Mad About Video counts on Lightware’s robust MX2 matrix switcher at Teatru Astra
The annual opera at Teatru Astra used Lightware's MX2 system for its performance of Puccini’s Tosca.
Mad About Video is a leading specialist in video for live events and installations throughout Malta. In operation since 2011, it has evolved from a company focused on show-day execution to one that now delivers full creative and technical solutions for theatres, museums and large-scale public productions both locally and abroad.
We’re a professional video company built on delivering live event services. Over time, we have shifted towards permanent and semi-permanent video installations as well.
- explains Gerald Agius Ordway, Director at Mad About Video.
The company’s long-running partnership with Lightware began in 2014 when Mad About Video co-founders, Gerald Agius Ordway and Alex Magri, first encountered Lightware’s equipment through Italian rental partners.
When we formed the company, we used to rent equipment from Italy, and it was there that I saw my first Lightware matrix switcher. I experienced the amazing performance of the product, and I have used Lightware ever since. They are a trusted partner of Mad About Video.
- he recalls.
The annual opera at Teatru Astra on the island of Gozo has become one of Mad About Video’s regular projects, with the company supporting the production for more than a decade now. Each October, the theatre hosts an opera known for its ambitious staging and large-format video integration. This year it was the turn of Puccini’s Tosca to grace the stage with a tale of passion, betrayal and the relentless quest for freedom.
For this project, Mad About Video supplied four Epson projectors, two Disguise media servers, one operating as the main playback system and the other running as a backup, and Lightware’s MX2 system for the handling of all signal management, along with OPTJ extenders for long-distance transmission.
We’ve been doing this show for over 10 years, and there’s always a large video element. We provide the projectors, we create all the video content, and Lightware handles all the signal transmission between the media servers and projectors.
- continues Agius Ordway.
The creative brief for the opera called for a complete background projection covering the full upstage wall, complemented by an additional front projector used to layer textures, materials and create dazzling artistic effects. The goal was to create moods through visual effects, in turn helping to craft an emotional atmosphere for the performance. Mad About Video developed all video content and the team arrived on site a week before rehearsals to create and assemble the technical environment directly in the theatre.
The system design relied on a Lightware MX2-8x8-HDMI20-L matrix switcher, a compact yet high-performance 4K60 4:4:4 switcher that supports routing between media servers and projectors, all whilst maintaining impeccable image quality. Its HDMI 2.0 support, fast switching and advanced signal diagnostics grant Mad About Video the precise control required for a live production environment where visual cues must be triggered without delay and with ultra-low latency.
For long-distance transmission, the Mad About Video team utilise Lightware’s HDMI20-OPTJ-TX90 and RX90 optical transmitter and receiver extenders. These extenders are Lightware’s ultra-stable fibre-optic solution, capable of carrying uncompressed 4K60 4:4:4 signals over distances up to 1200 metres. This ability for robust, long-distance transmission was crucial because the front-of-house control position sits around 35 metres from the stage, and the actual cable path extends far beyond that.
The path is very long for the cables. Usually, we need 120 metres to arrive at the location, but in this setup, we’re using over 150 metres of fibre. The Lightware OPTJ units handle the signal transmission perfectly.
- explains Agius Ordway.
The same reliable backbone was also used to feed an additional projector dedicated to powering the opera’s subtitles.
Mad About Video cites Lightware’s continuous product evolution as another reason for their continued loyalty to the brand, such as the recent updated support for 5K resolutions.
The new 5K support will be increasingly relevant for us. As installations grow in complexity and our work in museums demands higher-resolution displays, it will be crucial to have products that support these higher resolutions.
- confirms Agius Ordway
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Lightware delivers state-of-the-art AV solutions that empower unforgettable live events and entertainment experiences with seamless integration and unmatched reliability.
For Teatru Astra’s annual opera event, the combination of robust signal routing, long-distance fibre transmission and rock-solid reliability made Lightware the smart choice. The long-standing partnership between Mad About Video and Lightware is one that is built on trust and continues to evolve with the creative ambitions of Malta’s live performance and installation sectors. Furthermore, Lightware’s clear troubleshooting processes, after-sales support and warranty have given Mad About Video the peace of mind they need when supporting a wide variety of video environments.
Lightware has always been our go-to for signal management,” concludes Aguius Ordway. “Their products just work, the Lightware team supports us, and we’ve been confident using their solutions since the beginning.
concludes Agius Ordway.
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The annual opera at Teatru Astra used Lightware's MX2 system for its performance of Puccini’s Tosca.
