Cercle Odyssey: delivering immersion at scale with Lightware’s MX2
Cercle Odyssey is the world’s first immersive nomadic concert installation, offering unforgettable 360-degree live experiences.
Cercle Odyssey is the world’s first immersive nomadic concert installation, offering unforgettable 360-degree live experiences. Since debuting in early 2025, the travelling production has hosted performances by artists including Moby, Jungle, and Bonobo in cities such as Los Angeles, Mexico City and Paris. Artists perform in the center of the structure while stunning visuals surround the audience, merging captivating scenography and sound into one cohesive experience. The visual environment adapts dynamically to each performance, ensuring that no two shows are ever the same. Delivering a groundbreaking, one-of-a-kind show of this scale demands technical expertise, with Lightware’s MX2 matrix switchers at the heart of the system supplying and managing reliable, high-performance signal distribution.
To create a truly captivating event, the installation incorporates live storytelling elements projected in ultra-high definition across 2,300 m² of surfaces, fully synchronised with the music. Alabama Media, the technical provider responsible for the video infrastructure, enlisted the Lightware MX2-16x16-DH-8Dpi-A-R to ensure consistent, low-latency routing of multiple video signals across each venue.
The MX2 supports uncompromised 4K UHD at 60Hz with RGB 4:4:4 colourspace, with DisplayPort inputs allowing direct connection to DisplayPort 1.2 video sources, removing the need for adapters. Other advanced video features include HDR and Dolby Vision support, plus audio embedding and debedding. Proprietary Lightware technologies like Pixel Accurate Reclocking and Advanced EDID Management provide further benefits. Redundant power supplies and intuitive controls provide the reliability essential for live applications where performance and uptime are so important.
Lightware represents a benchmark in this field, and MX2 matrices are a preferred solution when deploying redundant video distribution systems. His redundancy is essential when visuals are a central element of the set design and staging, ensuring uninterrupted broadcast continuity even in the event of a technical incident.
- explains Alexandre Farges, Communications Officer at Alabama Media.
Our relationship with Lightware is a long-term one. We’ve worked closely together for many years, and the opening of Lightware France in 2022 further strengthened that collaboration. Alabama Media has continued to reinforce its trust in Lightware by investing in a substantial fleet of MX2 HDMI and DisplayPort matrices. This type of project is akin to a game of chess, where each stakeholder must master their role in order to achieve an optimal result. Continuous internal exchanges and collaboration with manufacturers made it possible to meet precisely the specifications defined upstream.
- adds Joel May, Technical director at Alabama Media.
The MX2 manages both primary and redundant signal paths, providing faultless failover and uninterrupted playback. By continuously maintaining parallel signal routes, the system allows instant switching to a backup source if a failure occurs, with no visible disruption to the output. For production teams, this provides greater confidence, reduced troubleshooting under pressure, and the ability to focus on delivering an immaculate experience rather than reacting to technical issues.
“Its interoperability with other technologies is a key advantage in such a complex setup. The MX2 acts as the central video matrix, interacting with image processors for LED screens, video projectors, and fiber optic transmitters to route and protect ultra-high-definition signals.”
- says Joel.
This infrastructure also works in close coordination with media server software Smode, which handles real-time media playback, compositing, and synchronisation of storytelling content with the music. While Smode is responsible for generating and controlling the creative visuals, the MX2 ensures their consistent and secure distribution to all projection endpoints, maintaining signal integrity and overall system stability.
The MX2 configuration is optimised for flexibility and control. We primarily use the eight DisplayPort inputs to connect media servers directly, avoiding the need for adapters, while three HDMI inputs are dedicated to sources such as KVM systems. Control is handled via Lightware Device Controller software, combined with Companion and a Stream Deck, with the entire setup configured internally by our teams.
- explains Joel May.
Projects of this scale present several technical challenges, particularly in a live, touring environment where the system must be rebuilt in each location. Maintaining ultra-high-definition video content across multiple outputs while preserving synchronisation with the music leaves no room for error.
Any signal loss, latency, or failure would have an immediate impact on the audience experience, which we don’t want. By providing a robust and resilient video backbone which supports both scalability and redundancy, the MX2 ensures visual consistency is maintained while integrating with the wider video ecosystem.
- explains Farges.
The MX2 enables audiences to fully step away from reality and immerse themselves in the performance without interruption, with flawless visuals that support the storytelling and atmosphere throughout the show. During a performance, if a video server output fails, switching to the backup server is instantaneous, with no perceptible impact on the crowd. This level of reliability and time-saving is extremely significant, allowing our teams to focus on other essential tasks and ensure the smooth running of operations.
- confirms Alexandre. With performances taking place across multiple locations worldwide and featuring a diverse lineup of artists, Lightware’s MX2 enables Cercle Odyssey’s creative vision to be realised, providing a video distribution system that can adapt, scale, and perform flawlessly at every stop. The matrix switcher provides the support required to produce high-definition video throughout each show, ensuring consistency regardless of venue. The result is a memorable, fully immersive concert experience that invites audiences to step into a new world, while setting the stage for the future of live performances.
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Cercle Odyssey is the world’s first immersive nomadic concert installation, offering unforgettable 360-degree live experiences. With Lightware’s MX2 matrix switchers at the heart of the system supplying and managing reliable, high-performance signal distribution.
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