“Who’s the man behind the curtain?” In live events, it’s not a wizard — it’s the video engineer. While the audience sees dazzling LED walls and seamless content, the real magic happens backstage, where engineers orchestrate every signal, switch, and screen.
Video engineering is at the heart of every event we produce — from corporate events and product launches to live sports and halftime shows. For over 25 years, our lead Video Engineer and Screen Technical Director (TD), Mike Hardwick, has been at the helm, ensuring that every screen, every signal, and every moment works flawlessly.
The Role of the Video Engineer
As Mike describes it:“My job is to take a client’s vision from paper to screen. That means reading CADs, designing the systems, and making sure every signal flows exactly where it should — cameras, switchers, playback, and finally to the displays.”
While the show caller sets the timing across lighting, audio, and video, it’s the screen technical director who ensures the right content is on the right screen at the right second. That precision matters, because when you’re working on LED walls that stretch 80 feet wide and 20 feet tall, there’s no room for error.
Why Media West Is Different
Mike points to planning and collaboration as the Media West difference:
“The amount of rehearsal and collaboration that goes into every project sets us apart. We don’t just run the show — we learn from every show. Clients know us by name, and they sit behind the scenes with us to fine-tune playbacks and screen designs.”
Every show is backed up — from redundant playback systems to double-stacked projectors. The goal? The audience never knows if something goes wrong.
Technology in Motion
Over the years, Media West has adopted and mastered the industry’s most powerful presentation systems:
- Barco E2
- Analog Way Aquilon
- Pixelhue Q8
Alongside playback systems like Millumin on Apple Mac Studios, these tools allow engineers to map content across multiple layers and screens, blending video into one seamless story.
“It’s about scalability and dependability,” Mike explains. “We test, ideate, and even pre-build in simulators to make sure what clients see on show day is flawless.”
Favorite Shows & Challenges
One of Mike’s favorites? The Salvation Army Red Kettle halftime shows — five days of set up for six and a half minutes of showtime.
“Those shows are complex — motorized LED screens, on-stage displays, floor screens, plus receiving signals from TV trucks from the live broadcast. It’s a huge challenge, but that’s what makes it rewarding. Along with being a Dallas Cowboys fan!”
The Evolution of Video Engineering
From SD to HD to high-res LED walls, the field of video engineering is constantly evolving. Staying current with technology is critical.
“No two shows are the same, and no two systems should be either,” says Mike.
Behind every great production is a team of engineers who aren’t wizards, but who certainly create magic. That’s what clients have trusted Media West to do for more than 25 years — and why they’ll continue to count on us in the future.
If you’d like to see how Media West can bring your story to life with precision video engineering, connect with us to explore the possibilities.
