Archive for category: News

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.

Nashville-based wrestling promotion firm adds a high-definition FLEXCurtain HD LED video system to their passionate, live event Luche Libre productions  

Nashville, TN (8/27/2018) – Created to bring the high-energy of Lucha Libre professional wrestling to the United States, the sports and entertainment media firm Aro Lucha produces a number of exciting live events and television productions. Led by founders who have already achieved success in the professional wrestling industry, the production team understands they must create a dynamic environment that can match both the passion of the fans and the wrestlers taking the ring. Working with their partners at UNO Branding, Aro Lucha decided to enhance the impact of their design even further with the addition of a high-resolution video wall using a FLEXCurtain HD 6.25mm LED video solution from PixelFLEX™.

“This is a relatively new production design as we only started the company in late 2017,” began Jason Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Aro Lucha. “When we decided to launch the promotion, we wanted to focus specifically on Lucha Libre and its popularity in the United States. To do this, we needed to create the same sense of excitement that our fans grew up seeing in Mexico. With our backgrounds in professional wrestling production, we have always relied heavily on LED video, so it was a natural choice for us to bring the FLEXCurtain HD into our design.”

The FLEXCurtain HD is a lightweight and flexible LED video screen ideal for high resolution video playback and video effects for indoor and outdoor applications. Its hi-res LED video can be driven by any DVI output, and the multi-directional, flexible design of the FLEXCurtain HD makes it easy to store and transport. FLEXCurtain HD is 60-90% lighter than the competition, and using the quick-lock system, 500 square feet of FLEXCurtain HD can be setup and broken-down in under 15 minutes.

“To give our fans an authentic taste of home, we needed a bright, colorful environment filled with action, music and entertainment, all rooted in the Hispanic and Latino culture,” continued Brown. “Our two founders, Ron and Don Harris, had both worked with PixelFLEX in a live event environment, and we were familiar with their work in the touring industry as well. We have always felt that we needed to surround ourselves with experts, and the team at PixelFLEX was no exception.”

Ready to implement the new LED video wall into the high-energy environment, the production would now be able to create an even deeper level of intrigue for the fans. In a world where the characters are the true stars, the FLEXCurtain HD system would clearly showcase the Luche Libre story.

“At our events, we set up the FLEXCurtain LED wall behind the entrance staging elements, so as a wrestler is announced and comes on stage, they are standing in front of the high-definition video,” explained Brown. “During this time, it is typically playing their entrance visuals, and then we also use it for our own show storylines and content. At the end of the day, we are storytellers and there is simply no better visual than a large, high-definition LED video screen.”

As with many sports and entertainment productions, corporate sponsorships are a key component to the success of the program. By implementing the FLEXCurtain HD LED video wall into their event design, Aro Lucha is now able to offer their partners a dynamic, visual medium to heighten consumer interest and engagement.

“We do rely on the FLEXCurtain HD to assist with our internal branding, as well as integration into our sponsorship programs,” added Brown. “To be able to play their graphics and branding assets on the HD screen really gives them a significant presence at our live events to reach our audience. With so many advertisers looking to interact with the Latino and Hispanic community, this is a great way for us to create an impact for their brand in front of our ticket-buyers.”

Now fully integrated into the production design of Aro Lucha, the FLEXCurtain HD system is proving to be a valuable asset in communicating with the fans of Luche Libre. Looking at how so many people consume information today, Brown is confident that there is simply no substitution for high-definition LED video.

“Most companies, whether or not they know it, are storytellers,” concluded Brown. “They are either telling a story about their customers, their brand, or their service. If you look at our world today, everyone walking around has a screen in front of their eyes to consume content, and there is no better way to communicate to your audience than through a visual manner. Overall, LED video enhances anyone’s ability to accomplish their objectives when communicating to their audience, and the FLEXCurtain HD system truly makes an impact in our live event environment.”

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.

Aro Lucha is a high energy, family-friendly Lucha Libre promotion based in the United States. Its principals have produced over 200 hours of network television, specifically in the professional wrestling arena. They are focused on bringing authentic Stars, Characters, and Storylines to their fans through live events, social media, and digital content. Aro Lucha is a company that fans can be proud to support. For more information, visit www.arolucha.com.

VP of Digital Experience John Downie uses 3.9mm FLEXLite NXG to deliver a custom, free-flowing digital display inside the new University of Minnesota Athletes Village

Nashville, TN (8/13/2018) – At the grand opening of their 338,000-square foot, $166 million Athletes Village, the University of Minnesota has ushered in a bright new chapter in the history of their Athletics program. Consisting of three new buildings, the University wanted to create a memorable experience for their recruits, fans and their 700 student-athletes. Looking for a dynamic visual environment, which included the creation of their Letterwinner tribute, the University called upon the experiential design specialists at Advent who installed an immersive LED video display using 3.9mm FLEXLite NXG from PixelFLEX™.

“The overall vision was to create a unique digital experience inside the new University of Minnesota Athletes Village with slightly different approaches in a few key locations,” began John Downie, VP of Experience, Advent. “For the Football Hall of Fame area, we used the LED video in a very targeted way to create a custom and highly-impactful display using the FLEXLite NXG technology which recognizes all Letterwinner student athletes in the football program.”

With fully front-serviceable video panels, plus seamless right-angle corner capabilities, FLEXLite NXG is one of the highest resolution LED video displays on the market today. Available in 2.6-6.25mm pitch options, plus a 6.25mm full outdoor IP65 version as well, the FLEXLite NXG 500mm x 500mm video tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to ensure perfect color and brightness to help realize the full potential of any LED video design.

“We wanted to immerse the visitors in the story by creating it in an unexpected way that honored these individuals and fit into the modern look and feel of the space,” continued Downie. “To do this, we decided to create an angled LED wall that would transition the visitors from a passive observer of the story, into something that was much more dynamic as we enveloped them in the LED video experience.”

Having worked with a number of Universities to enhance the energy around their Athletics programs, Advent understands the need to give each design its own unique, visual impact. By incorporating both the brand identity the story behind the program, the Advent team is able to capture those moments through the use of the latest technologies available.

“We really try to inject a sense of action and energy into the environment and we always try to do things in ways that are unexpected,” admitted Downie. “This was a completely custom-design where we started by understanding exactly what the story should be, and then how we can express that story in a way that is both meaningful and faithful to the University brand. We then have to look at what is viable in terms of technology in order to express that story, and the PixelFLEX technology really helped us realize this idea.”

Ready to begin the installation of the Letterwinner tribute, Downie needed to find a way to create a seamless, digital display which could fly over the heads of the visitors. Using both the die-cast aluminum frame of the FLEXLite NXG, along with a Unistrut framing system, the design was able to come together in a free-flowing visual design.

“To create the angled display, we used Unistrut which was locked onto a plywood backer on both the ceiling and on the wall,” explained Downie. “On the ceiling portion, we used a top row of angled Unistrut brackets and two rows of turnbuckles to lower down the second half of the ceiling-mounted panels. This allowed us to get a perfect joint between the two sections of the LED video wall and it looks great.”

With the installation drawing to a close, the University prepared to begin populating the display with the names of those to be honored. In a program where the number of Letterwinners is expected to continue to grow, the University also implemented the custom Content Management System created by Advent.

“For control of these types of digital environments, we offer a very advanced digital signage scheduling package that gives the client a single point of content management, with technical support and maintenance monitoring,” added Downie. “Through our system, they have complete control over the content they wish to display, and it allows them to simply update any athlete names needed as they add more content.”

Now complete, the University of Minnesota unveiled their new Athletes Village, ready to heighten the experience behind being both a Golden Gopher student-athlete and fan. In a world where the dependence and expectations of digital elements are increasing, Downie is conscious to also remain focused on the University’s return on experience, to guide the continued success of the design.

“In a space that is public-facing, digital video gives the design a ‘wow’ factor, and when implemented well, should be able to provide meaningful statistics on the success of the displays through their interactive digital points,” concluded Downie. “The power to real-time measure the experience and implementation of the digital elements allows us to monitor the usage so that we can more effectively control the conversation around what is the return on experience.  There is great value in being able to better understand how a diverse audience interacts with a space, and digital video gives a University the ability to create a moment that is truly memorable; especially when talking to younger audiences who expect digital touch points.”

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.

Live event and production management firm invests in a robust and high-resolution FLEXTour LED video system to meet the changing demands of their clientele

Nashville, TN (6/12/2018) – Specializing in live production and event management, Mountain View Staging (MVS) is an industry leader in creating innovative events focused on the attendee experience. Dedicated to using the latest technology to provide a compelling and memorable platform of audience interactivity, MVS began to look at a LED video option that would allow them to display high-resolution presentations. Also needing a durable and proven technology that could withstand the challenges of live event production, they decided upon a FLEXTour LED video solution from Nashville-based PixelFLEX™.

“We have been in business for 18 years and have been using LED products for the last 10,” began Peter Johnson, Mountain View Staging CEO and Owner. “Since LED now rivals projection, we have switched priorities to the new technology to keep up with changing demand from our clients. It’s all about the increased resolution, contrast, dynamic range and image quality, and the FLEXTour solution checked all the boxes for our priorities.”

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.

Johnson continued, “Since we mostly work with tech companies, the ability to display software demos with sharp text and graphic elements was a high priority. When you look at the FLEXTour panels and the way they are built, including the design of the locking mechanisms and the LED pixels themselves, it is clearly a superior product. Additionally, the support and service we receive from PixelFLEX is outstanding, and that was the real deal-maker in this decision.”

With the FLEXTour LED video solution now in stock, MVS was ready to deploy the technology in its initial rental application. Asked to produce a compelling three-day client event in California, the design team would be able to create the ideal display for a successful product launch.

“We deployed the FLEXTour panels in a curved setup for the first time at the Event Marketer Summit in support of Opus Agency and their launch of a new mobile app for live streaming video sharing,” explained Johnson. “This was during the annual Ex Awards at the Historic Warfield Theater in San Francisco. The juxtaposition of the brand-new, high-tech FLEXTour LED wall in this old historic theater really made the experience memorable for three separate events back-to-back, including an executive summit, the Ex Awards and the EMS general session the next day.”

In the fast-paced world of live production, MVS believes that an event company is only as good as the people behind it. Applying that same philosophy to its technology partners as well, Johnson is excited to be joining the growing PixelFLEX rental partner network.

“The LED market can be frustrating to get into but PixelFLEX has a quality product at a good price point with the service and support to match,” concluded Johnson. “That is rare to find all those things together in one product from other brands, and there is absolutely no question that we would make the same decision again.”

To inquire about the new FLEXTour LED video system now in rental inventory at Mountain View Staging, visit www.mvstaging.com, email info@mvstaging.com or call 801-489-7302.

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.

Digital media solutions provider Reflect creates two retrofitted, window video displays for the San Francisco flagship retail location using FLEXClear transparent LED

Nashville, 5/29/18 – Originally established in 1853, Levi Strauss & Co. is one of the world’s largest apparel companies with 500 stores worldwide, and products available in over 100 countries. At their flagship retail location on Market and 4th Street in San Francisco, the Levi’s® brand managers wanted to heighten the consumer engagement for the 8000-square foot retail space located one of the world’s most highly visited shopping areas. With two large windows looking out onto the busy street, Levi’s worked with their longtime digital partner Reflect, who installed two FLEXClear transparent LED video displays from PixelFLEX.

“Levi’s has been a client of ours for many years dating back to about 2013,” began Brandie Perkins, Senior Account Manager, Reflect. “As a forerunner in the jean industry, they haven’t always played a lot in the digital space, but for their San Francisco Market Street location, they really wanted to make a statement and connect with their customers. Having seen the possibilities of a transparent LED video display at a tradeshow, they asked us if we could implement the technology into their retail design, so we reached out to PixelFLEX about the FLEXClear LED video.”

As a 65-75% transparent LED display, FLEXClear gives designers the ability to offer a truly dynamic experience for consumers. Through its slim, attractive design and its high LED brightness, FLEXClear is perfect for any retail, hotel, shopping mall, or commercial application. With a 100,000-hour LED life and an IP44 rating, FLEXClear installation is quick and easy using spring-loaded Cam Locks for panel interlocking and offers easy back access for any service needs.

Perkins continued, “They wanted to install a big experience and attract consumer attention without impeding the natural light that comes into the store. With the way the store is physically laid out, the natural light is essential to the space, so they loved the idea of being able to put in a transparent LED display. This way they could still get light into the store without blocking any sightlines, and still make an impactful statement through the content on the screen.”

Having been in the space since 2013, the project would entail a retrofit installation for the FLEXClear LED system. Needing to work within the existing infrastructure of the building, it was the design characteristics of the FLEXClear LED which kept the project on schedule through simple installation and programming.

“As far as mounting goes, the design was quite ideal,” added Perkins. “After removing the old tracks lights which were used to light mannequins in the windows, we installed two separate FLEXClear LED video displays, one in each front window, that each included 30 total tiles. They are mounted to a rod hanging from the ceiling, and we are using our ReflectView CMS to push the content we create to the displays. We use a lot of videos and motion graphics, and take advantage of having an unlimited edge on the screens where we can simply display something like the Levi’s logo, and then everywhere else the LED’s are black allowing customers to see into the store.”

As the installation drew to a close, the FLEXClear LED system immediately began to draw attention. While successfully capturing the focus of consumers passing by, the system went a bit further, capturing the attention of the other retailers who were curious to find out about the unique design solution.

“After we got the system up and running, Levi’s informed us that other retailers on Market Street began commenting on the screen and were very interested in how the technology worked,” concluded Perkins. “At this year’s Digital Signage Expo, we had the same experience where various retailers came to our booth to speak about the installation and the potential of FLEXClear LED. We are seeing a lot of excitement about its possibilities because it’s a dynamic and impactful visual display that doesn’t impede light or customer sightlines, all at an affordable price point.”

About Reflect
Reflect is a leading provider of award-winning place-based digital media programs including enterprise-level digital signage, large-scale LEDs, video walls, interactive applications, wayfinding, and more. Reflect was founded in 2001 in Dallas, and has since developed some of the largest place-based digital media networks in North America. Reflect supplies everything brands need, including creative agency services, robust content management and ad trafficking systems, and media sales, all backed by the market-leading ReflectView™ software platform. Visit Reflect at reflectsystems.com, follow us on Twitter at @reflectsystems or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

About PixelFLEX
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.