Clear-Com’s FreeSpeak II beltpacks are at the heart of a remarkable outdoor tracking sequence in the Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Blvd.
Its cinematic, real-time scene begins backstage at the St. James Theatre and spills out onto West 44th Street, with the production captured live on a massive LCD screen. The sequence involves 62 cast and crew members and requires precision timing, flawless communication and robust technology to execute every night.
The team has to manage complex logistics outdoors while ensuring perfect synchronisation with the orchestra indoors. The real-time coordination required includes crowd control, outdoor route adjustments and security.
The production uses two Arcadia Central Stations, for main and backup redundancy, ensuring uninterrupted communication throughout the performance. Fourteen FreeSpeak II transceivers, including two outdoors, are being utilised to provide seamless wireless coverage, along with 25 beltpacks.
Adam Fisher, Sound Designer for Sunset Blvd., said: “Clear-Com’s FreeSpeak II wireless intercom system ensures that every part of this elaborate scene runs smoothly, no matter the challenges. With outdoor elements like unpredictable weather, street noise, and crowds, the system provides the real-time communication needed to keep everything in sync, making this performance a true marvel every night.”
Stand Number: 10.D29
Company: Clear Com
Adobe to acquire AI firm Topaz Labs
Adobe has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Topaz Labs, an Emmy-winning AI company that develops tools for video and image enhancement. Terms of the deal, expected to close in the second half of 2026, were not revealed.
Looking Gude for Tag team
Cable specialist Argosy has expanded its infrastructure portfolio with the addition of Gude Systems’ intelligent power distribution units (PDUs) and GeoTag asset tracking technology from Tazaar. The firm becomes an official distributor for both manufacturers.
Vortex spins up 2 to go
Vortex2 and Vortex2 Soft are two new compact lights from Creamsource offering the same CreamOS workflow, colour science, rugged build quality and IP65 weather resistance of its existing Vortex family, but in a smaller 160W form factor.
Cinema lighting with added punch
New from Fiilex are the G9 Color, its largest profile light to date, and the MotoK40, a 3600W moving-head LED punch light for film, live events and virtual sets.
Blackwell box boost for live production
Aimed at enterprise video production, and combining Grass Valley hardware and AMPP OS, and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU acceleration, AMPP Edge Live has its European debut at IBC2026. New capabilities can be introduced through software, allowing user workflows to evolve as requirements change.
