Hilltop Hoods Tour: Paul Owen & Avolites D7 Lighting Design

Australian hip-hop group Hilltop Hoods are currently on a world tour supporting their latest album, Fall from the Light, and lighting designer Paul ‘Pauly’ Owen is relying on the Avolites D7-215 lighting console to deliver the show’s dynamic visuals. The D7-215’s portability and powerful features are proving particularly valuable as the tour spans festivals, European venues, and arena shows across Australasia.

A Decade of Busking: Owen’s Workflow and the D7

Owen, who has collaborated with Hilltop Hoods for nearly two decades, is known for a freestyle lighting style that responds directly to the energy and rhythm of their live performances. This approach, often referred to as “busking,” demands a console that can retain pace with spontaneous creative decisions. He’s been a long-time user of Avolites control systems, citing their flexibility as crucial for this type of live workflow. The switch to the D7-215 during the Australian leg of the tour, after initially using a Harry the Hirer-supplied rig, highlights the console’s growing appeal among touring professionals. For European dates, Owen utilized an Avolites T3 system before returning to the D7 for the most recent Australian shows.

The Avolites D7 series, launched in 2023, represents a significant step forward in portable lighting control. Available in two models – the D7-215 and the larger D7-330 – the consoles are designed to offer the power of a full-size desk in a more compact and travel-friendly package. According to Avolites’ product page, the D7-215 weighs under 32kg and fits into a standard Peli Air case, allowing it to be checked as hold luggage – a critical advantage for tours traversing long distances like those in Australia.

Key Frame Shapes and Pixel Mapping: Expanding Creative Possibilities

A key feature driving Owen’s choice of the D7-215 is the console’s Key Frame Shapes generator. This tool allows designers to create complex, animated effects across lighting rigs with a large number of pixel-based fixtures without needing a dedicated media server. “Using the D7 and a bit of lateral thinking, you can effectively animate a seem without having to use a media server,” Owen explained. This capability streamlines the setup and operation of the lighting show, reducing reliance on additional hardware and simplifying the workflow.

Pixel mapping, the process of mapping video content or lighting effects onto individual LEDs within a fixture, has become increasingly popular in live events. The D7’s generative, animation-based pixel mapping capabilities, combined with Quicksketch labelling for personalization, provide Owen with a powerful toolkit for creating visually striking effects. Adlib’s overview of the D7 details these features, emphasizing the console’s ability to create huge effects quickly.

Scaling the Rig: From Festivals to Arenas

The Hilltop Hoods tour’s lighting rig varies depending on the venue. Festival shows typically involve around 60 fixtures – a mix of spots, washes, LED panels, blinders, and pixel fixtures – spread across front and back trusses and floor-mounted carts. However, the upcoming arena leg of the tour will see a significant expansion, with the rig growing to approximately 270 lights, alongside integrated video and special effects. This scalability is a testament to the D7’s processing power and networking capabilities.

The D7 consoles support Titan Net Processor, allowing for expanded DMX channel capacity, and are Synergy-ready, enabling seamless integration with Ai video servers. This flexibility is crucial for handling the increased complexity of arena-scale productions. The console’s multi-user networking features also facilitate collaboration between lighting operators, streamlining the workflow during large-scale events.

Portability and Practicality: Touring Australia

Beyond its creative features, the D7-215’s portability is a significant benefit for a tour like Hilltop Hoods’, which frequently involves air travel between cities in Australia. The vast distances between venues make air travel a necessity for production teams, and the ability to check the console as standard luggage – as opposed to requiring specialized flight cases – saves time, money, and logistical headaches. Fairlight’s product page highlights this feature, emphasizing the console’s design for maximum control with minimal weight.

The D7 in Context: Avolites’ Diamond Series Evolution

The D7 series builds upon the legacy of Avolites’ Diamond series, known for its intuitive interface and powerful features. The D7-215 and D7-330 are designed to be companion consoles to the flagship Diamond 9, offering a similar control experience in a more compact form factor. This continuity ensures that lighting designers can easily transition between consoles without disrupting their workflow. The D7’s physical user interface closely mirrors other consoles in the Diamond series, facilitating user muscle memory for seamless switching.

Looking Ahead: Continued Integration and Workflow Refinement

The adoption of the Avolites D7-215 by lighting designers like Paul Owen signals a growing trend towards more portable and powerful lighting control solutions. As the Hilltop Hoods tour continues, Owen will likely further refine his workflow with the console, exploring its full range of capabilities and pushing the boundaries of live lighting design. Future developments in the Titan software platform, coupled with ongoing hardware improvements, will undoubtedly enhance the D7’s functionality and solidify its position as a leading choice for touring professionals. The console’s ability to integrate with other Avolites products, such as Ai video servers, also suggests a path towards increasingly cohesive and immersive live experiences.