Assessing our sales numbers, it’s clear that traditional matrices are a consistently popular choice for handling complex signal management in live event environments, and the number of matrices sold worldwide for the live events or rental and staging markets shows no signs of slowing.
At Lightware, we offer a portfolio of over 30 different models of HDMI 2.0 matrices, several with features specifically designed for these markets, such as locking Neutrik(R) PowerCON connectors instead of the standard IEC power connectors, for example.
Our sales insights are not surprising, as we all know that production professionals are required to work under pressure in live environments, so they continue to choose products they can depend upon and are familiar with.
We meet a lot of live and rental market customers who will openly share stories about how satisfied they are with our matrices, and that they rely on these trusted products for their events, as was the case at ISE 2026 earlier this year, which proved to be a very positive experience for the Lightware team.
The show is an important meeting point for the global AV community, and beyond product discussions, it is always valuable to reconnect with long-term rental partners, system integrators, and production professionals who rely on our solutions in demanding live scenarios. Many of our booth visitors emphasised that for live shows, keeping systems simple and minimising potential issues and points of failure is the most important thing. Our data reflects this trend.
When it comes to utilising traditional matrices in the touring market, the benefits are numerous. The ease of use, reliability and field-ready rack design are all simple, yet important attributes that benefit actual real-world users.
With most networked AV systems, the setup requires complex configuration for
each show, increasing time on site and introducing the need for skilled staff.
In contrast, a matrix switcher is a very straightforward piece of kit. The crew just needs to connect the desired inputs and outputs, power it on and possibly set up EDIDs if needed. Front panel buttons on traditional matrices can be useful for manual crosspoint switching or for recalling presets. Video signals are taken care of, and the team can concentrate on other production elements. Besides the configuration challenge, fewer things can fail during a live show when using a matrix. Matrices are often used for video redundancy, providing failover switching to a backup source.
To ensure a robust backup, this setup should be kept as simple as possible, and the technician should be able to perform the switch without any further complications. A matrix is the most reliable way to achieve this. Of course, a well-designed and properly configured networked AV system can be just as reliable as a matrix, but reaching this same level of reliability requires more setup time. As mentioned, the physical properties and form factor, such as front panel buttons, PowerCON mains connectors and redundant power supplies, can make a matrix switcher especially suitable for live event use.
Looking to the future, we believe matrix switchers will continue to be used for basic signal management for a long time to come, and we plan to keep these products in our portfolio.
The simplicity and lower cost, especially in small to mid-size systems, will remain an advantage for matrices.
For 8×8 to 16×16 systems, the combination of IP endpoints and managed switches often costs more than a matrix and introduces more failure points. Larger systems are more likely to move towards AV-over-IP solutions as these can take advantage of the flexibility and long cable distances provided by the technology.
At Lightware, we would like to maintain our
market position and good reputation in the live, touring and rental market. While our new product developments are primarily targeted at the corporate and education markets, in
many cases, they can also be used within live event applications.
We’re proud to have many case studies from live events and rental and staging projects that showcase interesting and innovative applications of our products.
Words: Tamás Lehel
Photo: Lightware
