Staying on top of the club scene for 21 months is no mean accomplishment, so what does that say about an establishment that’s been able to occupy this exalted position for 21 straight years? Atlanta’s Tongue and Groove has been jam packed with pro athletes, visiting celebrities and other A-list guests since 1995. Like all long running successes in the entertainment business, this stylish 8,600 sq ft club has undergone a constant process of evolution and improvement.
Back in the day, Tongue and Groove required gentlemen to wear jackets, all lights were incandescent and pixel mapping effects were unheard of. Now the dress code is more casual, LED fixtures rule and pixel mapping is adding a level of movement and excitement that was unimaginable two decades ago. A case in point is the new DJ booth display created by renowned lighting designer Steve Lieberman, using pixel mapped ÉPIX Tile 2.0 panels from CHAUVET Professional.
Steve gave the semi-circular DJ booth a mesmerising look by creating a low res band of moving images over its entire span. Moving horizontally, vertically and diagonally in patterns that often overlap one another, the pixel mapped breakout images create an evocative, captivating display that reflects the mood of the music being played.
The pixel mapped band covering the DJ booth is made up of 181 strategically positioned 12” square ÉPIX Tile 2.0 panels. With 144 tricolour SMD 5050 LEDs arranged in 12 x 12 pixel arrays, the panels provide ample brightness and colour; plus their 120° viewing angle ensures that images displayed on the curved surface of the DJ booth are easy to see from anywhere on the dance floor.
Power and data are supplied to the DJ booth with 46 ÉPIX Drive 642 devices, each controlling up to four ÉPIX Tile 2.0 panels. The entire system was easy to install, according to Steve, and provided the club with a cost effective way to create a new contemporary look that engages guests.
As part of this look, the LD wanted to establish a low res aura around the DJ booth. “We felt a low res look would be more evocative,” said Steve. “The ÉPIX was great at delivering this look. To accentuate it even further, we put a frosted lens on the panels. This added to the abstract nature of the display.”
Steve noted that the rapidly moving low res displays on the ÉPIX Tile 2.0 panels play off nicely against the intense bars that line the booth and the high-output moving fixtures positioned around it. “The abstract moving patterns work well to balance the other lights in the rig,” he said. “People are impressed by how this low res addition gives the DJ booth an entirely new look and sets the mood throughout the dance area.”
