Customer Stories
Trøndelag Teater Leads Norway’s First IPMX Theater Upgrade with Matrox ConvertIP
Founded in 1816, Trøndelag Teater is the oldest theater in the Nordic region. Located in Trondheim, the venue is home to five diverse stages, hosting a wide range of productions from large musicals and contemporary plays to intimate performances. While steeped in history, the theater has continuously sought innovative ways to enhance production quality and backstage operations.
In 2024, the theater undertook a major AV modernization project, becoming the first venue in Norway to implement an IPMX-based infrastructure. The goal was to replace an aging analog video system and avoid the higher bandwidth and cost requirements of solutions like Software Defined Video over Ethernet (SDVoE). For this ambitious upgrade, local integration partner Holi selected Matrox ConvertIP to drive the transformation, with the project led by the company’s three-person AV integration team.
The Challenge
Trøndelag Teater required a future-ready AV-over-IP workflow that could support multiple stages, reduce operational complexity, and run on existing 1 GbE infrastructure. The new system also had to integrate with Industrial Arts’ IP-based stage management platform by Industrial Arts to centralize control for lighting, video, and audio workflows.
The Solution
Holi deployed a system comprising of multiple ConvertIPs, including 42 ConvertIP DRH receivers, and one ConvertIP DRS unit for SDI integration. The system transports video from ten HDMI-based stage cameras and one older SDI camera, along with several monitoring displays located throughout the venue. The entire setup is managed using an IP-based stage management platform.
The stage management platform coordinates AV routing across the theater using a combination of Matrox REST APIs, NMOS, and AES67 audio for interoperable IP-based control and monitoring. The open nature of ConvertIP, including IPMX and NMOS support, proved to be a key advantage for both Holi and the end user.
A Pro AV codec was selected for its broadcast-quality visuals and low latency, which met the theater’s requirements for both live preview and production monitoring. The team is also considering a future switch to JPEG-XS to further improve switching speed and performance and obtain interoperability.
Results
The ConvertIP deployment gives Trøndelag Teater centralized video management across all five stages, enabling stage crews to easily route live camera feeds, preview content, and configure salvos for specific productions. Holi custom-built several mounting solutions for the hardware and noted a preference for vertical rackmount options in future installations.
The system has already demonstrated the flexibility and performance benefits of moving to an IP-based workflow without requiring costly network upgrades. Trøndelag Teater plans to expand system functionality, with redundancy planning underway and potential future projects to incorporate Matrox Avio 2 IP KVM extenders.
“Trøndelag Teater needed a solution that could deliver high-quality video over a 1 GbE network, integrate easily with open control systems, and scale for future needs. Matrox ConvertIP checked all those boxes. Matrox Video Tech Support was also instrumental in getting us up and running with IPMX—quick responses, access to beta releases, and a genuine openness to our feedback made it easy to move forward seamlessly with the project.”
-Svenna Mohaugen, Project Manager, Holi
Why Matrox ConvertIP
- 1 GbE compatibility: Ideal for venues without 10 GbE infrastructure.
- Excellent codec performance: A Pro AV codec delivered high image quality and low latency.
- Open standards-based architecture: IPMX and NMOS support enabled a license-free, interoperable deployment without added costs or proprietary restrictions.
- Flexible integration: Seamless control integration with the theater’s stage management platform, full-stack AV platform, and AES67-compliant audio system.
- Outstanding support: Quick, informed responses from the Matrox Video team ensured a smooth design and deployment phase.
Looking Ahead
As the installation nears completion, Trøndelag Teater stands as a leading example of how legacy performance spaces can embrace IPMX and open standards to modernize operations while preserving infrastructure investments. For Holi, ConvertIP is now a trusted building block in their AV toolkit, unlocking new levels of flexibility and creative control for theaters and live event venues across Norway and beyond.