GoGo Penguin x Tenentnet

GoGo Penguin x Tenentnet
Manchester, United Kingdom

Together with cognitive design studio TENENTNET, we teamed up with the Manchester-based break-beat trio GoGo Penguin for APOPHENIA – a feature-length show that combines live music with ground-breaking visuals. PlanValley provided parts of the content, and audio-reactive content control and playout capabilities via TouchDesigner.

The backbone of the visual show was our latest line of in-house-built real-time media servers, specifically developed with GoGo Penguin x TENENTNET in mind. Built with a smaller form factor than most rack-mounted media servers, the new design enables a single operator to take the necessary hardware onto public transport, streamlining the production regarding financial and ecological sustainability while it tours Europe.

We created a highly flexible TouchDesigner-based project developed during pre-production in our London studio. With audio reactivity on up to a dozen live tracks from the band and manually adjustable parameters, the operator leads the audience through a visual symbiosis with GoGo Penguin's setlist. A mix of real-time Notch-based content, pre-rendered videos, and our stable diffusion module, which can be applied to selected parts or the entire content, is synchronized to flow with the music.

The heart of the project is a custom-made module that allows splitting the video output into layers based on chosen parameters. This enables dynamic FX application to selected elements, even within pre-rendered content, offering unparalleled flexibility. By integrating cutting-edge techniques like stable diffusion, we elevated the visual experience to match the intricate soundscapes of GoGo Penguin, ensuring each performance is both unique and immersive from start to finish.