The accessories are controlled by 40 infrared transmitters
The Brazilian Tour of Coldplay starts this Friday, the 10th, in São Paulo, and should bring back the light bracelets that have been successful in the last edition of the Rock in Rioin 2022. Baptized by xylobandithey have accompanied the band since 2012, on the album tour mylo xylotand create a visual effect that impresses and connects the audience to the artist.
Originally created by the company RB Concepts, the current version of the bracelet is developed by the Canadian PixMob, a company that also supplied the product to the American singer. Taylor Swift.
According to the company, they are being used seven led points on the bracelet – inside there is a simple electronic circuit that allows remote control. They are controlled by an infrared signal, the same type as TV controls. The choice is justified: the infrared signal does not deteriorate in rain or smoke, which makes it ideal for outdoor entertainment events (and rain is not a problem).
In a website interview PLNPixMob lighting programmer Shaheem Litchmore explained how to power hundreds of thousands of bracelets at once.
“These bracelets are controlled by our grandMA3 light console and the signal is transmitted 40 infrared antennas strategically positioned and eight other moving heads that are part of the lighting rig”.
The grandMA3 is a proprietary system that works with software that allows the automation of the lights. That is, the team can program everything that happens during the shows: from the colors that will be activated to the movements that the lights will receive throughout the audience.
However, part of the show is still dictated by the feeling of the band on stage, who have an active voice when it comes to guiding how the audience should shine. “Even if we run the time code, some moments of the show still require manual activations. The band ‘keeps me on my toes’ by adding here and there some spontaneous musical closures to the songs; then generally, the song ends and transitions to the next song in the setlist are triggered manually,” Litchmore explained to the website. PLN.
Although the LEDs have low energy consumption, the bracelets have a useful life of only a few hours. Early versions of the Xyloband manufactured by RB Concepts had a range of approx 18 hours – more than enough for a musical show. PixMob, on the other hand, does not reveal the duration of its bracelet, but it makes no sense to take it home: it will only work with the company’s software (even if, on the internet, some people have managed to access the circuit and revive the bracelet, disassembling the LED circuit and reprogramming it).
Now, however, with the sustainability proposal, the bracelets must be returned to the organization at the end of each presentation – they are reused in other shows. In the ecological footprint, current bracelets are made of biodegradable plastic, created from sugar cane. The band stated that they would not perform again if they could not use sustainable production in their shows.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
