensure seamless communication across geographies, keeping teams aligned and engaged.” Companies are increasingly using tools traditionally used in broadcast for numerous purposes, and Watts highlights several key examples. “To elevate internal events, for example turning town halls and leadership updates into TED Talk-worthy productions. Also, for enhanced training: creating on-demand, searchable training modules that cater to diverse team needs and lastly, to boost marketing efforts, producing professional-grade videos and live streams that resonate with audiences and elevate brand perception. With Vizrt, companies can turn everyday spaces into immersive studios, engage remote teams in real

CORPORATE

Visualisation tools help the fire service coordinate with other agencies more effectively during joint missions

seamlessly on any device, so if one has 3D immersive visors such as Meta Quest, there’s a dedicated app to run their platform on those, but if someone only has a laptop and browser, then it just runs in the browser without the need to install anything. The vast majority of our clients just give access to the platform to their employees on the browser because they are not going to make the investment in lots of hardware dedicated to these use cases.” That isn’t the case for a number of Techstar’s competitors, who typically require a desktop to install specific software, which gives it barriers to entry. “Then there is the fact that you can collaborate synchronously, so all of us could be in the platform, meeting, seeing each other, interacting with each other and together with objects, which makes it quite powerful. I think that the most powerful thing is the fact that it’s super intuitive to use and configure and it’s typically being used by not very technically savvy end users.” Techstar is able to develop almost anything on their platform, though technical training is currently one of the areas in highest demand. “It’s almost some clients’ gateway drug into our platform,” admits Griotti. “ABB Robotics, for example, has very complex products that they produce, and there is software and hardware involved and they use our platform to train their staff. Similarly, the Italian Fire Department uses our platform for their fire investigators who need to go in after a fire has been put out and figure out exactly what’s gone wrong. The way they train their trainees was to typically send them to this place

somewhere in Italy that has fake burnt-down rooms and just practice on those scenarios all the time. On our platform, we build dozens of immersive burnt-down rooms, which they can go in and investigate in a virtual setting.” For some of Techstar’s clients, the software helps bring people together in virtual settings. “There might be a trainee in their Milan office and the trainer in the Rome office, for example,” explains Griotti. “They can instead meet together in this virtual environment. The trainees wearing the immersive gear can pick from a virtual table outside the room whatever tools they need to use, for example, and they can go in and perform the procedure. It also allows them to condense the physical training because they’ve seen virtual scenarios hundreds of times in their spare time, wherever they are, whenever they want.” Techstar also works with retailers across the country who rely on the

platform for training staff. Another key area utilising the virtual space is car dealerships and showrooms. “Typically, companies would have flown maybe one person per showroom to Rome to discover a new vehicle that’s about to be launched before it hits their own showroom. Now in virtual reality, we have replicated the Rome flagship showroom. They organise big events, inviting all the salespeople from all over Italy to come in and explore the new car before it hits their local showroom. They get to know it with interesting interactions, so when the car hits the showroom, they can confidently talk to potential customers about all these features. We are doing something vaguely similar for the Ministry of Education. We have created a virtual space for 14-year-olds to learn more and understand the technical subjects that they can study in high school. Our platform gives them the opportunity to figure out what high

Barco’s collaboration with the Ministry aligns with broader efforts to modernise education

CORPORATE

Our platform gives them

Name Chris Stevens Job title Sales manager EMEA – enterprise, at Disguise What has caused the corporate and pro AV worlds to collide? Working day-to-day with some of the world’s biggest brands, I’m seeing firsthand how technology is becoming central to the corporate world – especially in AV. Why? Because expectations are fast shifting towards communications. This change is driven in part by tech-savvy younger generations stepping into decision-making roles, and in part by broader changes in workplace culture. The result is a growing demand for immersive, dynamic branded spaces that reflect an organisation’s identity and purpose, hitting the sweet spot between a truly exciting connected experience and maintaining a professional tone. How is Disguise contributing to this technical revolution? At Disguise, we’ve spent over 20 years powering jaw-dropping visuals for live events and entertainment. Driving immersive, high-impact experiences is in our DNA. And now, the same cutting-edge tech – intuitive software and high-end media servers – is transforming the corporate AV space. What are some of the technology-led experiences and One of the most exciting opportunities for brands today is the rise of flexible, multi-use AV environments. Companies are able to install modular LED walls that seamlessly shift from a sleek presentation backdrop to a high-end virtual production studio for in-house content creation. That same space can become an immersive event venue, a training centre, a pitch hub – even an R&D lab. Imagine hosting health and safety training in a realistic, simulated new opportunities available to brands?

school degree they want to get into and they can do so in a very interactive way.” When it comes to their plans for the future, Techstar is leaving no stone unturned. “We strongly believe that immersive technology is going to be the human interface for the next evolution of the industry and that it is going to be used by everyone regularly, especially in the workforce,” says Griotti. “Nobody has quite figured out exactly what it’s going to look like. Our platform right now is not what it’s going to look like in five- or ten-years’ time either. Hopefully, we’re going to evolve with the technology and we’re going to keep being pioneers. We honestly believe we haven’t even scratched the surface yet, so we’re exploring all opportunities. We are also ready to tackle a wider, more international market and we are currently trying to expand to the UK.” RE-IMAGINING THE MEETING ROOM If one thing is clear, clunky office hardware and tangled reams of wires and cables causing trip hazards are both things of the past. Barco has highlighted this, with its latest corporate launch angling towards a technically neat and tidy corporate environment. In June 2025, it announced Clickshare Hub, which is set to be a big leap in hybrid meeting room technology. “This milestone showcases our relentless passion for innovation and our dedication to creating the ultimate meeting experience,” explains Jan van Houtte, executive vice president meeting experience at Barco. “We are proud to bring this next generation of innovative Clickshare devices to the market. With Clickshare Hub, we bring our core values – security, reliability and user experience – to the room systems market.” Clickshare Hub comes in two models. Firstly, Clickshare Hub Core, which brings the essential functionalities of a room system with wireless presentation and featuring one next-gen Clickshare Button. Clickshare Hub Pro adds dual display support, two next-gen buttons and more connectivity options for complex installations. Clickshare Hub is additionally designed with ecological principles at its core. With reduced plastic, environmentally friendly packaging, and lower energy consumption it holds a Barco Eco the opportunity to figure out what high school degree they want to get into in a very interactive way

LIVE.

environment that employees can actively engage with – and then, just hours later, using the same room to present a bold new idea to the board with compelling, dynamic visuals. It’s a win-win situation: one investment, multiple applications, maximum impact. Elevated keynote presentations can be delivered from a stage that wouldn’t look out of place at a music festival. With the same Disguise technology used at Glastonbury, Adele’s record-breaking Munich residency and the current Oasis tour, corporate brands can now match the entertainment world when it comes to captivating an audience – whether that’s employees, clients or stakeholders. We’re already seeing forward-thinking brands like Meta and Verizon embrace this approach, transforming traditional AV set-ups into powerful engagement tools. These spaces can still support the day-to-day essentials of corporate comms, but crucially, they also offer the creative flexibility to do so much more. What’s next? In many ways, this shift is long overdue. For businesses ready to take a more strategic view of their AV investment, and who want to build spaces that are as meaningful as they are multifunctional, the opportunity is wide open.

CORPORATE

Security and IT integration are central to the Barco Clickshare range, which is ISO 27001 certified

Board 65 is an all-in-one portable video conference solution that combines audio and video in a 65-inch touchscreen display and can be rolled around offices on a cart or wall-mounted. It also features a suite of AI-powered features including sensors for registering room occupancy, as well as the environmental conditions of a meeting room. The solution can be operational within minutes using Android, PC or BYOD mode using software like Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Google Meet. The Board has also been thoughtfully engineered to reduce its environmental impact, relying on recycled fabrics and FSC-certified packaging. LOOKING AHEAD It’s clear that there are a number of emerging trends in the lucrative landscape of corporate AV. “Combining in-person and virtual elements to maximise reach and engagement is key,” adds Watts. “There is also a rise in incorporating audience participation tools like polls and Q&A broadcast-quality video meetings are just some of the trends we’re seeing. Partnerships like the one between Vizrt and Zoom are bringing broadcast- quality production to everyday video meetings. Corporate AV technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity for sessions. On-demand content, brand-centric productions and

Label A+ certification, helping firms reduce their environmental footprint without compromising performance. Similarly, UK-based Igloo Vision is innovating in the meeting solutions space. The company designs, develops and delivers immersive domes, cylinders, workspaces, custom-builds and the Igloo Immersive Media Player, in a bid to make the meeting room more immersive than collaborative teamwork and training. Companies across the globe have been incorporating Igloos into their workforce. As part of its commitment to digital ever before. The Igloo spaces are a shared experience and ideal for transformation, Atkinsréalis has invested in several Igloo immersive spaces in the UK in addition to one jointly owned in Newfoundland, Canada. Their virtual site access initiative is helping to make the huge programme of work in the nuclear sector safer and more cost-efficient, while minimising carbon emissions and reducing radiation exposure for personnel. The Igloo training solution meant that Atkinsréalis and its partners were able to get a substantial workforce up and running quickly. Video conferencing tech has also seen a surge in demand, allowing face-to-face and real-time communication between people across numerous locations. Logitech recently launched its Rally Board 65, which enables a collaboration experience in any environment. The Rally brand-centric productions and broadcast-quality video meetings are just some of the trends we’re seeing On-demand content,

organisations aiming to stay competitive in the space.” Corporate AV is redefining how teams communicate and collaborate, with hybrid working ultimately becoming the new norm. The landscape is constantly evolving, with concerns around sustainability and cybersecurity at the forefront. Take the series of devastating cyber-attacks on UK retailers earlier in 2025, namely targeted at M&S. With the current suspects thought to be cyber-criminal group Scattered Spider, in May M&S revealed that the breach was expected to cost the company approximately £300 million in lost profits. If anything positive was drawn from the situation, it’s that fail-safe cybersecurity infrastructure has been bumped up businesses’ priority lists. Regarding sustainability, hybrid work already offers a greener solution through cutbacks in commuting and lower energy consumption in offices. AV solutions such as cloud-based software and remote management are helping pave the way for a greener future. Eco-friendly AV solutions are vital, and companies will no doubt be searching for sustainable solutions to help build towards a greener future. Additionally, as AV becomes more connected, there are further IT security issues that need addressing and data privacy, remote access and cloud-based platforms remain a risk.

Logitech Rally Board 65 integrates speakers, microphones and a camera in one unit, simplifying installation and set up

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