Jands Vista v2 is a Star on Hellbillies Tour

Norwegian lighting designer Roy Arne Wold is using a Jands Vista T2 console, with the next generation Vista v2 software, to control lighting and video on the current Hellbillies tour.

The Hellbillies are a country rock band -- with slightly more emphasis on the rock than the country -- and is among Norway's most popular recording artists.

Just before embarking on the tour, Wold decided to upgrade to the new Vista v2 software, which, he says, "takes the entire Vista control system into a whole new league."

On this year's tour, the band is carrying a specials package of lighting and video, which is supplemented with each days locally provided house rig.

The touring rig consists of eight Robe ColorSpot 700E ATs, 12Robe ColorWash 575AT Zooms, four Martin Atomic strobes, eight Active Sunstrips, and eight panels of 30mm pitch LED screen, together with 48 dimmer channels.

At each venue, the house rig is connected into the T2 and Vista v2's second generation "generic fixture model" is used to automatically swap the show programming to fit that day's fixture types.

The T2 also triggets the touring Green Hippo Critter media server, which stores and plays back all the content for the video panels.

One feature that Wold particularly likes about Vista v2 is the way the console interfaces seamlessly with media servers, with all the media clips displayed as easily viewable thumbnails on the desk. "It's great to be able to see and do everything on the desk, and not have to refer to the server at all," he says.

Other v2 highlights for Wold are the ease with which you can add split timings to a cue, and the powerful search functions, whereby you just type in the first digits of what you are looking for and it will be found instantly.

"I love the layout," Wold says, referring generally to the v2 interface. "I can see so much information simultaneously and can create my show so fast."

Wold and his company Raw Light's investment in the T2 has proved to be an excellent commercial move for an independent LD, and guarantees that he can have his desk of choice on all his shows.

Wold comments that he has always experienced excellent, knowledgeable and helpful service from both Jands and their Norwegian distributors Norsk Sceneteknikk As.

Jands Europe's Neil Vann said, "Shows of all sizes and styles really benefit from using Vista v2. It has the right balance of power and simplicity to ensure that it is fast to use, while allowing the user to create exactly what is demanded on stage. Take a look for yourself and see what this exciting next generation of control can offer you...."