After debuting with Celine Dion (Taking Chances World Tour 2009), Britney Spears (The Circus World Tour 2009), Kylie Minogue (US Tour 2010), Microsoft (Kinect CDS launch 2010) and Victoria’s Secret (2010), the MDG TheONE atmospheric generator has completed another international assignment with Kylie Minogue’s Aphrodite – Les Folies World Tour 2011, which drew to a conclusion in South Africa recently.
Four of the TheONE generators have accompanied Miss Minogue across 28 countries, augmented by four MDG Ice Fog QT Low Lying Fog Generators, to produce the spectacular atmospherics which underpinned the tour’s distinctive look.
The MDG units were supplied for the European and North American legs by the tour’s lighting, video and sound supplier, Solotech. They were supplied at the request of lighting designer, Nick Waterhouse, who was careful to specify TheONE for the demanding 77-date, six month tour.
“I was introduced to MDG by Solotech’s Karl Gaudreau when touring with Alicia Keys,” said Waterhouse. “We then took four DMX-operated versions of TheONE on Kylie’s For You, For Me tour in 2009 and I was very impressed. I was determined to use them again for Kylie’s Aphrodite tour. I love the unique ability TheONE has to set the output level from the desk and to switch between haze and fog modes.”
TheONE’s technology means that the fully digital atmospheric generator is capable of creating both fog and haze effects from the one source. It is also said to be the first atmospheric generator with networking capability and can be operated via DMX, RDM, ACN, ETC-Net or Art-Net. These features are claimed to ensure a fine, remote control over output, and gradual, seamless switching between haze and fog modes.
TheONE received the Best Debuting Product Award at the LDI 2010 where the LDI judges deemed it “the turnkey solution for combining both fog and haze capabilities in a single, highly-portable design.”
MDG Fog has responded to these plaudits by creating a touring cradle for TheONE, which is the first to provide fully-approved rigging options and, apparently uniquely, fits all known sizes of 9kg gas (CO2 or N2) bottles.
Solotech’s Gaudreau has worked with MDG Fog on developing the DMX version of TheONE so is well qualified to insist on using MDG atmospheric generators on his projects. “The newly refined design of TheONE’s cradle is ideal for touring,” he said. “It gives us many more options for safely rigging the units and is strong enough to withstand the demands of an international tour. The cradle is set on wheels for easy transportation, making it especially fit for ready-to-go touring conditions. I find it is very user-friendly and, with its universal voltage rating, TheONE is perfect for both international touring and for the rental side of our business. For reasons of construction, features and effects, MDG’s TheONE is my preferred solution for all tours.”
Photo: Kylie Aphrodite – Les Folies World Tour at the Nokia Theatre, Dallas, Texas. Credit George Masek.
