Solotech chooses Brompton Technology to power Adele’s outdoor LED screen
Sep 26, 2024
Adele’s electrifying ten-show residency at the purpose-built outdoor arena at Messe München in August set a new standard in live entertainment, earning a Guinness World Records title for the Largest Continuous Outdoor LED Screen (temporary). This record-breaking feat was made possible by Solotech, the official video supplier, who harnessed Brompton Technology LED processing to deliver an unforgettable visual experience to nearly three quarters of a million Adele fans.
Brompton Technology’s Adam Callaway, notes that the team collaborated closely with Solotech for over a year on the project, which included rigorous testing and validating workflows based on Adele’s Las Vegas residency and additional testing in the UK. “Brompton joined Solotech on site for three days to ensure smooth deployment of the workflows needed from our 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors,” he says.
Featuring 6,200 tiles of ROE CB5 MKII, all calibrated using Brompton’s Hydra advanced measurement system to enable Dynamic Calibration technology, the setup took full advantage of features like PureTone and Extended Bit Depth, ensuring beautiful, uniform video content even at extremes of brightness and colour gamut. With a total of 26 Tessera SX40 and over 100 Tessera XD 10G data distribution units providing a seamless and flexible LED processing solution, the screen is the largest of its kind ever deployed for a temporary live event.
“Brompton’s SX40 is a tried and trusted partner for our projects, giving us the reassurance of failsafe redundancy and exceptional reliability, whilst the XD units have played a vital role in simplifying the cabling on this mammoth screen,” says Solotech’s Director of Global Touring and Special Projects, Ian (Woody) Woodall. “We’ve also made good use of the wide array of Tessera features available, including Frame Store, Cable Redundancy, PureTone, API, sACN for Brightness Control and Brompton’s industry-leading scaler – all running on the latest v3.5 Tessera software.”
Attracting over 730,000 attendees to a custom-built outdoor arena at Messe München in Munich, Germany, the ten-date concert residency included Adele’s celebrated hits such as ‘Hello’, ‘Rolling in the Deep’ and ‘Someone Like You’. Each night’s performance featured 22 songs, accompanied by mesmerising high-quality visuals displayed on an impressive 220-metre-long by 20-metre-high LED backdrop.
Joanne Brent, Official Adjudicator, Guinness World Records, commented: “It is an immense honour to present the iconic Adele with this GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title. While Adele is no stranger to holding multiple records for her music, this achievement stands apart, celebrating her remarkable vision for the ‘Adele in Munich’ residency. It reflects the extraordinary experience she meticulously crafted for her fans.
“I was intrigued to see how such an expansive and seamless screen would be utilised during the concert. The bespoke visual effects, tailored to each song, truly elevated the performance adding an undeniable ‘wow’ factor. It was a perfect complement to the unparalleled artistry of Adele. She is OFFICIALLY AMAZING™.”
Woodall adds: “This Munich residency is unlike anything that has ever been done before. There was no template, no comparison—only possibilities. What makes this show groundbreaking isn’t just the scale of the record-breaking LED screen, but the innovative thinking that made it possible. This production redefines how live entertainment can be experienced. Working alongside Adele’s visionary team and all the other top-tier suppliers, we were able to push beyond the limits of what anyone thought was possible. It’s this spirit of collaboration and innovation that made the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® for the Largest Outdoor LED Screen achievable. I want to extend my congratulations to everyone involved and the entire crew who made this achievement a reality.”
“Congratulations to Adele and the team behind her for accomplishing the extraordinary and earning a place in the Guinness World Records during her Munich residency!” concludes Callaway. “The record stands as a testament to the innovation and collaboration behind this historic production. Brompton Technology is proud to have contributed to such an unforgettable moment in live entertainment.”
Comment / Laurence Johnson, sustainability manager, Film London