It has been just over a year since French tracking solutions company Naostage partnered with Adelaide’s Novatech Creative Event Technology to bring their advanced AI-powered tracking technology to Australia. This partnership marks a significant leap forward in the use of artificial intelligence within the live entertainment industry. Naostage’s K SYSTEM, a sophisticated combination of cameras, processors, and software, provides automatic, beaconless tracking of performers, seamlessly locking onto them as they enter the stage or performance area.
Novatech quickly embraced this cutting-edge system, investing in a top-tier setup that generates PSN (PosiStageNet) or OSC data from the performer’s location. This data can be used to control lighting fixtures for followspot applications, send control signals to immersive audio processors like d&b audiotechnik’s Soundscape or L-Acoustics’ L-ISA, and manage video and other show control systems.
Revolutionizing Stage Tracking
The K SYSTEM comprises the KAPTA sensor bar, the KORE processor, and the Kratos software. The KAPTA uses a combination of visible, thermal, and near-infrared (NIR) cameras to capture the stage area under any conditions, including total darkness or heavy smoke. This patented system, directed by the KRATOS software, locks onto individual performers within a user-defined area.
Leko Novakovic, Managing Director of Novatech, shared insights from their experience: “We took K System out on a tour with Tones and I. We were doing arenas, including Rod Laver in Melbourne. We mounted one Kapta on the front truss, and it covered the entire 18-metre-wide stage. We initially only intended it to track Tones, but her operators asked if we could track her dancers as well. It ended up tracking Tones and multiple dancers, and didn’t break a sweat.”
Introducing YouTrack: A New Era of Flexibility
While the K SYSTEM remains Naostage’s flagship solution for comprehensive show control, the company recently unveiled YouTrack, a manual tracking system designed for the dynamic demands of live entertainment. YouTrack is easy to deploy, flexible to operate, and can evolve into full AI automation, bringing modern, reliable tracking to productions of any size.
YouTrack consists of the KAM, a robust RGB camera with PoE and IP67 ratings, ensuring consistent visual rendering even in low-light conditions, and the NUK, a compact computer pre-configured with KRATOS that offers exceptional real-time performance.
“This extended flexibility allows smaller productions or venues to take advantage of Naostage’s technology and to scale as their needs grow,” explains Leko Novakovic.
Scalability and Interoperability
Between the original KORE processor and the NUK is the new “Kore S,” which limits AI processing to four video streams (one KAPTA or four KAMS), while the KORE can handle up to eight video streams simultaneously. This includes configurations like two KAPTA, eight KAMs, or one KAPTA and four KAMs.
The expanded offering allows users to build a system tailored to their specific needs, with extended compatibility with AV third-party systems. This scalability and interoperability mean that productions of all sizes can benefit from Naostage’s technology.
With AI managing the tracking, the system is user-friendly. “Set up time and calibration takes between 20 and 30 minutes for an experienced operator,” says Leko. During rehearsals or live shows, the operator assigns a performer in the target patcher, and the system follows them. It can be set to fade in on entry, fade out on exit, and track them with any combination of lights.
Competitive Edge and Market Impact
Naostage’s solutions are competitively priced against major tracking systems. A Naostage YouTrack system is available at a fraction of the cost of a full K SYSTEM, while a K SYSTEM composed of KAMs and a KORE S is half the price of a high-end K SYSTEM. This affordability makes it an attractive option for production companies, theaters, and other venues considering tracking solutions.
Novatech is offering demonstration systems for evaluation. “We think it’s going to be a huge seller,” concludes Leko Novakovic, emphasizing the system’s potential impact on the market.
The introduction of Naostage’s AI-powered tracking systems represents a transformative moment in live performance technology, offering unprecedented flexibility, scalability, and ease of use for productions worldwide.
