In the past, the formula for scaling live production was simple: build bigger. Larger switchers, denser racks, and more powerful servers promised higher capacity and smoother performance. But in an era where audiences expect seamless, multi-platform live experiences and production teams are often spread across continents, that model is showing its limits.
The shift to IP-based and cloud-enabled workflows has fundamentally changed how we think about scale. Instead of upgrading a single piece of hardware, production teams can now expand capacity by distributing workloads across multiple compute resources. This approach, known as horizontal scaling, is more than an infrastructure choice. It represents a strategic rethinking of how live production operates in a world that demands flexibility, speed, and reliability.
The limits of vertical scaling
Traditional broadcast infrastructures were designed around vertical scaling, which means adding power within one box or system. A large SDI switcher, for example, could manage hundreds of inputs and transitions with frame-accurate precision. Yet even the biggest systems reach hard limits: a finite number of physical inputs, a single control surface, and hardware that can only be expanded so far before costs and complexity become unsustainable.
As productions have grown more ambitious, integrating remote feeds, virtual sets, and real-time graphics, those limits have become more visible. Adding capacity has often required new hardware, reconfigured signal paths, or planned downtime for upgrades. Vertical scaling created strength at the core but rigidity at the edges, making it difficult to adapt quickly to changing creative or operational needs.
The rise of horizontal scaling
Horizontal scaling changes that equation. Instead of building up, it builds out. Video and processing tasks are distributed across multiple compute instances, whether in an on-premises cluster, a private data centre, or the cloud. When demand increases, more instances can be added. When an event ends, they can be scaled back.
This elasticity transforms the economics of live production. Teams can provision only what they need, when they need it, without locking into large capital investments. A concert, sports broadcast, or esports event can ramp up for dozens of simultaneous sources and scale down once the show concludes, all while maintaining consistent output.
It also represents a philosophical shift. Horizontal scaling treats production capacity as a flexible resource rather than a fixed asset. It allows organisations to respond dynamically to creative demands, operational constraints, and audience growth.
Overcoming the technical hurdles
Distributing live media processing introduces new challenges. The biggest concern is latency. In live production, even a few frames of delay can disrupt a broadcast. Synchronising multiple distributed nodes requires precise timing, consistent network performance, and intelligent orchestration.
Modern horizontally scaled systems address this with defined latency budgets and timing protocols that ensure each component operates within a predictable window. As long as every process completes within its assigned frame time, the system can switch sources or mix outputs seamlessly, no matter where the processing occurs.
Maintaining deterministic control is equally important. Every command, cue, and transition must happen at exactly the right time. This is often achieved by decoupling control from specific hardware and instead tying it to media streams or timed events. In practice, this allows operators to manage distributed resources as if they were part of a single unified system.
Operational and creative impact
The impact of horizontal scaling goes beyond engineering. For operations teams, it introduces new agility. Productions can start small and expand as needed, without rebuilding the system. Redundancy becomes simpler because backup instances can be created on demand. Remote production teams can collaborate in real time from different locations, all connected to the same elastic infrastructure.
For creatives, the benefits are equally strong. Directors and technical producers are no longer constrained by fixed hardware limits. They can design shows that grow in complexity without being limited by I/O capacity or local compute power. Scaling becomes part of the creative process rather than a logistical hurdle.
This model also changes cost management. Instead of purchasing equipment for peak capacity, organisations can align expenses with actual production demand. This reduces waste and enables experimentation, whether that means adding more camera feeds, testing real-time graphics, or integrating interactive elements.
The future of live production
Horizontal scaling is more than a technical evolution. It marks a shift toward a new production philosophy built on flexibility, modularity, and resilience. As the industry continues to embrace hybrid and cloud workflows, horizontal scaling will become not just an advantage but an expectation.
