Lightware Powers Teddy Swims UK And Europe Tour With Adva...

For Teddy Swims sold-out I've Tried Everything But Therapy tour, event technology specialists, PRG, provided video, automation and lighting across 19 dates, supported by a Lightware MX2-8x8-HDMI20 matrix switcher solution. James Hancocks, Technical Systems Specialist at PRG, was responsible for all video system design elements from the outset.I mainly work in the concert touring market, and when a system design comes past me, my job is to check that we have the right kit and that the overall design looks solid for life on the road. We received a request for support on the tour and began our preparations, with Lightware products included in the design from the beginning, he explains.

The tour's stage video design featured an upstage LED screen built from ROE CB5 panels, supported by two IMAG LED screens on either side of the stage. A further over-stage oval screen would act as a visual centrepiece. These screens displayed a mix of concert content and live camera feeds throughout the show. The video control environment included Disguise VX4 media servers, Brompton Tessera SX40 LED processing and a Lightware MX2-8x8-HDMI20 matrix switcher, responsible for handling the routing of video signals between FOH and the stage.

We use Lightware because we don't need to worry about it. When you're on tour, you want technology that does what it needs to do when you need it to, and Lightware has always been the most reliable choice for us out of all the options on the market, confirms Hancocks.

With PRG supporting the touring lighting, automation and video infrastructure, they needed to ensure signal stability across the wide range of venues included on the tour. Long-term familiarity played a role in the choice of equipment.

I've been a Lightware customer for over a decade, says Hancocks. Video is always a challenge, but generally you get what you put in with the Lightware kit, which, in my experience, is more than you get with a lot of competitors. Good support also matters. You need to know that someone can help you wherever you are, and Lightware offers that high level of service.

For this project, PRG needed to establish a reliable video signal path from cameras and servers through to the LED processors. At the core of the routing system was the Lightware MX2-8x8-HDMI20 matrix switcher. This unit handled multiple HDMI inputs from Disguise servers and camera systems and routed them to outputs feeding the Brompton Tessera SX40 processors and other endpoints.

The monitoring is the feature I use the most. I want to know what is going in and what is going out, and where any problems are. The diagnostic information available through the Lightware matrix is critical for us working in the world of live events, remarks Hancocks.

For the two IMAG screens displaying the live video feeds, cameras feed into the tour-provided servers and Lightware's MX2 8X8 matrix switcher. From here, Lightware's HDMI20-OPTC-TX220-Pro and HDMI20-OPTC-RX220-Pro kits were used to capture the outputs and transport them back to receivers on the stage side for the screens.

We use the fibre kits for many reasons, but also because fibre helps protect against interference and earthing issues, says Hancocks. Two identical kits were deployed to provide a main and backup path, essential for touring reliability.

Signal transport between FOH and the stage relied on the four Lightware HDMI20-OPTC-TX220 Pro and RX220 Pro extenders. These units carried HDMI 2.0 signals over optical fibre up to 700 metres and formed the backbone of the long-distance links.

One of the features I particularly like is the networking trunking. You can control the far end from the near end, and you don't need to connect to both devices. Overall, Lightware's products are much more flexible and compatible than a lot of alternatives. They work well with other technologies, explains Hancocks.

Reflecting on the overall performance, Hancocks confirms: Thanks to the right kit, it was a straightforward tour, which is exactly what you want.

As the live events industry continues to move toward more network-based video, the PRG team looks forward to seeing how Lightware technology will continue to evolve.

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