In collaboration with Light Partner, CAST’s official BlackTrax distributor for Denmark.
For a series of live performances by the Danish band Zar Paulo, the production team turned to BlackTrax to deliver precise real-time performer tracking across three shows in Århus and Copenhagen. The project was delivered in collaboration with Light Partner, CAST’s official BlackTrax distributor for Denmark.
It was important to the band that all five members could be spotted individually or together, preserving the feeling of a complete band on stage rather than focusing only on the lead vocalist.
Lighting Designer Sune Verdier from Light Partner used BlackTrax to track all five members of the band simultaneously throughout the performances, helping to create a lighting experience that reflected the band’s identity and energy on stage.
The shows, hosted across two venues with a combined audience capacity of approximately 4,000 attendees, were nearly sold out and demonstrated how real-time tracking technology can support both creative storytelling and live production workflows.
Seamless Tracking Across Multiple Shows
The production took place across three performances in Århus and Copenhagen, with BlackTrax delivering precise real-time tracking throughout the run.
From synchronized performer highlighting to smooth transitions between individual and full-band moments, the system supported the lighting workflow reliably across both venues.
A Complete Robe-Based Lighting Package
The lighting rig featured an almost complete Robe package, with Esprites handling all tracked spotting. Forte fixtures were used on the floor package for gobos, supported by a line of Tetra2s and two pods of iSpiiderX fixtures to provide wash looks. The rig also included Prolight strobes.
Only the lighting system was tracked by BlackTrax, allowing the team to focus tracking data specifically on performer-driven lighting automation.
BlackTrax Workflow and System Setup
The production used a BT-3 BlackTrax workflow, incorporated into the existing Luminex network for the lighting rig.
A total of 10 BlackTrax Sensors were mounted on the LX trusses, providing coverage for the full performance area. Calibration for both the cameras and lights took approximately 30 minutes, helping the team maintain an efficient setup process across the run of shows.
The system was also able to maintain tracking with ease during highly dynamic moments, including when the lead singer was crowd surfing.
Performer Tracking Configuration
One of BlackTrax’s key advantages is the flexibility of its performer-worn tracking hardware. Productions can choose from multiple beacon options depending on the performer, costume, movement style, and placement requirements. This allows teams to select the right tracking solution for each performer rather than relying on a single one-size-fits-all device.
BlackTrax offers a range of beacon options, including Beacon 2.0, Mini Beacons, and Mini Beacon Wave. Beacon 2.0 provides advanced features such as live battery status, performer names, and stringer verification indicators, helping teams maintain visibility and control during live production. Mini Beacons offer a smaller, stringer-free option for unscripted or interactive environments, while Mini Beacon Wave provides a discreet wired solution using a compact beacon with a thin stringer cable for flexible placement on the body.
For the Zar Paulo performances, the lead singer wore a Beacon 2.0 with two stringers: one stringer positioned at the back of his neck and the other stringer in his tie knot. A Mini Beacon bracelet was also worn on one of their wrists. The other band members wore Mini Beacon Waves with a single stringer positioned at the back of their necks.
To support show reliability, the team also created a dedicated backup chapter that allowed the lighting console operator to switch to the Mini-Beacon backup bracelet for lighting from a console button if needed. Although this backup workflow was prepared, it was never used.
Responsive Lighting for Different Musical Moments
One of the key creative advantages of the BlackTrax setup was the ability to adjust lighting responsiveness for different songs.
The team varied the responsiveness of the tracked lights to match the movement speed and energy of the band. During slower or more static moments, the responsiveness was reduced to create a steadier visual look. For the most energetic parts of the show, responsiveness was increased to keep up with faster movement and maintain a more dynamic lighting effect.
This allowed the lighting design to adapt naturally to the band’s performance, supporting both subtle moments and high-energy sections without relying solely on static cueing.
Supporting Creative Live Performance Workflows
As live productions continue to evolve, technologies like BlackTrax are helping designers and production teams create more responsive and immersive visual experiences.
By combining real-time performer tracking with creative lighting control, productions can move beyond static cueing and create moments that adapt naturally to movement and performance on stage.
Production Highlights from Zar Paulo Live in Denmark
Photographs by Flemming Bo Jensen
About BlackTrax
BlackTrax is the world’s most accurate, fastest, and reliable automated tracking solution for live events, broadcast, theatre, and immersive environments. By providing precise real-time positional tracking data, BlackTrax enables creative teams to automate and enhance lighting, audio, media, and stage technologies with unmatched accuracy and flexibility. Ready to see what BlackTrax can do for your next production? Book a demo with our team today.