New Design Incorporates Pixel Calibration and Custom Precision Frames for Ultra-High Definition

 Nashville, Nov. 5th, 2014 — LED screen manufacturer PixelFLEX will release the FLEXUltra, a 2mm curveable LED display, at the LDI Convention 2014 in Las Vegas, November 17-23.

Capable of creating convex or concave curves up to +/- 10 degrees per tile, the FLEXUltra is designed to combine maximum design flexibility with ease of installation to make FLEXUltra one of the most dynamic LED display products on the market.

The FLEXUltra concept incorporates unique machined aluminum frames that are customized to the installation, allowing the client’s complete and unlimited control over their design. Additionally, FLEXUltra is front-accessible and the panels can be quickly removed by utilizing two magnetic grip handles to remove the panel from the frame without disassembling the entire wall.

“As a company we always are thinking what makes our products different and how we can make the product easier for our customers to use on every level?’” said David Venus, PixelFLEX’s director of marketing. “We feel the creation of the FLEXUltra is truly a one-of-a-kind pairing of both ultra-high resolution LED with a well-thought-out framing system that allows for precise installations and seamless deployment.”

With a cabinet made of special high tolerance, machined aluminum and the newest full black face LED technology, the FLEXUltra can be utilized in many different types of install applications. With a brightness of 1200 Nit and a combined frame and tile weight of 25 lbs, the FLEXUltra keeps in line with the high quality and lightweight characteristics PixelFLEX LED products have become known for. In addition, a high refresh rate provides a static and flicker-free display, making it extremely friendly for both photo and video applications.

Ethercon data and Neutrik True One power connectors give the FLEXUltra rock-solid, dependable connections, and the magnetic guide ports allow for secure fixing of panels to frames.

For more information about PixelFLEX and its growing product lines, visit booth 2081 at LDI 2014, November 17-23. To attend the LDI 2014 conference in Las Vegas and view the FLEXUltra and other products.

Unparalleled Flexibility and Ease Of Integration Allows for More Creative Designs

 Nashville, Oct. 22, 2014 — LED screen manufacturer PixelFLEX will release the FLEXGrid, a customizable LED tile available in 6-16mm resolutions that is ideal for permanent installations due to its efficient front-serviceable design, at LDI 2014.

FLEXGrid’s aluminum frames are fabricated specifically for each installation creating a perfect fit. This frame customization allows the capability to curve +/- 10 degrees at each panel yielding unlimited design capabilities. Additionally FLEXGrid is front-accessible and can be quickly removed with two hex screws allowing quick service or replacement of panels without disassembling the entire wall.

As with all PixelFLEX products, FLEXGrid is designed for maximum flexibility of use. With a PixelFLEX touring frame, this product can also be utilized to face risers and set pieces for event production.

“Continuous growth in our PixelFLEX product lines has always been at the forefront of our company,” said David Venus, PixelFLEX’s director of marketing. “Developing the FLEXGrid was key to increasing our market presence in the installation market with a unique and flexible customizable frame. Having a product that allows for ease of installation in care in the most demanding design is what makes it a special addition for us.”

With a brightness of 5000+ Nit and a combined frame and tile weight between 15-18 lbs, the FLEXGrid keeps in line with the high quality and lightweight characteristics PixelFLEX LED products have become known for. In addition, a refresh rate of more than 1,220 Hz, helps provide a static and flicker-free display, making it extremely friendly for both photo and video applications. Ethercon data and Neutrik True One power connectors give the FLEXGrid rock-solid connections.

For more information about PixelFLEX and its other product lines, visit booth 2081 at LDI 2014, November 17-23 or at pixelflexled.com. To attend the LDI 2014 conference in Las Vegas and view the FLEXGrid and other products.

LED Video Wall Company Enters Pop Market for the First Time

Nashville, June 19, 2014 — On the heels of their Pop Psychology album release, Neon Trees knew the 2014 tour should be an explosion of psychadelic color to remain equal to the punch of frontman Tyler Glenn’s lyrics. The show would be a theatrical event, and video would play a role in transporting the audience to a world that matched the shiny pop songs that lay emotion and angst out on the line.

Neon Trees Production Manager Mike Bangs’ took a napkin Glenn and the band used to draw out the set and brought it to reality. The clean stage, where every piece of equipment has a purpose, was framed with four 8 foot by 4 foot panels of PixelFLEX FLEXCurtain, with three staggered in the back and the fourth turned on its side in front of a riser to give the illusion of floating band members. Another smaller, non-PixelFLEX hard tile was also used in front of risers to accomplish the “Timothy Leary meets Alice in Wonderland world,” Bangs said.

Lighting Director Matt Guminski worked with the team to create original video content full of abstract color and designs to match the dynamic lighting show. The FLEXCurtain isn’t put into use until the fourth song in the show; at that point the audience’s visuals are almost overwhelmed with the pop art surrounding Glenn and the other band members.

“The thing that we didn’t want to do — and the thing that I think we do much differently from any other band — is that most bands above a certain level have video now, but every show that we go to is like watching a band stand in front of a tv” Bangs said. “It’s like you’re watching television with a band in front of it and that was the absolute opposite of the experience we wanted to give.”

The creation of the show into one cohesive setting is what led Neon Trees’ production to be unique in that they had no video director. Guminski created video content and lighting in tandem as there was no way to accomplish the vision separately. There was no IMAG, and no gratuitous video content. Every visual element has a specific purpose.

Production had to have the same intentional goal.

“I was asked to provide a video system by the band, but I was under very tight space and weight restrictions,” Bangs said. “PixelFLEX was the only product I could find that would meet all of my requirements.”

The total 128 square feet of FLEXCurtain for Neon Trees fits into a single 2.5 feet wide, 5 feet long, 3 feet tall roadcase, a massive difference in space from other rigid LED tiles. A larger 50 feet tall, 25 feet wide (1250 square feet) FLEXCurtain LED wall packs into nine cases to take up just five feet of truck space, while the same amount in most non-PixelFLEX tiles will pack into more than 24 feet of truck space. The innovation of a flexible video wall allows production teams more options both visually and logistically than previously existed in the LED market.

“It’s very portable and light, and I can put it in any room,” Bangs said. “It’s also scalable so I can move around and adjust it, and I’m not glued to anything. I wanted everything to be ground supported so it could be versatile, and PixelFLEX was the only thing that would let me do that.”

Neon Trees and PixelFLEX will be on tour through September.

Intimate Country Tour Made Possible by Custom LED Panels

Nashville, March 10, 2014 — Multi-Platinum country artist Gary Allan, PixelFLEX’s custom LED panels and a single trailer were essential to making the 2014 “Set You Free” tour a unique and personal experience for Allan fans.

Eight custom pieces were designed for the national, year-long tour. One foot by four foot strips of FLEXCurtain were wrapped around frames built by Accurate Staging, and each pod houses a moving head light in order to better integrate the two worlds.

“They came to us with a creative idea, and we helped design custom pieces that curve around frames; that created a lot of depth within their video rig,” said David Venus, PixelFLEX Director of Marketing. “They’re actually pulling video into multiple trusses, creating almost a roof over the stage to bring the video closer and closer to the audience.”

The custom FLEXCurtain acts as a pod over each individual Clay Paky Sharpy lighting fixture. The main truss, which boasts four video and lighting pods, is always hung at the venues the ACM Award-nominated artist is currently playing at. And depending on size, the second truss is rigged to give the roof-like effect.

The larger and traditional FLEXCurtain panels that hang along the back allowed Gary Allan’s production manager Sean Gary to have a more visually appealing-produced show, while allowing them to stick to a single trailer.

“We don’t use them as most people typically would — as a wall,” Gary said. “We hang five panels individually staggered. It continues to create depth and gives the appearance of a bigger show.”

The addition of the FLEXCurtain is enabling the “Set You Free” tour to hang their video despite the size or restrictions of smaller clubs and venues.

“Since it’s so lightweight, we can hang our full rig anywhere we go,” Gary said.

Gary Allan will be touring with PixelFLEX through the end of his 2014 tour.

Chicago Area Church Purchases LED Curtains After Successful Easter Weekend Test Run

Nashville, May 13, 2014 Harvest Bible Chapel already knew of several advantages to PixelFLEX’s FLEXCurtain. After a rewarding weekend celebrating Good Friday and Easter, and using PixelFLEX as a tool to accomplish their goals, Harvest knew it was a product that would continue to enhance their various worship events.

At the multi-campus church in the Greater Chicago area, Easter is a weekend-long celebration. Josh Buendorf, Harvest’s production manager, worked with PixelFLEX to rent 20 panels of 20 mm FLEXCurtain to add to the weekend’s productions.

“Good Friday and Easter is sort of the epic part of the year for us,” Buendorf said. “We really focus on Good Friday and the death. That’s the major production for us. The theme was to do a dance party in celebration of Easter time. We turned our campuses into — I don’t know how else to describe it — a Christian version of a night club.”

For the dance party, the panels were used as impactful eye candy. Harvest Bible Chapel restructured a series of popular worship songs to make them appropriate for dancing, then used colorful and fast moving motion graphics to match the music. During the course of the weekend, the FLEXCurtain was also used as a backdrop behind Harvest’s worship band, and then in the church lobby to add emphasis to a short film the church created to kick off Good Friday.

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The celebrations were deemed a success, and Harvest Bible Chapel purchased four 20 mm FLEXCurtains to use between their seven campuses and countless events. The panels will also play a role in Act Like Men, an upcoming conference that challenges men to strengthen their faith and be a role model for their families.

“We always are having youth events and other things going on, so to be able to have a product that’s lightweight and can bend that I can set up, tear down and easily ship around to different places is fantastic,” Buendorf said.

PixelFLEX’s LED curtains are easy to operate and set up — videos and images can be sent to the screen using any computer with a DVI-D connection. Flexible in all directions, the FLEXCurtain is able to bend and shape around structures for a more creative display effect and can be stored in a single road case to simplify shipping (or storing) logistics while minimizing transportation costs.

“It was great to work with Harvest Bible Chapel and their multiple campuses,” said Will Dickey, PixelFLEX senior sales representative. “The mobility of the FLEXCurtain was an ideal solution for them and I’m proud that the Easter weekend celebration sealed the deal.”

LED Screen Company Adds More Options to Product Line

Nashville, April 16, 2014 — Leading LED screen manufacturer PixelFLEX has introduced another product in their diverse, growing line of flexible, lightweight and durable LED video screens with the addition of the FLEXLite LED tile. Available in both indoor and outdoor options, FLEXLite was designed for clients who asked for an economical solution to meet their needs for permanent installations and lightweight event screens.

The indoor version comes in pitches of 3.0, 5.2, 6.9 and 7.8 mm and is great for tradeshows, other events and signage. Where FLEXLite really outdistances the competition, however, is its ability to translate for television broadcasts. Because of its extremely high refresh rate, FLEXLite is camera friendly and an ideal solution for televised and filmed events.

In outdoor situations like advertising and large music or sporting events, FLEXLite is bright enough to compete with sunlight. A dedicated outdoor product that comes in both blowthrough and non-blowthrough designs allows the customer to have even more creative control.  It is manufactured in pitches of 6.25, 8.9 and 12.0 mm with brightness of 5,000 nits.

The universal appeal of FLEXLite, both indoor and outdoor, lies in its practicality. The frame is made of die cast aluminum resulting in a lightweight yet durable tile that weigh 28 pounds each. PixelFLEX has taken all of the aspects it has been known for in its touring products, and transformed them into a single product that makes sense for installation. It can be installed and dismantled by one person, making FLEXLite time and labor efficient. The LED panel also comes in a rectangle shape — versus the traditional square — and consequently covers more space with less tiles.

“We saw a demand from our customers asking for a product like FLEXLite,” said Director of Marketing David Venus. “It was our goal to create a product that not only fit the lightweight and durable characteristics of the PixelFLEX brand, but also was an economical choice that looked phenomenal.”

As with PixelFLEX’s existing line of LED video screens, FLEXLite is simple to operate and set up; videos and images can be sent to the screen using any computer with a DVI-D or HDMI connection. In addition, the quality of the FLEXLite screens keep with the standard PixelFLEX holds all of its products to. It uses the latest debugging technology to prohibit issues with gray scale level, allowing for clear, crisp content playback. The LED screen also has a powerful 140 degree viewing angle so more of the audience gets the full impression of the desired content. With FLEXLite, clients can be assured they will get PixelFLEX quality within their budget.

PixelFLEX Takes LED Video Screens Known for Being Flexible and Lightweight to 2014 PLASA Focus 

Nashville, April 14th, 2014 — PixelFLEX, the leading provider of flexible and lightweight LED video screens, will be making its PLASA Focus debut at the 2014 PLASA Baltimore trade show with three of its most popular products.

Displays for the 3.75mm FLEXTile, 8mm FLEXCurve and the 20mm FLEXCurtain will be featured for the two day convention that takes place May 8 and 9 at the Reitz Arena at Loyola University. This is the first PLASA Focus event to take place in the Mid-Atlantic region, and PixelFLEX is excited to extend its exclusive products in the area as well.

PLASA is a pro-active trade association sponsored by Lighting & Sound America and Protocol magazines. Each of PLASA Focus’ regional and international events showcases the latest pro audio, lighting, AV and stage technologies with much of the gear making its U.S. debuts from international launches. Visitors of the Baltimore event can look forward to new products, world-class speakers, co-located conferences and special events, live demo areas and the industry’s best networking opportunities.

“PixelFLEX has made a definitive mark in the LED world both in Nashville and through the rest of the country and world,” said David Venus, PixelFLEX Director of Marketing. “Attending PLASA Focus as a vendor is a more intimate way for us to get the word out about how unique our products are. The set up of this event allows us to develop more meaningful relationships with our customers, and hopefully give businesses and concert producers solutions to problems that they didn’t think they could solve.”

PixelFLEX products are drastically lightweight compared to industry standards, and can be connected using any computer with a DVI-D connection. It has been chosen by notable customers including Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, Casting Crowns and Thompson Square for the clear resolution and how drastically FLEX products cut down on storing and transportation costs.

PixelFLEX Fuses First International Tour with First Rock Client

Nashville, March 31, 2014 — Leading LED screen manufacturer PixelFLEX has made its first hard impression on the international touring market with progressive rock band Dream Theater. The 2014 “Along for the Ride” tour with the award-winning instrumentalists also marks the first time a rock act has taken advantage of PixelFLEX products.

With 36 European dates, Dream Theater has started on their North American leg of the tour with their March 20 Toronto show. They have hit more than 26 U.S. cities, and still have eight months left to go. With a cult-like following after more than 20 years on the progressive rock scene, “these guys go to places most bands only dream of,” said Tour Manager Rikk Feulner. “[It’s] amazing the following they have around the world.”

Dream Theater is made up of members that are internationally known for their technical proficiency of their instruments. Each member has a list of accolades for their respective talents, and combine that with an unpredictable concert structure that entertains to the fullest extent. By implementing the 20mm FLEXCurtain, Production/Stage Manager TJ Rodriguez was able to continue to enhance the performances with short videos, abstract art and even fan-made YouTube videos that were incorporated throughout the production.

“We at PixelFLEX have always known how versatile a product it is that we carry, especially when it comes to the FLEXCurtain,” said PixelFLEX Senior Sales Representative Will Dickey. “It’s nice to see such an iconic rock band open up doors for other genres and to see our LED screens continue to be used through various creative outlets.”

At just 26 pounds per square meter, the 20mm FLEXCurtain gave Dream Theater production the space and budget they needed. The size of the wall in comparison to how few cases were needed was a contributing factor in adding the LED screens to the production package. Fewer cases mean fewer shipping costs for when the tour goes back overseas for another European and Asian leg this summer and fall.

“One of the main reasons we chose PixelFLEX is because it’s lightweight and easy to ship around the world,” said Feulner. “The size can be adjusted to fit all size venues—plus, it looks great.”

For more information on Dream Theater’s “Along for the Ride” tour, visit dreamtheater.net. For more information on PixelFLEX’s growing line of LED curtain video screens, visit pixelflexled.com.

PixelFLEX Thrives in Personal Record-Breaking Design

Nashville, March 20th,2014 — When a music artist has big visions for a tour, it’s up to the guys behind the scenes to bring that vision to life. Casting Crowns Production Manager Carter Hassebroek and Lighting Designer Chris Lighthall worked with Peter Streiff, an account manager at Elite Multimedia Productions, a PixelFLEX rental partner, to create the visuals necessary for the emotions related to the contemporary Christian act’s “Thrive” tour.

The creation process for this project just happened to result in brand-new, custom rigging hardware for a personal record-breaking PixelFLEX LED wall.

“I don’t think we had even started designing anything yet, but we were at a conference and there was a smaller PixelFLEX wall set up behind the guys and [Casting Crowns’ lead singer] Mark turned around and said, ‘Can we have this on our tour?’” said Hassebroek.

Using 20mm panels, the wall is six panels (24 feet) wide by four panels (32 feet) tall – the tallest FLEXCurtain has ever been used. Because of weight constraints, Streiff immediately began working with PixelFLEX, SetCo Inc.Griplock Systems and Custom Sling to design new rigging hardware. It was designed to take pressure off the rigging bar joints in between each panel, and a safety feature has been added as well.

“When Carter told me what he wanted, I knew we needed to redesign the rigging,” said Streiff. “It was a collective effort that resulted in a custom solution. PixelFLEX has really opened up a world of possibilities with this new rigging.”

The FLEXCurtain was originally designed with the touring world in mind. Both lightweight and flexible, PixelFLEX LED Curtains are able to bend and shape around structures for a more creative display effect. FLEXCurtains weigh between 4.5 lbs to 19.9 lbs per square meter, which is 60 to 90 percent less than most other LED screens, which provides substantial savings on transportation costs and space. With the latest improvement made by PixelFLEX, touring with their products is only getting easier.

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve upon our products to make them more tour and user friendly,” said PixelFLEX’s Director of Marketing David Venus.

With touring contemporary Christian artists, the visual needs are unique in that they need to remain emotional and intimate while still bringing a certain entertainment value. Displaying lyrical content as well as IMAG were the biggest requests that assisted in accomplishing that need. By having a wall taller than it is wide, Lighthall was able to discover a new and creative way to present Casting Crowns’ songs.

The bigger, the better wasn’t the only benefit of bringing PixelFLEX out on the “Thrive” tour. The FLEXCurtain takes up less space in a truck compared to products Casting Crowns’ production has used in the past, and the price for the size of the wall made sense for the budget. The clarity of the product continuued to impress as well.

“That 20mm curtain product to me looks more clear than other 20 mils I’ve seen before in person,” Hassebroek said. “I’m looking at it from the side, from 30 feet away, and it’s clear. I can see every single thing on it.”

PixelFLEX is proud to have made this improvement on one of its many popular LED products, and feels honored to make this step with Casting Crowns.

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Flexible, Lightweight LED Video Curtain Panels Support Audience Engagement 

Dateline, 2014 — Nothing hypes up adoring fans at a live performance quite like a cutting edge visual display as they cheer, scream and sing along with their favorite artists. This year, one of the hottest new acts in country music, Florida Georgia Line, is featuring PixelFLEX’s unique and flexible LED screen technology during their “Here’s to the Good Times” tour to provide a high-quality video aspect to their show that aligns perfectly with their tour model.

Florida Georgia Line’s first ever headline tour, named after their first studio album release, is traveling to 35 stops over ten weeks with just one truck for all of the band’s equipment, making packing space a bit tight.

_K6A7612“We decided to use PixelFLEX when we designed our tour with one truck that had limited space for set carts and video walls,” explained Scott Cunningham, lighting director for the tour. “After seeing the usage and functionality by other artists we’ve toured with, we were certain PixelFLEX would be effective for us.”

The curtains are flexible in all directions, making it possible for the panels to bend and shape around structures for a more creative, resourceful and artistic display. The screen’s flexibility permits variation in their set-up as well as an easy packing process for the road crew.

Easy to operate and set up – videos and images can be sent to the screen using any computer with a DVI-D connection – PixelFLEX LED Curtains are available from low resolution to high resolution, allowing users to demonstrate simple effects or elaborate videos. Given the high-quality video and visual effects demonstrated by the panels, it’s no surprise that the production crew chose to fly the panels as their primary video wall, located upstage center.

While flexibility is critical for shipping during Florida Georgia Line’s tour, the panels will be flown the same way at each venue. However, resolution is key during each performance and the curtains have surpassed the crew’s high expectations.

“The product has worked well,” said Cunningham. “We are driving content and IMAG to the panels, using a media server and controlling the content, which looks great, from the lighting desk.”

The crew has been exceedingly happy with the product, its portability, ease of use and budget conscious pricing and is looking into utilizing PixelFLEX in future tours.

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