Technical and creative production specialists CPL (Central Presentations Ltd)
continues its investment in the newest and most innovative live production
technologies with the purchase of a d3 4×4 media server.

This was followed by a comprehensive 2 day on-site training course at CPL’s HQ in
the west Midlands, UK, for CPL’s staff and key freelancers.

CPL’s Simon Haydon explains that it was essential for both core members of CPL’s
video division and the company’s regular freelance designers, programmers and
video technicians to be included in the session. “To get the most out of the
investment, it’s important that a cross section of people are familiar with the
system and know how to maximise its massive potential,’ he commented.v
The d3 purchase follows on from a substantial shopping spree focussed on LED
screen in the last 6 months, so with that and plenty of high powered projection
already in the rental inventory, CPL’s increased capacity for widescreen, HD, large-
format projections and pixel mapped projects … required a powerful control
solution.

d3 was chosen as the best, most flexible and stable option, and allows CPL to
expand its scope of delivering creative video solutions in addition to the more
“standard’ conventional options for video packages.

The d3 4×4 offers 8 x 4K content layers and can be configured for 4 x 4K outputs of
16 x HD outputs. This first server one has a combination of VFC cards and display
ports and is a feature-packed premium tool with a great reputation for robust and
reliable hardware, software and operation.

The d3’s visualisation capabilities were instrumental when CPL’s MD Matthew Boyse,
Haydon and others on the team made the final choice of media server brand.

It uses a 3D representation of a real-world video set up and offers detailed pre-vis
of the video playback, including a camera fly-through view … which is perfect for
illustrating to clients exactly how any proposed video design or content might look
in situ.

The first day of the training saw everyone learn the basics of the system, which
progressed to exploring more complex and sophisticated functionality on the
second. “The support from d3 is really impressive. The system architecture is very
powerful so there’s a lot to get your head around at first, but it all seems infinitely
more straightforward after two days of training,’ elucidates Haydon.

He adds that the vast body of additional information and technical support available
online is also really helpful.

The first festival project for CPL’s d3 was “Camper Calling’ at Ragley Hall in
Warwickshire for which CPL was the live video supplier, and it was driving content
for a 9 metre wide by 4.5 metre high screen on the main stage.

It was also used to display footage on a video-wall at the entranceway to the 2016
EGX games expo at the Birmingham NEC.