180 GLP impression X5 IP Bar 1000 and 60 JDC2 IP impress within the organic stage design of the Austrian EDM spectacular
The Electric Love electronic music festival promised music, spirit, adventure and community. A top line-up with over 200 artists (including Scooter, Armin van Buuren and Timmy Trumpet) on a total of six stages and 180,000 visitors from 70 nations made the Salzburgring shake again at the beginning of July. GLP contributed to the power of the spectacle with 180 impression X5 IP Bars and 60 JDC2 IP on the main stage. The weather-protected devices from the German manufacturer were able to show what they can do during the elaborately staged 16-minute opening ceremony. Another 30 GLP impression X5 Wash were equally impressive in Club Circus.
Gigantic stage constructions, embracing a lot of technology and attention to detail, shaped the look of the festival. The main stage forms the heart of the festival site year after year, and the stage design was by TWOFIFTYK. The LD Company developed the lighting design of the 76-metre-wide by 26-metre-high stage. Equipped with 1,200 fixtures and weighing a massive 200 tons, the design of the main stage remains true to tradition on the one hand and yet reinterprets it in keeping with the festival’s 2024 motto, #NewEra. The cubic design characteristic of the Electric Love eestival creates both continuity and a new beginning in that the typical cubes are used in an inverted form for the first time, so the view is directed into the interior of the structures. Elaborately equipped with around 800 wooden panels, the organic-looking construction, without visible steel construction elements, fits wonderfully into the natural surroundings of the Salzburgring.
As in previous years, the organisers received support from the capable team at Full Scope GmbH. The company, represented in this project by Hannes Schnappinger and Matthias Hochwimmer, supported the festival organiser from feasibility analysis and technical planning to the creation of CAD models through to tender preparation and budget management. “We coordinate the smooth running of the construction work on site, monitor performance and time management, and act as a link between the organiser and the stage production. Our task includes the coordination of all stakeholder and support with approval processes, as well as complete integral planning, with full transparency and control resting with the client,” says senior stage producer Matthias Hochwimmer, describing his complex area of responsibility.
When it comes to creative stage design, EDM festivals have long been in a league of their own, as Hochwimmer also acknowledges: “You won’t find a classic rig in the stage designs of Electric Love. Instead, the designers integrate individual fixtures into the lavish stage constructions, which on the one hand creates an additional dimension in the design and on the other expands the formal language of the stage. Attention is always paid to overall photogenic impressions and the multifunctionality of the fixtures in order to create variety and constantly new impressions across the different DJ sets and festival days.”
Extensive matrix of impression X5 IP Bars
This year, the main stage was characterised by honeycomb-like constructions made from inverted cubes, which were extended axially upwards by vertically installed impression X5 IP Bars. Arranged both vertically and in depth, this created a kind of matrix that was wonderful to play with.
“With the zoom and tilt function of the X5 IP Bars breathtaking fan effects could be achieved across the entire width of the stage, and the individual pixel control of the lamps enabled a variety of dimmer and colour effects,” states Hochwimmer. “Thanks to the high light output of the Bars, an impressive blinder or strobe effect with a high impact could also be achieved.”
JDC2 IP as a blinder and video extension
In contrast, GLP’s new JDC2 IP weatherproof hybrid strobes were preferred to classic strobes on the so-called crowns at the upper edge of the stage construction. Here they functioned as an extension of the LED walls, which were also located on the crowns, and “harmonised perfectly with the video content generated specifically for this purpose,” adds Hochwimmer.
All 60 of the video-capable hybrid devices were integrated into the video system via NDI. However, guest LDs worked in DigiFX mode to ensure compatibility with their show files. The powerful dual-cortex CPU with graphics processing integrated into the JDC2 IP allows video-like digital effects, known as GLP DigiFX, to be created on the devices. The JDC2 IP offers over 100 of these elaborately designed DigiFX, which can also be manipulated in real time via special DigiFX channels.
Matthias Hochwimmer is entirely satisfied with the performance of the GLP fixtures: “The GLP impression X5 IP Bar 1000 was hugely impressive with its very fast tilt, as well as the large zoom range and high light intensity. Thanks to the outdoor capability of the fixtures, we can manage without the visually disturbing rain covers, which also significantly reduces installation time. The effect achieved, especially when you use the vertically mounted Bars as compartments, was impressive with this number of fixtures.”
In addition to the very good colour mixing with a significantly expanded colour spectrum, Hochwimmer highlights a small mechanical gimmick: “When installing the various Bars, we noticed the arrangement of the connections and the spring-loaded powerCON TRUE1 top lids. Especially in installations with such a high number of devices and difficult accessibility for service purposes, it has happened that improperly closed powerCON TRUE1 covers have disabled a whole series of fixtures. GLP obviously came up with something here that was particularly helpful to us when it came to vertically mounting the lamps and shows how much the manufacturer cares in detail about the products and their intended uses.”
The show producer is also very pleased that with the JDC2 IP, an outdoor-capable hybrid strobe from GLP is now available, which improves the capabilities and builds on the success of its popular predecessor, the JDC1: “The device’s redesigned pixel engine brought a completely new design dimension and was particularly impressive in its interaction with the content on the LED surfaces. Thanks to DigiFX, guest lighting designers can also quickly integrate the product into their existing tour show file, which is particularly crucial given the short pre-programming times for fly-in acts. The brightness of the white light engine was also completely effective, even in brighter lighting conditions. The devices are of high quality and robustly manufactured, which is something we as technical producers pay particular attention to. The JDC2 IP is certainly a first-class tool for outdoor events and festivals thanks to its high reliability, impressive light output and flexible integration.”
With the increasing spread of GLP’s IP range, the Electric Love team are planning to use impression X5 IP Bar 1000 and JDC2 IP again next year.
Creative credits:
Main stage
Stage design: TWOFIFTYK
Light Design: LD Company
Club Circus
Stage Design: Drawmore Stage Design
Light design: depot|two
Hard Dance Valley
Stage Design: BigVis
Light design: GERDON DESIGN
Technical credits:
Technical producer, stage production & on-site project management: Full Scope GmbH in collaboration with Axiom
Technical supplier, lights & rigging: Phlippo Productions
DryHire supplier: CGS Dry Hire