Blackmagic Design noted that the Austin, TX-based blues club, Antone’s Nightclub, relies on four Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pros to capture artist performances, which are live streamed to the club’s website, Antones.com, offering viewers intimate and lively musical experiences.
Founded by Clifford Antone, the legendary nightclub has gained national attention since opening its doors in 1975. Known colloquially as Austin’s Home of the Blues, Antone’s Nightclub has showcased legends like Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles and dozens more.
In an effort to expand access to entertainment and better connect with its audience, in 2022 Antone’s began offering livestreamed performances via its website. Keen on creating a high end cinematic experience for all viewers, Antone’s workflow was specifically designed for its space, with the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pros taking center stage. Running the cameras through a Blackmagic Studio Converter to an ATEM Television Studio HD live production switcher, Antone’s delivers a dynamic multi camera experience.
“We wanted something with a compact form factor since Antone’s is such an intimate venue,” said Tony Stolfa, co founder and head of production at 3rd + Lamar, the media agency hired by Antone’s to design the workflow and produce the livestreams. “If you’ve got something large and intrusive moving around or hanging from the ceiling, it’s going to distract from the show. We needed something that could give us the biggest bang for our buck in terms of cinematic image quality and design.”
The Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K Pros’ exceptional low light performance was another deciding factor, with Stolfa noting, “We can always achieve vibrant, clear shots even though the majority of our performances happen in dark settings.” Stolfa continued, “We also love the built in tally and camera control features in the Studio Camera 4K Pro because for a live setup, it eliminates the need for a whole communications system. This takes away any insecurity of not knowing what camera is live. If you just need something out of the box that’s going to be a livestream solution with great image quality and has a lot of features, the Studio Camera 4K Pro is ideal.”
Stolfa credits the Blackmagic Design workflow as being beneficial in streamlining operations and reducing the number of personnel needed for a production. With the ability to record in camera and make color corrections to convey certain moods during the performances, as well as switch the show from the ATEM Television Studio HD, Antone’s technical director is able to handle all aspects of the production and manage responsibilities from one place.
“The Blackmagic Design cameras have played a crucial role in delivering a high end, multi camera experience that truly showcases the artists on stage,” Stolfa concluded. “We’re proud of the final product: a power over Ethernet system that requires only one operator. Most spectators don’t even realize there is a video production happening.”
