Notably, Immersive Ltd used Ai on the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics, so I was excited to take a look under the hood and find out what Ai is all about. Strap in for a quick tour!
Hardware Specs
While it is possible to run Ai software on your own machine, Avolites Media does offer completely configured systems. Ai servers range from the T4, T8 and Infinity 4 to the Infinity 8. All are based on an Intel i7 chip and a minimum of 4 cores or better with Nvidia post 2009 or AMD FirePro with minimum 512MB RAM graphics cards.
The hard drive specs are user-customizable depending on budget and project requirements, with a range from 7200 RPM (two layers of 1080p performance), single SSD (three layers of 1080p), two SSD (six layers of 1080p or one layer of 4K), or four SSD (eight layers of 1080p or two layers of 4K).
For live video input, optional capture cards can be added to the system, either the Blackmagic DeckLink/Intensity, Datapath HD SDI, or Datapath Vision SD4+1.
The Ai platform runs on a node-based engine (similar to Quartz Composer) called Salvation, and this engine allows the user to configure custom arrangements of all sorts of modules into a purpose-built server environment. Creating the stage patch in the software is where some challenging new concepts immediately become apparent.
First of all, let me say that I found it very helpful to read the quickstart provided in the Ai User Manual in order to get started with a simple one-screen-and-one-projector arrangement. It may also be extremely helpful to know a little about Quartz Composer before embarking on the task of configuring a system beyond the scope of the quickstart, as it is daunting to open the stage patch window and not know what modules you need, why you need them, and how they connect together. The helpful support team at Avo Media are also planning more thorough documentation to help the majority of users get the most out of such a dynamic system.
Once the system’s stage patch has been configured, the user then can add screens, screen fixtures (projectors), display devices (LED batten or modular), lighting fixtures and structures into the stage environment using the stage construction page. By selecting the screen fixtures and applying media from the media library, looks can be created that can be stored as cues, either directly onto the performance page or in a fixture’s timeline. Cues can contain a lot of unique information as well, including operations like mapping content to a moving screen, sampling video, and even video tracking on a human! Each fixture can also be controlled by up to four playback layers, allowing for image overlays and masks to be created.
I did find the libraries for DMX lighting fixtures and LEDs inside the Ai environment curious, to say the least. Does this mean that the Ai, with its ability to control lighting fixtures directly from the internal timeline, could potentially surpass other DMX-based pre-visualizers? (Perhaps this is the video world’s way of reclaiming some ground lost to the lighting world’s DMX-based media server?) I was not able to spend much time with this feature, but I am impressed with the server’s ability to control lighting fixtures in the same real time environment as the video. But I don’t see lighting programmers jumping off the lighting console ship just yet…
Another important feature of the Ai is it’s ability to internally generate new content. Features like Wave Pool, Tunnel, Texture Warping, Text, Light Rays, a Particle System and generation of cubes, spheres, circles and lines are just a few of the types of effects the Ai can generate based on input textures and videos.
The setup for edge-blended screens is also easy in the Ai environment, and video content can be mapped to each “screen fixture” independently as well as controlled by its own individual timeline for complete stand alone playback.
Playback
The scope of Ai’s functionality is such that it’s hard to narrow everything down to a few key concepts. The server can store up to 4608 cues internally on the Performance page, and these can be triggered via DMX/ArtNet, MIDI, timecode, Kinet or Ethernet IP, or it can be operated as a standalone media server via internal timelines or manual trigger. Ai also is CITP-friendly, so, presumably, live streaming between the Ai server and lighting consoles could be possible at some point down the road. (The Sapphire media control system from Avolites Media is designed to interact with the Ai in this manner).
In terms of media, for any content to be played back on the Ai server, it has to be formatted as a QuickTime movie, preferably with a free proprietary codec called AiM. It can be downloaded from the Avolites Media website; you can link to the download page from plsn.me/Aidownload.
A Closer Look
When I first sat down with the Ai, I was immediately confronted by a foreign programming environment. Coming from the lighting world of media servers, the Ai was unlike any other server I had ever touched before. Since it is built on a node-based workflow, there is a learning curve if you want to get into some of the more advanced uses of the system. With all of its powerful features and its flexible configuration, it seems almost like overkill to use it as a simple media server on one or two screens. And, unfortunately, I suspect most of the advanced features won’t get touched by most media server programmers until better documentation is available. I read the existing manual cover to cover and found many features simply explained with one line. With a server as dynamic and downright powerful as this one is, it deserves better explanations for everyone to be able to grasp its full range of possibilities.
Another unique concept to me as a lighting programmer typically working with DMX media servers is the video previsualization environment. Users can import a 3D model into the Ai and then map video to it in real time while the server is outputting the content. This means that video programmers now have a tool similar to lighting pre-viz apps that allows them to get every detail as accurate as possible in a studio ahead of time. This real-time environment is perhaps the next step for all media server controllers to consider — being able to see the entire project on one screen would be extremely helpful in most large video applications.
At a Glance:
The Ai Server is a powerful and user customizable media server and video show control system that allows real time 3D modeling of your stage environment while simultaneously generating and outputting content. While it is possible to run Ai software on your own machine, Avolites Media offers completely configured systems. Ai servers include the T4, T8, Infinity 4 and Infinity 8.
Ai servers are for video programmers who want to pre-visualize the entire stage environment while also creating, manipulating and controlling the media content being displayed in that same environment in real time, all on one machine. In other words, any media server programmer looking for seriously powerful video control.
Ai Features:
• Four full 1080p HD Outputs
• Smooth playback of multi-layer 4K resolution
• Maximum media resolution: 4096×2048
• Soft-edge blending of multiple projectors
• Timeline time-code sequencer
• Support for 3D displays
• Ability to build and create in the 3D stage visualizer
• Ability to map and warp onto any 3D surface
• Ability to video map onto moving scenery
• Remote Vertex adjustment
• Audio reactive media control
• Internet and iPad remote control
Ai Tour (T4 and T8) servers include:
• 4RU rack mount enclosure
• SSD drive bay
• Drive bay shock mount
• Expansion card retainer
• Dual 90mm fans
• Premium grade power supply
Ai Infinity servers include additional features:
• Internal EDID management
• Genloc camera sync
• Four DMX outputs
• Integral touch screen interface
• Anti shock sub frame construction
Pros
Did I say Ai media servers are powerful? Combining internal content generation effects, real-time pre-viz of the full stage, internal or external cue triggering, mapping and warping of content to 3D objects, flexible configurations completely dependent on the users’ budget and requirements… the Ai has it all!
Cons
The biggest drawback is the learning curve, but that can be fixed with better documentation. I was told by the developers that additional tutorials, videos and a new manual are in the works and will be available soon.
Retail Pricing
Ai Infinity 4 Pro: $42,000
Ai Infinity 8Pro: $49,600
Ai T4 Pro: $29,250
Ai T8 Pro: $38,500
License Keys (software only)
2 Output: $3,100
4 Output: $5,250
Unlimited: $10,500
