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The Tech Behind a Nine Inch Nails Show

Posted by kdawson on from the seeing-right-through-yourself dept.

inetstorm, who has "been a NIN fan for ages," sends along a Wired profile giving a look behind the scenes at the tech underlying the current NIN concert tour. "... this time around, NIN has pulled out all the stops, creating a groundbreaking, fully interactive visual display that is as much a part of the show as the band's instruments ... The core of the show is a sophisticated trio of transparent 'stealth' screens, which are raised and lowered during the performance... For the interactive portions of the show, all the onscreen video is rendered by Moment Factory's custom rig, a trio of Linux-based devices collectively known as 'the brain.'"

13 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. Let me be the first to say by Nuclear+Elephant · · Score: 5, Funny

    "a trio of Linux-based devices collectively known as 'the brain.'"

    What are we going to do today brain?

    The same thing we do every day, pinky. Plan to take over the world.

    1. Re:Let me be the first to say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think the real question here is what type of fasteners they are using to hold it together.

    2. Re:Let me be the first to say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      6 inch screws

  2. The power of Linux by Swampash · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...kicking 'em when they're down!

    http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/1725/nineinchfailsur6.jpg

    1. Re:The power of Linux by no+reason+to+be+here · · Score: 5, Informative

      The original unaltered picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ltrandazzo/2783768632/in/set-72157606864141506/

      Taken by amy Randazzo, sister of one of the guys responsible for http://theninhotline.com/

      Just want to give attribution where it's due.

      Also, I'm so pissed off I wasn't able to see them this time around, and everytime I hear about how amazing and groundbreaking the show is, it makes me that much more upset. I really hope I can make it to one of the shows when they come back through the US again.

      --
      my pet machine
    2. Re:The power of Linux by RealGrouchy · · Score: 3, Informative

      FTA:

      But Reznor, who is an unabashed Mac fan, is also playful about having to partially rely on Windows boxes for some of the show's visuals.

      "We purposefully put one frame of the Blue Screen of Death in this collage of static that comes up at the end of 'Great Destroyer,' and right away people caught it," he says.

      That is not a fail; it's win all the way.

      - RG>

      --
      Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
    3. Re:The power of Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      thats really too bad. in my world, there is no "wasn't" or "can't" for i make my way to see nin.

      as for the show, it was the best nin visual show i have seen in the 14 years i have been attending nin concerts. there are things done with with trent and the screens that simply took my breath away. things i never would have thought possible at a "music" concert. this recent show i saw in inglewood, ca was far from being a simple "concert" or "music show." it's something else. something bigger. something that push the envelope.

  3. This looks so familiar by MrSteve007 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I like NIN as much as anyone, and that concert, along with those FX looks awesome, but there isn't much here that I see that looks much different than what Daft Punk have been doing with their concerts for quite sometime.

    Yes, Daft Punk has a scripted show vs. playing instruments that interact with the AV, but the overall display, lighting and controller tech running the show behind the scenes seem much the same.

    1. Re:This looks so familiar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah. That 40-foot neon pyramid looks *just* like the floating screens that NIN are using. Same thing. Exactly. No difference whatsoever...

  4. The BSOD was on purpose by azrael29a · · Score: 5, Informative

    This BSOD was set up on purpose - it was a part of the decoration. See http://blog.internetnews.com/apatrizio/2008/09/the-fail-er-joke-is-on-the-web.html

  5. Trent kicks ass by runlevelfour · · Score: 4, Informative

    Trent is a pretty cool dude. He tries to embrace technology and make it work for him and he is a big opponent of the current entrenched system (RIAA etc). Trent sees them as crooks who prey upon the fans and artists alike and did everything in his power to get independent. As soon as he did he started to release albums free with options to donate and ability to purchase physical and/or high rez formats. Needless to say it was a success and now other artists are using his inspiration and trying to change things as well. Normally I detest Mac and all their little fanboys but not Trent because he is not just an empty headed user who is being a partisan simply because of Apple's slick marketing. Trent loves technology and if a tool is good for a job he embraces it. If it works great, if it sucks he denounces it. You have to respect someone like that. We need more of that attitude in every aspect of life.

  6. Hoping for a concert DVD by Kesh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I saw this show in Lexington, KY. Trust me, the stills on the article don't do it justice. You really have to see the show to appreciate how dynamic and fluid the effects are. Unfortunately, the videos on YouTube are pretty washed out because any camera small enough to sneak in has poor quality, and can't handle the bright lights well.

    I've also seen the Blue Man Group concert tour (three times!) and there's no comparison. The FX in BMG's "How to be a Megastar" tour are good, but this blows them away.

  7. Re:Ripping apart a monkey on stage? by Deuxsonic · · Score: 3, Informative

    That seems highly unlikely for someone who did a video for PETA, you know?

    --
    If you can talk brilliantly enough about a problem, it can create the consoling illusion that it has been mastered.