CPL & Camper Calling 2024

Panasonic’s industry-leading KAIROS IP-based live production platform reduces intermediary kit and increases flexibility for CPL at annual Camper Calling Festival

Photography Credit:
Sam Thomas

Pioneering IP-based production provides scalability for music festivals

Annual family-friendly music festival, Camper Calling, attracts some of the biggest names in UK music to Warwickshire’s Ragley Hall every August. With dozens of acts performing for 10 hours every day, across three days and five stages, flexibility, speed of delivery, and stunning visuals are required at the flick of a switch.

Leading, full-service UK AV rental, production and virtual event company, CPL, has operated end-to-end audio-visual services for Camper Calling since its inception in 2016. For the 2024 edition, it was looking to streamline its technology infrastructure and minimise the amount of intermediary kit and cables whilst using an SDI-based approach, as the festival grew in size and complexity across the site.

A Panasonic partner for over 15 years, CPL’s team opted for Panasonic’s state-of-the-art live video production platform, KAIROS, with the AT-KC2000S1 mainframe utilised. Ideal for productions ranging from broadcast studios to remote production and streaming of live sporting and music events, KAIROS virtualises traditional switcher functions and eliminates many legacy switcher hardware constraints. It features innovative CPU/GPU architecture, and removes the one-to-one input constraints of SDI-only switchers. Additional equipment was provided by live production experts, Riedel.

"In our long-standing relationship with Panasonic, we’ve used the full spectrum of their projectors, displays, and cameras – it’s only natural that we looked to them for their live video production platform. This is the first time that we’ve used KAIROS in a live environment, and we took it to Camper Calling before even stocking and packaging the equipment. Thankfully, Panasonic helped us with pre-patching before the event, but we had every confidence that all the technology would work seamlessly."

Such was CPL’s eagerness and confidence in Panasonic’s KAIROS technology, their use of KAIROS at Camper Calling 2024 was the first time it had been used at a live music festival anywhere worldwide – an ideal environment to push it to its limits.

KAIROS delivers unprecedented flexibility and scalability for CPL

The KC2000 is Panasonic’s most powerful KAIROS mainframe and is fully supportive of baseband signals and IP-based transmissions. Designed with large-scale events in mind, its Smart Routing feature enables KAIROS to virtually handle a larger number of input sources by automatically switching the video input to the network switch – eliminating the need to consider the bandwidth limitations of the video that KAIROS can receive simultaneously.

For example, with Panasonic’s PTZ and studio cameras sending uncompressed 4K visuals, the KC2000 has a maximum of eight inputs, but can virtually assign 64 video sources to a scene, layer, or button on each control panel used by CPL.

This provided increased flexibility. Creators on the network, using a variety of Panasonic compact and normal control panels, were able to spread the workload seamlessly amongst themselves, and incorporate VT playback, keying, clips, sponsor loops, band logos, and the festival schedule to screens. All mixing and monitoring was also supplied by Panasonic, as part of an end-to-end solution.

Using KAIROS means that a separate media server is not required for CPL to deploy output across all stages, using Panasonic MultiViewers and AV-HS410 live switcher as part of the Panasonic Portable Production Unit. Furthermore, all graphics, videos, and still images that are shared by bands’ tour managers prior to the festival can be easily and seamlessly selected.

ST 2110 adoption a priority for CPL

CPL’s use of KAIROS was part of its overarching migration to using the SMPTE ST 2110 IP-based transmission standard, which is becoming increasingly common as the industry moves to an ‘AVoIP’ approach.

Additionally, to ensure CPL’s freelance operators were upskilled to the required level with ST 2110 and the KAIROS platform, Panasonic ran several training days with CPL freelancers, Phil Manson and Maz Goodwin, earlier in the year, and were on-hand during Camper Calling for any required support.

"Investing fully in ST 2110 was an absolute priority for CPL – we could see the benefits of the transition. Today, every environment from OB trucks, studios, and off-site production environments, are starting to utilise ST 2110. Whilst this was a large investment, we have absolute confidence that it will pay off in spades. Whereas some of our contemporaries are adopting ST 2110 converters, KAIROS offers instant, uncompressed 4K visuals straight out of the box – and offers the flexibility, scalability, and ease-of-use that we desired."

Panasonic PTZ and studio cameras deliver stunning 4K+ visuals

In addition to KAIROS, live switchers and MultiViewers, CPL was using a full suite of Panasonic kit at Camper Calling 2024. It utilised Panasonic’s AK-UC4000 4K studio camera in front of the stages, paired with Panasonic’s AK-UCU600 Camera Control Unit, and AK-HRP1010 Remote Operation Panel.

This provided CPL the uncompressed long-distance transmission of 4K images, and afforded greater flexibility and operability for camera operators. CPL also used Panasonic’s AW-UE160 4K PTZ cameras for audience and on-stage shots, and its SQ1 series of 55-inch 4K professional displays around the festival site.

"Everything within the UC4000 chain is so easy to use – the camera itself features an ergonomic viewfinder, it’s easy to focus, and the Dynamic Range Stretch (DRS) function is particularly good. Even with challenging and changing lighting conditions, the UE160 and UC4000s performed brilliantly."

KAIROS the way forward for CPL

Panasonic’s KAIROS live production platform has enabled CPL to remove much of the intermediary kit and cabling at Camper Calling. It has also simplified the deployment and set-up process, seamlessly integrating with existing technology, and providing a cutting-edge solution for live festivals and events.

KAIROS enables the CPL team to build presets on the ground at live events, instead of production studios. It allows them to preview all layers, preset scenes, and more on the Panasonic MultiViewer, providing additional flexibility and peace of mind.

"The scalability and flexibility of the KAIROS live video production platform is perfect as the festival scales too. Regardless of what the festival throws at us, we know we have it covered with Panasonic."

CPL & Camper Calling 2024

CPL provided a streamlined, industry-leading IP-based infrastructure for the annual Camper Calling festival, allowing greater flexibility and control for camera operators to deliver 4K+ visuals as the festival grows.

Pioneering IP-based production provides scalability for music festivals

KAIROS delivers unprecedented flexibility and scalability for CPL

ST 2110 adoption a priority for CPL

Panasonic PTZ and studio cameras deliver stunning 4K+ visuals

KAIROS the way forward for CPL

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