TOCA Social London — LED Pixel Installation

Venue: TOCA Social London. Requirement: deliver an LED pixel installation that could run scheduled and triggered pixel-mapped visual shows in a busy hospitality environment. Pro Technical was engaged to design and implement the pixel array, the addressing and control infrastructure, media-server playback hosts, and the network and power distribution necessary for resilient daily operation. Deliverables included installation drawings, a full as‑installed cable schedule, commissioning reports, IP addressing documentation and handover materials for venue staff.

The installation had to be completed in a venue that trades throughout the week, which limited opportunities for intrusive works and extended access to risers and ceiling voids. The venue required a playback chain that tolerated individual component failure without visible interruption to the guest experience and a simple front‑of‑house control interface for non‑technical staff. In addition, pixel runs needed to be serviceable with clearly labelled start and end points, because large-scale maintenance access would be restricted.

Pro Technical specified a split‑control architecture: Resolume was adopted as the media‑server and compositing/playback platform while Madrix was used for pixel‑mapping and real‑time pixel effects. The split kept media asset management and timeline playback on dedicated media hosts and allowed Madrix to manage effect engines and pixel addressing. Pixel control traffic (Art‑Net/sACN) was placed on a dedicated, managed VLAN separate from the venue IT. Managed switches were configured with IGMP snooping and rate limits to contain multicast and reduce impact from misconfigured devices. Device addressing used DHCP reservations and documented static entries for controllers to simplify commissioning and later fault diagnosis. Power distribution employed local RCD protection, in‑rack surge suppression and clearly labelled fused feeds to LED segments to speed repair and limit single‑point failures.

Installed systems comprised LED pixel panels and pixel controllers integrated with media servers running Resolume and Madrix nodes for pixel mapping. The network architecture used managed switches on a segregated VLAN for Art‑Net/sACN with IGMP snooping and rate limiting to control multicast penetration. Pixel runs were grouped into logical chains with documented controller port assignments and cable labelling at both ends. Local power distribution units provided RCD protection and surge suppression in each equipment rack. Show files and playback snapshots were stored on media servers with version control to permit rapid rollback to a known‑good state.

Works commenced with a measured site survey to record mounting positions, ceiling void access, structural fixing points and cable routes. Mounting frames were specified to meet building safety requirements and to enable removal of LED segments with minimal rework. Cabling followed a tiered approach: primary power feeds to local distribution units, secondary fused runs to LED segments and separate low‑voltage cabling for control traffic. Pixel data cabling was labelled at both ends and delivered with an as‑installed cable schedule. Health and safety controls included risk assessments for working at height and scheduled coordination windows to avoid peak trading hours.

Commissioning validated three measurable outcomes: correct pixel mapping across the array, timing and latency between media‑server output and pixel refresh, and resilience under continuous playback. Tests included sustained‑playback endurance runs, failover checks for controller and network loss, and measurement of power inrush characteristics when LED segments were switched. A known‑good playback snapshot was stored locally for rapid recovery. Acceptance documentation comprised a commissioning report, IP addressing table, signed snag list and version‑controlled show files archived on the media servers.

Pro Technical delivered a pixel array and control architecture that supports scheduled and triggered visual shows using Resolume and Madrix. Handover materials supplied to the venue included labelled wiring diagrams, a photo index of controller and power locations, backup copies of show files, and a concise FOH technical guide. Operator training and an operational run‑through were completed so front‑of‑house staff can call pre‑programmed cues from a tablet or local PC and revert to a house‑safe visual where required.

Pro Technical provides ongoing technical support for installed pixel systems, including scheduled health checks, firmware updates, spare‑part recommendations and emergency callouts. For venues requiring networked audio or multi‑zone sound integration, Pro Technical can supply system design, equipment supply and managed commissioning services.