zactrack joins Yamaha’s SYSTEM DESIGNERS CONFERENCE 2025

On October 28 and 29, the sixth System Designers Conference took place. Yamaha invited zactrack to showcase tracking technology for the sound industry. In collaboration with Tony and Olivier Award-nominated sound designer Dom Bilkey, zactrack demonstrated zactrack SMART integrated with the ATLAs sound system.

Photo: © zactrack GmbH

At the annual System Designers Conference (SDC), Yamaha brings together an international community of leading experts in professional sound. The conference is held in a different city each year; this year it took place in Vienna, Austria – long celebrated as the capital of music.

Shaping the Future of Sound at SDC 2025 in Vienna

This year’s conference, powered by Yamaha and Nexo, focused on the journey from an idea to a performance – across both the entertainment and professional communication industries. The program featured lectures and workshops led by market and university specialists on topics such as object-based mixing for music and communication, acoustic enhancement and voice lift, immersive sound, and artificial intelligence. Among the over 120 experts were Toru Chinen (Sony Corporation), Rémy Bréan (Opéra Garnier, Paris), Andreas Schmalfeldt (Yamaha System Engineering Group), and Dom Bilkey (Royal National Theatre, London).

The conference took place across three significant and culturally iconic venues in Vienna: the Wien Museum, the Burgtheater, and the Musikverein. Each location offered inspirational sessions running in parallel, giving participants a variety of topics to choose from.

Immersive Tracking Takes Center Stage at System Designers Conference

Following an invitation from Yamaha to contribute to the System Designers Conference 2025, zactrack presented its tracking technology in the dedicated session Automated Radio Tracking: Immersive Audio, Video & Lighting Integration on Stage for the sound industry. In collaboration with Dom Bilkey – Tony- and Olivier-nominated sound designer – the team demonstrated zactrack SMART integrated with the ATLAS sound system. To showcase the system’s full potential, a performer moved freely throughout the venue while sound and lighting followed her with seamless accuracy – until she was suddenly pursued by a roaring T-Rex, tracked with equal precision. “

Paul Roch, CCO at zactrack, then introduced the audience to the company’s tracking technology – powered by ultra-wideband – and outlined the key system components. He also presented case studies from renowned productions, including Starlight Express in London and the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show in 2023.

zactrack integrated with ATLAS

Following this, Dom Bilkey explored the technology behind the ATLAS audio control software. ATLAS enables users to create cues and sequences, position audio in 3D, and integrate real-time tracking to deliver an immersive sound experience in any venue.

Dom Bilkey has been an active zactrack user for several years and shared his excitement about presenting alongside Paul Roch: "It was an honour to speak at the Yamaha System Designers Conference alongside zactrack, exploring how integrated tracking and audio workflows can unlock new creative possibilities in live performance. The event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow innovators and discuss how intelligent tracking is reshaping the way we design and experience sound."

Tracking as indispensable tool for the sound industry

The presentation concluded with an interactive Q&A featuring a tracked ball, allowing light and sound to chase it around the auditorium and underscoring the precision and creative possibilities enabled by tracking technology.

Paul Roch empathised the value of engaging with industry professionals at conferences such as SDC:“We were honoured to be invited by Yamaha to share our tracking expertise at the SDC 2025. Dom Bilkey has been actively using zactrack in several productions at the Royal National Theatre in London, so when we got in touch, it was clear that we should collaborate on this session toshowcase the capabilities of zactrack and ATLAS together. The Yamaha SDC is such an important event because it provides a foundation for development and innovation, and in the future, we would like tofurther foster the exchange on tracking within the sound industry.”