zactrack mini supports benno! on his LUV NEEDS HATE TOUR 2026
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
The benno! LUV NEEDS HATE TOUR 2026 took place across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland throughout May 2026. In this interview, Luca Ernstmeier of Showlight Studios provides exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into the tour's technical setup, his creative vision, and his decision to use zactrack mini as an automated followspot system.
For the Luv Needs Hate Tour, German artist benno! embarked on a nine-date run across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Responsible for the lighting design, programming, operation, as well as the setup and operation of the zactrack mini system, 22-years-old Lighting Designer Luca Ernstmeier from Showlight developed a touring setup that balanced visual impact with the practical demands of life on the road. Technical supplier was loud GmbH. zactrack was supplied by Showlight
How to best design a flexible touring lighting concept
The lighting design was based on a classic combination of spots, wash lights, and strobes. Rather than relying on conventional effects such as haze-based visual tricks, Luca focused on creating clean compositions and atmospheric lighting that would remain effective in a variety of venues.
A defining visual element was the elevated LED wall, which gave the production its distinctive identity. To further enhance the stage picture, the team introduced a raised performance platform, creating multiple stage levels that added depth and visual dynamics without increasing the amount of equipment.
"The biggest challenge was achieving the greatest possible impact with a minimal amount of equipment. Due to budgetary, logistical, and venue-related constraints, the setup had to work equally well in clubs and at festivals while still looking polished and high-end."
The result was a production that could easily adapt to different venues while maintaining a consistent visual identityt hroughout the tour.
zactrack mini proves the perfect fit
Keeping the lighting rig compact was a key design objective. The touring package consisted of:
8 × Martin MAC One
4 × Martin MAC Aura XB
4 × Chauvet Color STRIKE M
Cameo OPUS X Profile fixtures used as zactrack-controlled followspots
The system was controlled via a ChamSys MQ500M+, supported by a Luminex network infrastructure, while performer tracking was handled by zactrack mini. The interaction between ChamSys and zactrack worked reliably, allowing the tracking system to fit seamlessly into the existing lighting workflow.
For Luca, this was his first project using zactrack. He praises the systems and its intuitive use and explains how he started out: "I dedicated around a week to learning the system and discovered a lot through trial and error. Once you really engage with it, it's very logically structured and easy to understand."
zactrack mini: built for the demands of touring
With nine tour stops, several of them on consecutive days, the Luv Needs Hate Tour followed an intensive touring schedule. Travelling without a nightliner, the crew typically started each day between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., heading straight to the next venue.
"Once we arrived, we began with a venue check, followed by load-in and setup. After that came the soundcheck and the setup and calibration of the zactrack system. Immediately after the show, everything was dismantled again, and we usually arrived at the hotel at around 1 a.m.," recalls Luca.
Luca’s zactrack setup consisted of five Anchors and a Master-Anchor with an integrated Server. Thanks to its fully wireless setup, it could be installed and dismantled quickly. Throughout the tour, Luca used two Trackers – one as a main and one as backup.
High gear reliability: zactrack mini supports benno!
For Luca, the biggest advantage of zactrack mini was the efficiency it brought to the production – particularly in a touring environment: "Regardless of how many performers are being tracked, only one person is needed to monitor the system. This was particularly valuable on this tour because, as the lighting operator, I was able to manage the entire tracking system without requiring additional followspot operators. This not only reduces costs but also makes productions significantly more flexible."
By combining a compact, fully wireless tracking setup with fast integration and efficient operation, zactrack mini became a natural fit for the Luv Needs Hate Tour, helping the team deliver a consistent lighting experience across clubs and festivals alike.
Videos: © Luca Ernstmeier
