AV Stumpfl's PIXERA two RS Gen.2 media server has been a game-changer for the audio-visual industry, as evidenced by its recent deployment in the Never Coming Home Tour 2026. This tour, featuring the iconic Australian hip-hop group Hilltop Hoods, showcased the power of PIXERA in delivering a seamless and captivating visual experience. The tour's success can be attributed to the meticulous planning and execution by Diverse Audio Visual Events (DAVE), a Melbourne-based production company. The PIXERA two RS Gen.2, a compact yet powerful media server, played a pivotal role in this setup, offering the performance and flexibility required for the project. The visual design was a masterpiece, with a unified 4K canvas across all LED surfaces, creating a seamless large-format stage picture. This was achieved using INFiLED Black Widow mesh LED systems with an 8.3mm pixel pitch, ensuring a precise and repeatable execution night after night. The system's ability to handle extensive live camera feeds and rapid camera cuts was a testament to its versatility and performance.
Brad Hurle, the founder and managing director of DAVE, was instrumental in designing and delivering the tour's full video production. His collaboration with Branden Butler of Show Technology Australia led to the selection of the PIXERA two RS Gen.2, which offered the perfect balance of performance and flexibility. The timeline workflow of PIXERA was a standout feature, allowing for live edits and adjustments on the fly, which was crucial for the dynamic nature of the tour. This feature enabled the team to be incredibly reactive to the ideas and requests of the Hilltop Hoods team and the lighting designer, Paul 'Pauly' Owen, ensuring a cohesive and visually stunning show.
The project also marked Hurle's first experience with Notch, a content designer and programmer, who found PIXERA straightforward to navigate. The collaboration with Notch further enhanced the creative process, allowing for a clean and stable system. The transition from another platform to PIXERA was seamless, thanks to the balance of affordability, flexibility, and scalability it offered. Hurle's positive experience with PIXERA has solidified his belief in its capabilities, and he is excited about the future possibilities it presents for DAVE.
In conclusion, the AV Stumpfl PIXERA two RS Gen.2 media server has proven to be a powerful tool in the audio-visual industry, as demonstrated by its role in the Never Coming Home Tour. Its performance, flexibility, and user-friendly features have made it a top choice for production companies like DAVE, setting a new standard for visual experiences in the music industry.