What You Need to Know About Digital Signage Displays

Everyone wants to upgrade to digital signage. However, those unfamiliar with the technology may initially be intimidated by the various components necessary to create a digital signage network, deeming it far too complex and time-consuming. Never fear! Whether for revenue, branding, education, or information, this guide will help stakeholders navigate the basics of digital signage solutions.

What Is Digital Signage?
The proliferation of digital signage in public spaces has reached mass proportions. From LED video walls to LCD to projection, digital displays are used everywhere, including restaurants, airports, stadiums, museums, stores, hotels, on roadsides, and even in schools. From displaying content such as digital images, video, streaming media, and information, digital signage can provide way-finding, instructions, marketing information, advertising, and so much more. The only limit to a digital signage network is the imagination.

For businesses, digital signage can be used to provide messages, services, and notices to clients. They can provide ads to customers in the forms of digital posters and moving ads. They can even stream RSS feeds, live TV, and social media. Digital menu boards simplify offering and price changes for restaurants and other service providers. Used outdoors, messaging on digital billboards and smaller displays can also be easily changed, offering maximum flexibility at a very low cost. Further, audience targeting can be redirected based on the time of day, the day of the week and special days throughout the year.

You Mean I Can Afford a Video Wall?
In years past, video walls were considered a cost-prohibitive extravagance, used typically in large venues such as stadiums, malls and casinos. Today, however, expansion in technology and decreasing costs are resulting in video wall installations in more and more locations, both indoor and out. Although LCD is currently the more popular choice, LED is gaining ground rapidly as manufacturing prices continue to drop.

An LED video wall is a solitary screen comprised of multiple Direct View LED displays (also known as DV) that work cohesively to display content. Durable and long-lasting, LED screens are very efficient, and thus, very cost-effective to operate. Unlike a standard light bulb, LEDs are illuminated by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material, containing no filament that can burn out or run hot, opening up a wider variety of applications when compared to the hotter-running filament-lit signs of the past. And as LED pixel density continues to shrink, the popularity of LCD over LED shrinks in pace. Further, between the two, only LED can achieve “true black,” providing sharper images and bolder contrast.

Award-Winning Displays from PixelFLEX
With a wide variety of award-winning LED displays, PixelFLEX can help create nearly any size and shape screen. Our display systems are seamless, providing clear and detailed images. We have a large range of creative solutions—from 1 to 100mm, available in either indoor, outdoor, or curvable configurations—that will increase curb appeal, target impulse buyers, or simply attract attention. An LED video wall solution from PixelFLEX is a convenient, compelling and cost-effective way to reach your viewers dynamically while increasing brand recognition.

To learn more about Creative Display Solutions from PixelFLEX

Click to Learn More

 

/by

PixelFLEX™ goes live with Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and Clair Solutions

Engineering Manager Seth Morth oversees the retrofitted AVL design of a modern, broadcast worship environment including two FLEXTour 3.9mm LED video walls   

Nashville, TN (12/4/2018) – Under the leadership of Senior Pastor Dr. Tony Evans, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, is dedicated to demonstrating the power of life-changing discipleship. With a Worship Center that accommodates a congregation of over 10,000 members, a total redesign and upgrade of the church’s multi-media integration system was necessary to enhance and maximize the worship experience for both the church and Dr. Evans’ national radio and television broadcast ministry that impacts lives worldwide.  As they wanted to renovate the technical design behind their worship services, the church worked with the AVL integration specialists at Clair Solutions who installed two FLEXTour 3.9mm LED video walls from PixelFLEX™.

“This was our first time working with Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, and we were brought in to handle both the design and systems installation on the project, as part of a full lighting, audio and video renovation,” began Seth Morth, Engineering Manager, Clair Solutions. “On the video side, they had been using two 16-foot wide, 4:3 Standard Definition, rear projection systems in the sanctuary. Since they had already been through several iterations of projection equipment, we went in and modernized almost every facet of their AVL technology including the installation of the FLEXTour LED video walls.”

A robust, high-definition and curve-able LED video display, FLEXTour is designed specifically for the rigorous demands of live entertainment productions. With its unique rigging capabilities that allow for traditional and off-set configurations, each 500mmx500mm tile is fully front-serviceable and its integrated climbing ladder allows for quick access to displays flown high overhead. Built with the highest standard in components including the new NovaStar A8s receiving card, FLEXTour is completely flicker-free making it one of the premier LED video design solutions available today.

Morth continued, “From a worship standpoint, they wanted to make it easier for technology to tell their story without changing the architecture of the space and making it unfamiliar to their congregation. Since they have worked closely with Dr. Evans’ national broadcast ministry for a number of years, video is very important to them. They did go back and forth a bit on whether to use another projection system, but in the end, we decided on an LED video solution with many more live switching capabilities to create a new experience for their congregation.”

When looking at the video solutions available, Morth knew that the church would be relying on the use of live IMAG as a primary component in their worship services. With very specific product requirements and standards that would make this possible, he found the design specifications of the FLEXTour LED video to be exactly what they needed.

“When doing live IMAG, we always strive for as little latency as possible, and it’s about who can give us a raster that is pixel-for-pixel for what is coming out of any camera switcher,” admitted Morth. “It’s not really about background graphics, but more about making sure the video is fast to reduce lip-sync between what the audience sees on video and what they hear. When we started looking at the technology out there, it really came down to product performance and budget, and the PixelFLEX technology fit both the project requirements and the mindset of the customer.”

Ready to now begin the LED video installation, the new system would consist of two walls measuring approximately 21-feet wide and 12-feet high. By using revitalized infrastructure of the church to support the video panels, the retrofitted design would easily be able to benefit from the high-resolution performance of a FLEXTour system.

“For the install, we used the PixelFLEX rigging headers to clamp to a 1.5-inch pipe that is dead hung from the ceiling,” explained Morth. “We were easily able to hang the weight of the LED video walls from above, and from a service standpoint, it also allows us to get a little bit further off the wall just in case we need to get behind the system for any reason. The two walls are identical in size and composition, and it looks great.”

Utilizing an experienced technical crew, it was time for the modern technical design at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship to highlight the new worship environment. In a design created specifically to feature the message of the pastor and other worship leaders, the LED video walls became a part of a state-of-the-art production facility.

“At the church, they have been blessed with talented full-time and part-time technical staff members who have all worked inside the live broadcast and production industry,” added Morth. “For the services, they are using a total of six cameras with a Ross Ultrix Router, two Ross Carbonite Switchers, and a Clear-Com IP-based intercom system. They now have a very advanced video broadcast production system, with two rows of control and a monitor wall for visibility into their signal path at any point for all content.”

With the retrofitted production design at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship now fully complete, the church is taking full advantage of their updated capabilities. Having been dissatisfied by the maintenance costs of their outdated projection system, the durability and robust performance of the a FLEXTour LED video system is a significant improvement.

“When the technical staff saw the new system, they started to see what LED video could do,” concluded Morth. “Having grown tired of servicing and maintaining the old projection system, and it simply wouldn’t work in this new, modern space. Over time, the return on investment in LED video simply makes it a winner compared to traditional projection systems, especially in a large house of worship installation.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX™ offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

/by

Now is the Time to Replace LCD TV Walls with LED Video Wall Displays

LCD video walls were once the only way to create a large video display. With the advent of large format LED displays, LCD video walls now look like a bunch of TVs in a grid that distract from the content they are intended to promote. On the other hand, LED displays present a seamless digital canvas unrestricted by frames or conventional dimensions.

In addition to the visual benefits, front-serviceable LED walls also facilitate faster and less expensive maintenance activities. Combined with the drop in price of fine pitch LED panels, replacing an LCD video wall with a large LED display is more affordable than ever.

Read more

/by

PODCAST: AV in Airports Makes for Soaring Revenue and Happy Fliers

,

For something as ubiquitous as air travel, the stress of the airport process is inescapable. Delayed flights, long wait times, luggage fees– they’re part of the flying experience that don’t seem to be going anywhere, and it’s leaving travelers unhappy. A 2017 Kelton Global survey claimed 97 percent of passengers had some issue with the airport process and experience. How do you begin to approach these staggering numbers? One approach, which hits on aesthetic and practical solutions, is robust digital signage. Learn more about how LED walls both traditional and creative are enhancing the customer travel experience.

Listen to the entire podcast below.

/by

Items You Should Consider Before Renting an LED Video Wall or Screen

,

When it comes time to selecting an LED video wall or screen rental for your event, if you’re not an AV expert, the options can be overwhelming. Although understanding and interpreting industry jargon can be a challenge, educating yourself on the specifications and configurations of different display technologies will help you make the best decision for your unique event and space. As you peruse the options, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.

Read more

/by

ProAV Podcast Panel – Side Effects of ProAV and Digital Signage

On the first episode of The MarketScale Pro AV Show, you’ll get to hear from thought leaders, analysts, and innovators alike, exploring some of the most timely topics in the industry. Besides updates on industry news and a preview of SEGD’s Xlab in Brooklyn, we’ll hear from John Melillo, Digital Media Group Senior VP for Diversified, who breaks down why the German audiovisual content market is booming in 2018, and what it means for Pro AV.

The industry would be nothing without it’s people. We showcase one rigger who, after 40-plus years industry experience, is taking a personal approach to Pro AV safety. Finally, we’ll host a Podcast Panel with two industry leaders, looking at the added benefits of digital signage that often get overlooked or underplayed, but can be even more beneficial than the initial client deliverable.

Skip ahead to the 34 minute mark to learn more!

/by

LCD VS LED – What to Know to Choose the Right Video Display

Choosing the right display for a video wall can be overwhelming and confusing. Screens are growing in size, resolutions are increasing, and there are new, more advanced video display options available each year. The first question to address is whether to use an LCD or LED display. Before deciding, it’s important to understand the purpose of each.

Advantages of LCD Video Wall Displays
LCD, or liquid crystal display, is a type of flat panel that has been popular for years, not only in video walls, but most smartphones, computer monitors, and television screens. An LCD panel is constructed by sandwiching a layer of liquid crystal between two pieces of polarized glass. Liquid crystal is a fluidly flowing material with molecules that can be oriented by applying an electric current. However, liquid crystals don’t produce their own light, necessitating the use of backlights positioned behind the glass to illuminate the display. LCD displays are bright, affordable, reliable, and produce brilliant, fluid color. In addition, LCD displays are extremely high-resolution and able to display text, images, and video in sharp detail, making them a great option for video wall applications.

Advantages of LED Video Wall Displays
A direct view LED display uses thousands of light-emitting diodes to create an image. Unlike LCDs, the LEDs don’t require a backlight, instead producing colored light when a particular voltage is applied to them. Red, green, and blue LEDs are grouped on the panel, creating the full-color pixels needed to produce an image. LED displays were once a lower-resolution option largely used outdoors, but the development of smaller LEDs in recent years has produced much higher resolutions suitable for indoor video walls. LED displays are bright, reliable, energy-efficient, and offer the best color accuracy and refresh rates of any display type available today. These qualities make LEDs an excellent choice for large-scale digital displays that demand high-impact visuals.

Comparing LCD and LED Displays
When LCDs are tiled together to create a video wall, bezels are visible between the individual panels. By contrast, LED panels have no bezels, so they can be tiled together to form a completely seamless video wall. Higher-resolution LED walls are still several times more expensive than comparable LCD displays, but offer a longer lifespan, with less color matching and burn in issues. LED tiles are also lighter than most LCD walls, and perhaps most importantly, much brighter.

PixleFLEX Can Help You Decide Whether an LCD or LED Screen is Right for You
With so many different factors to consider, it can be confusing to choose between an LCD or LED video wall. The experts at PixelFLEX can help. PixelFLEX strives to help our clients find a custom solution perfect for their unique needs.

To find out more, visit https://pixelflexled.com/products/.

/by

Choosing LED Video Screens Help Create Unforgettable Events

Benefits of LED Screens

The point of events is to wow people, right? LED screens are becoming more and more popular at events due to increasing technology capabilities and affordability. Live productions of all shapes and sizes can benefit from LED screens and visual aids can significantly enhance almost any experience for everyone involved. Productions can run the risk of encountering screen size and outdoor projection limitations, but these obstacles can be easily overcome with LED video screen rentals. Consider an LED screen for your next event, you won’t regret it. Here’s why LED video screens are a great addition to any event.

LED video walls make every seat the best seat in the house. Screens have an array of advantages over competitor technologies. When it comes to outdoor, long-distance visibility, LED screens have no competition. These screens can be scaled to any size, allowing the screen to be seen from hundreds of feet away in broad daylight, giving every attendee a first-class, front-row experience.

LED walls bring clarity and vibrancy to any event.  Models available in LED video screen products range in maximum brightness. Some are bright enough for only indoor use and some are bright enough for outdoor use.  Even screens with the lowest brightness can resist much higher ambient light environments than typical projector setups.  Events with direct sunlight on a screen, the brightness of the screen should be in the range of 5000+ nits (Nits are a measure of brightness per square meter of area, this is a different unit of measurement to how projectors are rated.)

Why is this important?

Customizable features on a video wall can be constructed and personalized based on your event’s needs. FlexTour tiles are specifically designed for touring and live event deployment, and provide a robust set of features to enhance attendee experience. FlexTour tiles can be customized to provide a personalized experience that gives life to the vision of event planners, while providing first-class viewing experiences for attendees.

LED screens have become a mainstay in the large event category with their optimal picture resolution and capability to emit high light levels. When you are looking for an LED Video Wall event company to hire make sure you go with one that guarantees that the set design will provide high-quality visual communication and be sure they’re able to tailor all of the LED screens specifically to your event. You can build LED big screens of almost any size and shape. With LED video walls you’ll wow your audience with the best in LED technology and give them an experience they won’t forget. At PixelFLEX, we strive to give you a quality solution that makes your LED wall work the way you intend it too.

Speak To a Specialist Today

Looking for LED screen rental services for your next event?

/by

PixelFLEX™ heads to Vegas in four dynamic tradeshow displays at LDI 2018

Parnelli Award-winning LED video manufacturer partners with Avolites, Froggys Fog, Kinesys, and Vectorworks to assist with their live entertainment tradeshow experiences

Nashville, TN October 8th, 2018 – With the opening of the 2018 LDI Conference and Exhibition quickly approaching, the Parnell Award-winning and Nashville-based LED video manufacturer PixelFLEX™ is proud to be partnering with four industry leaders exhibiting at the show. As entertainment professionals from around the world gather to celebrate the organizations 30th Anniversary, the tradeshow experiences for Avolites, Kinesys, and Vectorworks will all feature a FLEXTour LED video system, while the FLEXCurtain HD will be on display with Froggys Fog.

“LDI draws an elite audience of live design professionals that demand top-of-the-line products,” said Dan Monaghan, vice president of marketing at Vectorworks. “With this need in mind, we’ve partnered with PixelFLEX to use their state-of-the-art LED screens to showcase our award-winning entertainment design software.”

Located in Booth 3139, Vectorworks is a global design and BIM software solutions provider serving professionals in the architecture, landscape and entertainment industries. With their 2D/3D cross-platform software, designers can build data-rich, visual models without sacrificing the design process, while collaborating efficiently throughout a project life-cycle.

“We are thrilled to be partnering up with PixelFLEX once again for LDI 2018,” said Scott Karan, director of marketing at Froggy’s Fog. “Because of the FLEXCurtain HD we have been able to create an unforgettable launch to our new machine line and 2019 marketing initiative. We absolutely love the FLEXCurtain HD, it is easy to ship, set up, operate and really kicked our trade show presence up to the next level.”

Showcasing their product lines in Booth 1617, Froggys Fog is the premier fog fluid manufacturer who only utilizes lab-grade UV-Filtered de-ionized water and pharmaceutical grade chemicals approved by the FDA. Supplying their customers direct as the manufacturer, they offer “A Fluid for Every Effect!” whether you are a home haunter or a major theme park.

The 2018 LDI Conference and Exhibition will take place October 15-21, 2018 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The exhibitor showcase will be open from October 19-21, 2018, where the PixelFLEX LED video technologies will be on display with Avolites (Booth 2304), Froggys Fog (Booth 1617), Kinesys (Booth 139), and Vectorworks (Booth 3139). For complete information on LDI 2018 and a full exhibition schedule, visit www.ldishow.com.

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX™ offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

/by

When Resolution is the Solution with Mark McIntosh of PixelFLEX

,

Sometimes the way to clear up a situation is to simply make the image a bit clearer. Those metrics are different for each space. On today’s podcast, our host spoke with Mark McIntosh from PixelFLEX. They discussed the relationship between resolution and install space, the impact of average viewing distance, and how resolution can actually impact content. “I encourage anyone that is thinking about using LED at a show or using it for your corporate board rooms, or using it for an installation in your business, using it for your concert, whatever the use is; just stay close in contact with either the provider or the manufacturer of the product that you’re using, so that you know those resolutions, and you create specifically to that,” McIntosh said.

Listen to the whole podcast below.

/by