Creative Design  Mad Systems works with designers and fabricators to help select the best technology to design innovative audio-visual systems. We come into our own when it comes to interactives. With Mad's experience in the design of complex interactives, we can work with the designers to come up with an aesthetically pleasing solution for any specific requirement. For the Augusta Canal museum we worked with Chadbourne and Associates to dream up an interactive electronic mutoscope, a stereoscope, an interactive periscope and several other interactive displays that catch visitors eyes and stimulate their interest and imagination. Since we have model building and metalworking capabilities and tools in-house, we have a solid knowledge base that allows us to use our knowledge and experience to help you to turn your dream into reality.

Consultancy  We provide consultancy on how best to solve audio-visual and interactive related issues. This can involve any part of the process from early brainstorming sessions to making sure that the building is properly prepared for the arrival of an AV system. We can help with technology related, acoustical and lighting related issues and help turn your project into a success.

System Design  One of our fortes is system design. With extensive in-house experience, the design of a modern AV system is a complex blend between audio, video and computer related technology. We are expert at using the very best techniques in the various areas to make sure that you have a system that not only works today, but continues to work in the future, assessing maintenance requirements as we design. We are one of the very few AV companies with in-house capabilities to make interactive displays, and that helps us select the right components all the way from sensors through to the computers and display devices that connect to them. We understand the entire package, as our industrial background gives us an edge when it comes to knowledge about the user interface.

Computer Interactive Design  We have in-house computer/interactive software designers that can produce interactives using files that are supplied by your media providers. Good examples are the Fedex and the Baxter projects.

Infra-structure Design  It is imperative that a building is prepared to take an AV system. The requirements for a museum, theater or show venue go well beyond what is normally required for an office building, especially where there are harsh environments to deal with , and you have to prepare the venue properly to make sure that you do not end up with unsightly conduit or costly retrofits once the system is going in. Having an AV company assist with the infra-structure will also give an opportunity to review other building and infra-structure related issues such as sound bleed, ADA related issues and acoustical issues at an early stage when there is still a chance to prepare a set of actions rather than have to correct for them later.

Training  Mad Systems provides training on the systems we build and install to make sure that your staff has the knowledge they need to make sure that they can handle the system on a daily basis.

Maintenance  There are different maintenance plans that we can offer. These range from planned and scheduled maintenance visits to ad-hoc response to problems. You let us know the level of maintenance you would like us to provide, and we will work with you to set up a plan tailored to your needs.

Audio Design  We are experienced audio designers, who are used to being concerned with problems such as sound spill related issues as well as area coverage related issues, we can help by making sure that the space is ready to take the audio system. Our in-house audio modeling facilities allow us to determine the best solution for your venue.

Acoustic Modeling  Mad Systems are Bose qualified audio modelers. We have an in-house software solution that allows us to make an acoustic 3D model your venue, and to design an audio system for that space. The software calculates sound pressure levels, coverage, and Speech Intelligibility, all very important for the accurate prediction of the behavior of a properly designed audio system. We can even take this further, and let you hear what your building will sound like even before it is built, based on accurate dimensions and materials. Bose backs us up on these designs, so that we are absolutely certain that the system we design for you behaves correctly as per our prediction.

3D Design  Mad uses 3DStudioMax, Poser and Bryce to design 3D objects, varying from models to buildings. We work with architects and exhibits designers to assist with determining the right look, location, behavior of exhibits. By making sure that the client and the designer can see what we intend an exhibit to look like, there are no surprises. What's more, we have the equipment to back it up. From the 3D design, we can manufacture the resulting exhibit or object to very tight tolerances using our 3D printer (Rapid Prototyping Machine) that actually builds the 3D object (please refer to the stories about the design and build of the Roman Temple and the Navigation Exhibit for the Griffith Observatory for examples) and our 3D milling machine (please refer to the development of the Sculptoscope for the Augusta Canal Museum for details).

3D Scanner  Our 3D scanner is another tool that helps us with the design of our interactives and models. It allows us to put an object into a chamber, and produces a detailed 3D computer model of that object to a high accuracy. We use to accurately incorporate devices into our 3D designs.

3D Printing (ABS)  The 3D printer (or Rapid Prototyping Machine) is a device that produces physical objects from our 3D computer files, however they are generated. We can "print" objects such as the Temple of Apollo in Pompeii and the ship that we developed for Griffith Observatory's magic boxes, and even "people" such as that we did for their "Native Indian" display that explains how Indians used the position of the sun against a fixed horizon to determine when to perform certain agricultural tasks.

What is especially interesting about the 3D printer is that it is an "additive" process, which means that there is no need for tools to be able to get around the objects that we're printing, which results in a capability of producing objects that cannot be produced using any other method. Please click here for further details on this device and its capabilities.

3D Milling  Our 3D milling machine is capable of accepting 3D files from our design software, and then cutting woods, special high density modeling foams, plastics and light metals. Please click here for examples of previous products that have used this capability.

Custom Metalwork  Mad Systems have a complete metalwork shop in house; we have milling machines, lathes, bandsaws, welders and other related equipment to handle a variety of materials including aluminum, brass and mild and stainless steel.

Home AV Systems  "" Home AV and control systems are one of our specialties. With experience in complex AV systems, we can help the home-owner decide what they need and such a system can best be integrated into their home. We work to their budget and make sure the AV, Theater and Control systems represent the best possible value for money, giving an impeccable quality result.

2-D Theaters  "Standard" theaters can range anywhere between a simple projection and audio system to a complex theater that includes multiple channels of video, a complex audio system, controlled lighting and special effects. A good example is the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage center's Blue Planet show (ADD LINK).

3-D Theaters  Mad Systems can design and install your 3D theaters. We are the representatives for 3D video material created by Swinburne University's department of Astrophysics and Supercomputing, educational mostly astronomy based material for all ages. We currently have 6 different movies with a total runtime of well over 60 minutes. Please click here for further information and samples of our material.

4-D to 6-D Theaters  We can add special effects, including special effects seating, to your 2-D or 3-D theater. We can use lighting, lighting effects, rain, fog, water effects, scent, ticklers, vibration and full motion to your theater. With significant experience of all of the different types of technologies available and involved in making a theater come alive, we are your best option for any theater you want to create.

Virtual Viewer  The Virtual Viewer is the ideal device to educate and entertain visitors in indoor and outdoor locations. Much like the old-fashioned monocular or binocular viewers found in locations such as visitor centers including National Parks and even the Empire State building, visitors can just move the viewer around and observe objects. The difference is, that the Virtual Viewer will use its speakers to tell them what they're looking at, show stills or animations relating to the subject, and with various optional packages move a remote camera, view underwater or in hazardous inaccessible locations, or even see in the dark. For more information please look at our detailed Virtual Viewer page. Our Virtual Viewer can take any shape or form that you like, and can be provided with or without a coin mechanism.

Show Control With experience in a number of different show control systems, we can provide any level of show control for applications that range from a Disney Parade with thousands of peripherals to a simple theater.

Video Systems  Our expertise in video systems ranging from standard definition DVD to high-definition computer/server driven solutions is second to none

Turnkey systems  Our systems, although they might seem complex, are usually designed to be turn-key; there often is only one single button or key to start or stop the system, with overrides for special cases as needed. This means that operational staff requirements are normally minimal.

Audio Systems  We have a lot of audio design experience, and our project and client list clearly shows that. Please contact us with your detailed requirements, we can help with audio systems that range from large venue big sound right down to hard rooms with sound bleed problems.

Lighting  We have designed and implemented a large number of lighting systems for our museum and corporate clients, and we feel comfortable that we can help your venue with a lighting system that fits your budget and meets your needs.

Special Effects  Special Effects are an area where we excel. From our custom designed proprietary water only fog system and our water cannon to a custom underwater mechanism to move a 250 lbs topographical map, we can help with your needs.

Interactive Displays  Mad Systems excel at the implementation of interactive displays. Selection of sensors and mechanisms to interface is a key element in the process of designing interactive solutions, and we have extensive experience in selecting the right device, and mounting it in such a way that it can withstand the type of use it gets in any museum or visitor center. We do not select "cheap" components, and we make sure that the interfaces to the interface devices are carefully thought out and properly implemented, so that our interfaces last, and continue to give optimal accuracy. We do not want to see "Out of Order" notices on your exhibits, and we do our very best to make sure that your exhibits are designed to last, uninterrupted.

Motion Simulation  With extensive experience in motion base system design, implementation and programming, and over 100 motion base units in the field running our control software, we can help you with your motion base theater or capsule. We understand the technologies involved, and can help at any level with the implementation of a 3-, 4- or 6-dof motion base theater design.

Pure Water Fog  For one of our projects, we tried to find a water-only fog system. After we got wet, and didn't get the result we needed, we decided to develop our own. Using a different technique that only requires plastic tubing instead of stainless steel welded pipe, and a non-clogging orifice on our nozzles rather than a micron-sized hole, we provide low maintenance water-only fog solutions that outperform other systems on the market.

Dive Presentation  Our best recommendation for one of our underwater presentation systems was by a master diver who used to dive in the NASA zero-G facility; after his first dive with his system, he was bubbling with enthusiasm even after getting out of the water - and his first words were that this was the best, easiest and most intelligible underwater communications system that he had ever used. He found it easy to understand the questions from the presenter and from the public, and they found it easy to understand him, too. Our systems are safe: we use galvanically isolated feeds to the diver, so that we know that there is no contact between the electronics in our rack and the divers' audio feeds.

Electro-mechanical Interactive design  With our various tools and in-house capabilities we excel in the design of electro-mechanical interactives; this includes the production of the physical interactive, although we also work hand in hand with fabricators to add sensors and electronic parts within their casings, integration of equipment including buttons, sensors and screens as well as programming.