MADRIX ARCEDIA: the new system dedicated to professional pixel mapping

Everything already ready to get started

One of the most obvious advantages of ARCEDIA is that you do not have to start from scratch.

The operating system, drivers and main software tools are already installed. The machine comes with Windows 11 Pro, MADRIX 5, MADRIX RADAR and MADRIX HARDWARE MANAGER, as well as LAV Video Codecs, PostgreSQL with PgAdmin and Wireshark. This eliminates most of the tasks that normally come with preparing a workstation: choosing components, installing the operating system, configuring the software and checking compatibility between the various parts. MADRIX therefore speaks of a fully operational out of the box system, designed to reduce setup times and provide a manufacturer-defined foundation.

For a system integrator or lighting designer, this means having fewer variables to manage and being able to get to the heart of the project more quickly.

Industrial hardware for 24/7 operation

ARCEDIA uses an industrial hardware platform certified for 24/7 operation, with active cooling. Inside, we find ECC RAM memory and 1 TB of NVMe storage.

ECC memory can detect and correct certain memory data errors, a particularly useful feature when the machine has to work for long periods continuously. Power consumption is also stated precisely: 34 W at idle, 95 W in typical use and 130 W maximum.

These are figures that are especially important in permanent installations, where stability, thermal management and operational continuity matter as much as processing power.

Up to 1.5 million render pixels

ARCEDIA has a recommended render volume of up to 1.5 million pixels, for both 2D and 3D projects. However, this figure must be distinguished from the output capacity available through the MADRIX 5 license. The render volume indicates how many pixels the system is designed to process in the graphics engine. The actual number of available DMX channels or DVI pixels at the output, on the other hand, depends on the license. As standard, ARCEDIA includes the MADRIX 5 arcedia standard license, already activated and with lifetime validity, which offers 135,168 DMX channels, that is 264 universes, or 44,880 DVI pixels. For larger projects, the optional arcedia extended upgrade is available, which raises the output to 270,336 DMX channels, that is 528 universes, or 89,760 DVI pixels.

The advantage is that the hardware platform remains the same: only the available output capacity changes.

From 2D to true 3D

MADRIX 5 does not work only on two-dimensional LED surfaces. With 2D pixel mapping, fixtures and pixels are arranged virtually according to the geometry of the installation and the software generates effects based on their position. With 3D voxel mapping, depth also comes into play. MADRIX 5 in fact supports volume rendering in X, Y and Z, so true three-dimensional LED matrices, not simply 2D surfaces represented in space. This opens up interesting possibilities for artistic installations, suspended structures, three-dimensional scenic elements, ceiling LEDs and, more generally, for all those projects in which the light points are physically distributed in space. In these cases, you are no longer working on a surface only: you are working on a volume.

Effects generated in real time

Another important aspect is the way MADRIX 5 creates content. The software can be used as a LED lighting controller, VJ software, 2D pixel mapper, 3D voxel mapper, media server and media creator.

But the real strong point, especially in pixel mapping, is the ability to generate effects directly in real time. Colors, shapes, speed, movement, position, size and brightness can be modified within the software and combined without having to prepare a new video content every time.

The 64-bit rendering engine and real-time previews also make it possible to see the result while programming. For those working on dynamic installations or shows that require continuous changes, this is a very different way of working from simply playing back prerecorded content.

When light reacts to music

MADRIX 5 also integrates real-time audio analysis functions. The software can process a live signal and use it to generate effects synchronized with the music. It can also create dynamic effects without an audio source.

ARCEDIA has two 3.5 mm mini-jack connections, dedicated respectively to line output and microphone input. It is a useful feature especially in clubs, venues, live shows and artistic installations, where the relationship between light and music is part of the programming.

Two networks, already prepared for different uses

Networking is also organized in a very practical way. ARCEDIA has one 2.5 Gbit/s Ethernet port and one 1 Gbit/s port. The 2.5 Gbit/s port comes with a preset static IP and is ready for high-speed production use, including protocols such as Art-Net and sACN. The 1 Gbit/s port uses DHCP instead and is also intended for Internet and remote access. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also included. MADRIX specifies, however, that Wi-Fi is intended for remote access and not for outputting lighting control data. VPNs, remote desktop applications or equivalent solutions can be used for remote interventions.

MADRIX RADAR: keeping the system under control too

ARCEDIA also includes MADRIX RADAR, the software dedicated to managing and monitoring RDM devices. RADAR allows you to read and manage data coming from the system, such as parameters, sensors, status messages and configurations. Depending on the license used, the software also provides monitoring, reporting, notifications and historical analysis functions.

Two licenses are included with ARCEDIA.

The MADRIX RADAR core license, already activated and with lifetime validity, allows you to work with all connected RDM devices and sub-devices via third-party RDM nodes for functions such as Parameters, Snapshots, Sensors and Status Messages. The MADRIX RADAR big data license is also included, enabling data history collection and analysis. In a permanent installation, this can make a real difference. Having a history of parameters makes it possible to understand how devices behave over time, observe any trends and identify anomalies before they become a more serious problem. MADRIX expressly identifies this type of use as support for maintenance planning.

Little space required, several installation possibilities

ARCEDIA is compact. It measures 218 × 218 × 73 mm, feet included, and weighs about 2.1 kg. The protection rating is IP20, so it is intended for indoor use in dry environments. It can be mounted in 19" racks. With the optional bracket, two units side by side take up 1.5U, or 2U considering the recommended ventilation space. There is also a 50 × 50 mm VESA mount and the box includes an adapter for 75 × 75 mm and 100 × 100 mm sizes. This also makes it possible to install ARCEDIA behind a monitor or in technical spaces where the footprint needs to remain limited.

Dedicated GPU and display management up to 8K

ARCEDIA integrates a dedicated GPU and an integrated GPU, but MADRIX recommends using the dedicated GPU to make full use of the available processing power.

There are 4 Mini DisplayPort 1.4a ports, supporting up to:

• 4 × 4096 × 2160 at 120 Hz
• 4 × 5120 × 2880 at 60 Hz
• 2 × 7680 × 4320 at 60 Hz

These resolutions apply to monitors and displays connected to the machine and must not be confused with the number of LED pixels controllable via the network, which depends on the license and on the project configuration.

Where ARCEDIA can be used

The applications are varied, because ARCEDIA brings together live rendering, pixel mapping, audio, networking and RDM tools. In architectural installations and media facades, the combination of rendering capability, certified 24/7 hardware and monitoring tools makes it suitable for permanent projects. In museums and artistic installations, 2D and especially 3D voxel mapping make it possible to work with structures that are very far from the classic rectangular screen.

In clubs and venues, the effects generated in real time and audio analysis make it possible to create content that follows the musical programming. In live entertainment, the compact dimensions and the ability to intervene on rendering in real time make it possible to integrate ARCEDIA into more complex LED stage designs. It can also find a place in television studios and stage sets, where LED surfaces and three-dimensional structures must be treated as part of the same project.

Is it a media server?

Technically, ARCEDIA is certified according to DIN 15781 - Entertainment Technology - Media Server. But describing it simply as a "media server" does not fully tell the story of what it does. MADRIX 5 can handle media, but it is above all an environment designed to generate, map and control LED effects in real time. For this reason, it does not make much sense to ask whether ARCEDIA is absolutely "better" than a traditional media server. It depends on the project. If the work revolves around pixel mapping, LED fixtures, real-time rendering, 2D/3D and MADRIX control, ARCEDIA offers a machine built specifically for that type of workflow.

A platform that can grow

The arcedia standard license can be upgraded to the arcedia extended version, doubling the output capacity without changing hardware. There is also another important aspect: MADRIX has already stated that, when MADRIX 6 becomes available, the upgrade for MADRIX 5 arcedia licenses will be free. For those who need to design a system meant to remain operational over the years, this is information worth considering.

A system designed around MADRIX

ARCEDIA marks an interesting step in the MADRIX catalog. Until now, the heart of the system was mainly the software, supported by the various hardware interfaces. With ARCEDIA, however, a complete machine arrives, designed directly around MADRIX 5. Industrial hardware, licenses, 2D and 3D rendering, networking, audio, RADAR and remote access are all brought together in the same system. For those who design or manage professional LED installations, this means being able to start from a defined machine, without having to build the workstation that will make it work from scratch every time. In other words, ARCEDIA is not simply the computer on which MADRIX runs. It is the system MADRIX designed to run MADRIX.

Want to know more?

For more information, contact your local agent or send an email to info@audioeffetti.it