Shaping the future of performance lighting with zactrack SMART and mini
- Werner Petricek
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 1
With productions at the School of the Arts (SOTA) and at Bedok Town Square, zactrack proves to be an invaluable tool for lighting designers, offering innovative solutions to traditional challenges.
In the world of live performance, lighting plays a pivotal role in creating immersive experiences. The integration of advanced tracking has revolutionized how lighting designers achieve both precision and artistry—as seen in the production of Umbilical at the School of the Arts (SOTA) and the SIFA Pavilion at Bedok Town Square. For both productions, lighting designer Andy Lim approached Total Solution Marketing, who supplied and deployed zactrack to enable real-time tracking on stages with terrain at varying heights.
zactrack mini in Umbilical at SOTA
Umbilical explores identity, belonging, and change, reflecting the uncertainty of Singapore’s 1965 separation from Malaysia. Through movement, music, projections, and AI, it uses the umbilical cord as a metaphor to connect past and present, people and places.
Because of this, lighting designer Andy Lim and lighting operator Gerald Teh focused specifically on presence and transition, aiming to create lighting that would adapt fluidly to the performers’ movement. To eliminate the need for traditional followspots, the team decided on a zactrack mini system which was deployed by Tracking Specialist Louis Bryan from Total Solution Marketing.
Despite initial concerns about the absence of 3D tracking, the system’s terrain function provided accurate tracking both on and off stage. Its reliability ensured that the artistic vision was maintained without compromising technical precision. Andy commended, “zactrack is about unlocking new creative opportunities. It allowed light and space to respond fluidly to the performers in real time, making the environment feel truly alive and connected.”
For this production, Andy used one Ayrton Rivale Profile and eight Robe Esprit fixtures.
zactrack SMART in SIFA Pavilion at Bedok Town Square
For SIFA Pavilion, lighting designer Adrian Tan used zactrack SMART. One of the most notable features of zactrack is its terrain function, which allowed him and lighting operator Yvonne Mo to define stage zones at different elevations. This capability proved especially valuable at the SIFA Pavilion in Bedok Town Square, where the venue’s structure required all anchors to be installed at a relatively same height—posing a unique challenge for strategic anchor placement across the expansive 22m x 15m area. The Ayrton Rivale’s Tracking 360 feature complemented zactrack by enabling full 360-degree performer tracking. This synergy enhanced overall precision, allowing for smooth, uninterrupted lighting movements that aligned seamlessly with the motions of the four performers.
"What I loved most about zactrack was its versatility and intuitive programming. The same moving lights could function as followspots in one cue, then seamlessly transition back to standard fixtures moments later. The programming was remarkably straightforward—no complicated steps, just a simple toggle on the console”, says Adrian.
zactrack as key technology in any venue
Whether for a large outdoor venue like Bedok Town Square or an intimate performance like Umbilical, zactrack empowers designers to push the boundaries of live lighting design.
Adrian notes that followspots can now be placed in previously inaccessible or impractical locations, making space and accessibility a non-issue, "This could be a game-changer for the future.”
