Lansing Public Media Center BluesFest 2026Production plan

LPMC production crew / BluesFest 2026

Two-stage BluesFest production

Cover the MICA Stage directly from the production trailer, with three XF605s and the on-stage PTZ routed by SDI to the TriCaster. At the Fish Ladder Stage, switch three local cameras at FoH and return SRT program, NDI multiview, remote control, and production-network traffic across the dedicated wireless bridge.

Working configuration MICA Stage direct to TriCaster; Fish Ladder ATEM remotely directed from the production trailer
01 / 08

System layout

Keep both stages ready

Only one outdoor stage is live at a time. Keep both stages connected and ready so consecutive one-hour sets can change without moving the production trailer or control position.

01

MICA control at the production trailer

The TriCaster 8000, primary stream encoder, monitoring, Companion computer, and Director/TD remain in the Sir Pizza lot. MICA camera feeds return directly to the TriCaster by SDI.

02

Fish Ladder switcher at FOH

Three Fish Ladder cameras feed the ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K by SDI. Audio enters the designated camera and remains embedded in the ATEM program path.

03

Two independent IP returns

The ATEM program returns by SRT. Its multiview is captured by AJA U-TAP and OBS, published as NDI, and independently decoded to SDI at the production trailer.

MICA Stage

Direct camera returns

XF605Master wide
Audio embedded here
XF605Primary operated camera
XF605Opposite angle
PTZPTZOptics Move 4K on stage

All four camera paths return by direct SDI to the TriCaster in the production trailer.

Fish Ladder Stage

Local ATEM control

XF605Master wide
XF605Primary operated camera
Audio embedded in designated camera
XF605Opposite angle

All three 1080p29.97 SDI feeds terminate at the ATEM Television Studio Pro 4K at FOH.

One Director / TDTriCaster and remote ATEM control stay together
One final program originFish Ladder ATEM enters TriCaster as one source
No roadway cable crossingTwo UniFi APs bridge Turner Street
03 / 08

Signal architecture

Separate program, multiview, and control

This is the Fish Ladder Stage signal path. The bridge carries compressed program, low-latency multiview, remote ATEM control, and production-network traffic as distinct functions.

Fish Ladder stage3 × XF6051080p29.97 SDI
Designated-camera embedded audio
SDI
Fish Ladder FOHATEM TVS Pro 4KLocal switching
Program + multiview outputs
IP
Turner Street bridge2 × UniFi APSRT + NDI + control
Dedicated bridge mode
IP / SDI
Production trailerDecoders + TriCasterProgram and multiview
returned as SDI
Program

SRT return

ATEM program SDI, with embedded audio, feeds the Blackmagic Streaming Encoder 4K. The paired decoder returns SDI to a dedicated TriCaster input.

Multiview

NDI return

ATEM multiview SDI feeds the AJA U-TAP and OBS. The NDI stream is decoded by the Magewell converter and delivered as SDI for trailer monitoring through the TriCaster system.

Control

ATEM remote operation

ATEM Ethernet and Companion remain on the same production LAN across the bridge. Save the ATEM and Companion configuration before show day.

04 / 08

Networked stage placement

Build wired edges on both sides of Turner Street

Keep the trailer in the lot adjacent to Sir Pizza. Build the Fish Ladder ATEM, SRT encoder, OBS/U-TAP multiview encoder, switch, and bridge AP together at FOH.

Field verification required

Confirm clear line of sight, AP mounting height, power, and practical Ethernet routes before show day. Do not assume the JazzFest bridge geometry is identical.

MICA Stage + production trailer

Direct local camera returns

Three XF605s and the on-stage PTZ feed the TriCaster using the protected local route. Audio is embedded in the wide camera.

Fish Ladder FOH

Local SDI terminates at the ATEM

Keep the ATEM, both encoders, edge switch, and confidence monitoring in one protected position.

Turner Street bridge

Direct line of sight · no cable in roadway

Mount both UniFi APs on C-stands and extend Ethernet only as needed to place each unit securely across the street.

Fish Ladder FOHATEM + SRT + NDIWired production-network edge
UniFi bridgeTurner Street
Sir Pizza lotProduction trailerVPTR-24 · decoders + TriCaster + Companion
The roadway crossing is wireless. Cable-ramp planning for a production trunk across Turner Street is not part of this plan.
05 / 08

Turner Street wireless bridge

Carry three functions across one dedicated link

Use two UniFi APs in Bridge mode, each mounted on a C-stand. Keep both ends wired to the production LAN and reserve the RF path for production traffic.

Fish Ladder edge
Program
ATEM program to Blackmagic SRT encoder.
Multiview
ATEM multiview to U-TAP, OBS, and NDI.
Control
ATEM Ethernet and return devices on the edge switch.
Bridge
Fish Ladder AP wired to the FOH network edge.
Production trailer edge
Program
Blackmagic decoder returns SRT program as SDI.
Multiview
Magewell decoder returns NDI multiview as SDI.
Control
Companion and Stream Deck control the remote ATEM.
Monitoring
Keep program, multiview, and link health visible separately.
PreflightStatic IP plan · bridge adoption · RF scan
Load testSRT + NDI + control running together
Failure testPower-cycle each edge and verify recovery
Success checkStable picture, audio, multiview, and control
06 / 08

Power distribution

Use City shore power at the production trailer

The City of Lansing will feed shore power to the trailer in the Sir Pizza lot. The Honda generator and its trailer-power arrangement are removed from the primary BluesFest plan.

Trailer sourceCity shore powerFeeds the production trailer
→
Trailer loadProduction trailerTriCaster · decoders · monitoring
streaming · communications · HVAC
+
Fish Ladder sourceAssigned FOH circuitGrounded · weather-protected
dedicated to production
→
FOH loadComplete IP return chainATEM · encoder · OBS laptop
switch · AP · U-TAP · monitor
07 / 08

LPMC coverage schedule

Ten covered sets across Friday and Saturday

Set end times below assume approximately 60 minutes. The official schedule publishes start times only. Fish Ladder stays connected throughout both days.

Friday expected coverage

Day / show timePerformanceStageTurnaround after set
Friday6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Lady ChampagneMICA StageDirect change
Friday7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Brotha EarthFish Ladder30 min gap
Friday8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Big L & Code BlüMICA Stage60 min gap
Friday10:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.Generator Blues BandMICA StageFinal covered set

Saturday expected coverage

Day / show timePerformanceStageTurnaround after set
Saturday3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.SassietyFish LadderDirect change
Saturday4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.Grady Hall & the Disciples of FunkMICA StageDirect change
Saturday5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.517 FunktetFish LadderDirect change
Saturday6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Stan Craig BandMICA StageDirect change
Saturday7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.Nicky T & the Snake CharmersFish Ladder30 min gap
Saturday8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.Carl Caballero & The WreckageMICA StageFinal covered set
Friday expected coverage6:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Saturday expected coverage3:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Crew assignmentsTBD

Start times and performers verified against the official MICA BluesFest schedule as of Monday, September 14. View the official BluesFest schedule for the most up-to-date information. Approximate end times use an expected 60-minute set duration.

02 / 08

Stage changeover procedure

Move operators, not control equipment

The Director/TD remains at the production trailer. Companion controls Fish Ladder, the NDI return supplies multiview, and decoded SRT program appears as a single TriCaster source.

LivePGM

Current stage

Cut MICA directly on the TriCaster. Before Fish Ladder, confirm multiview, decoded program, embedded audio, Companion feedback, and a safe wide shot.

→
15–30 secTX

Transition interval

Take a full-screen graphic or bumper. Select the Fish Ladder wide on the ATEM, verify decoded audio and video, then take its TriCaster source.

→
LiveNXT

Incoming stage

Cut Fish Ladder cameras on the remote ATEM while TriCaster holds the decoded program on air. Complete the staggered operator walk after the change.

Before every change
  • Confirm both return decoders are locked
  • Verify Fish Ladder embedded audio
  • Confirm Companion feedback matches ATEM state
  • Put one incoming camera on a safe wide
During direct changes
  • Hold the final applause cleanly
  • Use the transition graphic to cover the handoff
  • Move operators on the preassigned stagger
  • Keep the outgoing stage available until confirmed
08 / 08