This Video Series was recorded by Exertis Almo's Business Development Managers:
Dan Mazurkiewicz, DSCE, and Liz Wheeler, DSCE.
Introducing “Hot Takes” with Maz & Wheelz – a video series of conversations about LED technology.
The 1st Hot Takes episode, with Exertis Almo’s Business Development Managers, Daniel Mazurkiewicz and Liz Wheeler, is all about emerging technology. In this conversation with guest Jonathan Brawn, Principal at Brawn Consulting, they chat about many topics of interest including Direct View LED and Digital Signage.
Watch to listen in on their conversation!
Did you find this video helpful? Connect with us and #TeamExertisAlmo over on LinkedIn.
Topic: The importance of having spares when purchasing / commissioning a DVLED video wall..
My wife is very particular. When we were planning for our wedding, she suggested that me and my groomsmen wear black suits. I said…
“Great! They’ve all got a black suit already. One less thing to worry about. Right?”
Wrong.
My wife explained to me that black is not black. She pointed out that if you have seven men stand next to each other in seven different black suits, then the shades of black will be noticeably different. Apparently, this would be bad for our wedding photos.
The point is – she was right. As usual. The difference of one shade of black next to another is very plain to see to even the most untrained eye. She had me. I had to make the call to my groomsmen, saying, “Sorry fellas, you’ve all got to go out and get new black suits.”
LED Panels & Batching
It’s the same with LEDs and batching. One batch will not be exactly the same as another in terms of color and calibration, so when taken together on a large video wall and compared directly with another wall made up of another batch of LEDs, there will be noticeable color differences between the two.
To address this problem, dvLED manufacturers will often provide spare modules from the same batch. This way, when a pixel goes out or a module is damaged or in need of repair, the spare can be swapped in to replace the damaged unit. If you select a solid manufacturer with U.S. service centers, they will usually repair your damaged unit and send it back to you under warranty. Once you have the repaired module back, it now becomes one of your spares.
Now, let’s say you didn’t select a manufacturer that offered spares or, perhaps, offered spares but no U.S. service. What happens when you need to replace a damaged unit? Well, best case scenario, you will be forced to purchase a new module from a different batch to replace the damaged one. The problem is that this new module could very easily stick out like a sore thumb and your brand-new video wall will forever be imperfect.
Worst case scenario, the module you are replacing was from a discontinued model and cannot be replaced. Now your video wall just became a really expensive paper weight! Try explaining that to your customer…
Exertis Almo Has Great Options
Luckily, there are handful of terrific dvLED manufacturers that offer batched spares and support based within the United States. As a matter of fact, some will actually repair and send back your damaged module within 10 business days, in most cases. The point is, you can rest easy knowing that you have a plan in the event of a module failure so your customer will never have to deal with a video wall that is out of commission.
Exertis Almo is the leader in dvLED distribution and we only partner with the best, most reputable brands, because we recognize that your success is our success, and we never want to see any of our customers in a position where they are unable to support a product they purchase from us. We have members of our staff that are dedicated to supporting individual dvLED brands, and they are here to provide you with concierge-level service to help you navigate this new and exciting product category.
So, what’s the moral of the story? Make sure you work with a vendor that offers ample spares and supports their product here in the U.S. to ensure that you and your customer are protected. And to the guys reading this – black is not black. Dress accordingly.
Contact Exertis Almo for product info, inventory availability, or to start a quote.
Coming Up Next…
Part 2: Cabinets and Modules and Panels, Oh My!!! Topic: The anatomy of a DVLED video wall
Part 3: Perfect Pitch Topic: The importance of selecting the right pixel pitch the first time
Part 4: The First Step in Installing a DVLED Video Wall is Admitting you Need Help Topic: Commissioning Assistance and why it’s important
Part 5: First Things First Topic: The importance of proper site prep and conducting a proper site survey
In this episode of Exertis Almo’s Pro AV Podcast, Bruce Moses, Senior Account Manager of dvLED Products at LG, discusses everything you need to know about Direct View LED. From pixel pitch and viewing distance to budget considerations and maintenance, this episode provides a detailed introduction into the advanced technology behind LG’s dvLED.
As a top-quality choice for any kind of new build or replacement, dvLED is quickly becoming a go-to product in the Pro AV world. With simple installation and maintenance compared to traditional video walls, dvLED is being rapidly integrated in a variety of spaces.
“It’s a technology that’s been around for decades, but now, with the affordability and flexibility and range in product and pixel sizes we can apply it in almost any application,” explained Moses. “Whether it’s in Times Square or a super high-end home theater, we’re seeing direct view applied.”
Compared to standard video walls and LED displays, dvLED allows for more flexible decisions regarding pixel pitch, which determines the distance between each pixel on a display. While most users prefer a standard 4K resolution, dvLED encourages customers to choose their pixel pitch based on the expected viewing distance of a display. By catering to viewing distance, LG’s dvLED technology ensures that customers do not waste pixels when investing in a display, but instead, take the viewing distance into account.
136″ All-in-One DVLED Display: Bright, Brilliant, Breathtakingly Large Images
Along with unique options for pixel pitch, LG’s dvLED comes with a cost-conscious price tag. LG’s all-in-one products are delivered in a single flight case, including the mount, and with simple installation and maintenance, dvLED is now a less expensive investment compared to standard video walls. In the event of a malfunctioning panel on a video wall, this replacement involves a team of people with a full shut-down of the display. With dvLED displays, a panel replacement can be completed by a single person in a matter of minutes.
Moses discusses the impressive web OS technology incorporated into LG’s dvLED, along with the display’s ease-of-use and efficient maintenance. As a convenient built-in operating system, web OS allows users to access applications for menu boarding, digital signage, wayfinding, analytics, and much more.
Did you know Samsung’s The WALL comes in a 2K or 4K Display?
Check out this interview by Gary Kayye, Director of THE rAVe Agency, featuring Samsung’s Senior Manager, Shari Sentolowitz discussing The WALL All-In-One Display.
Power on an awe-inspiring viewing experience with The WALL All-in-One! Simply choose your size and resolution, and you’re assured of a complete, easy-to-install, brilliant solution.
The Wall from Samsung is the epitome of innovation. It constantly delivers new avenues to create unparalleled visual statements. Redefining the LED paradigm once again, The Wall now solves the biggest challenge of industry, drastically improving installation. The Wall, let it transform your business. A deep black background blankets the screen with perfect uniformity, creating a seamless canvas for purer black levels with enhanced depth that delivers unparalleled contrast and immaculate detail. Colors leap to life with spectacular vibrancy to recreate scenes as if you were there in real life. Narrower wavelengths produce RGB colors two times purer and more accurate than conventional LEDs. Available in 3 sizes.
One thing that keeps me interested in my career is that our industry is ever-evolving as technologies are introduced and evolve over time. After 17 years of working in the world of Pro AV distribution, I never stop learning new things. Most recently, I was tasked with learning about dvLED to help support our sales team and customers on projects. While I still have a lot to learn, here are some key takeaways that I can share based on what I have learned thus far.
Pixel Pitch & Viewing Distance
The term pixel pitch was new to me, but it is one of the key factors to think about when designing a dvLED display project. Simply put, pixel pitch is the measurement, in mm, between the individual LEDs or pixels, measured from the center of one LED to the center of the LED adjacent to it. Naturally, as the pixel pitch value decreases, the resolution in a fixed size cabinet increases and allows for a closer optimal minimum viewing distance.
For this reason, it is important that you discuss with the client where the closest viewer will be in relation to the display so that you can choose a pixel pitch that is appropriate for the specific application, remembering that as pixel pitch decreases, the equipment cost increases. As a general rule of thumb that has been shared with me, you can multiply the pixel pitch by 10 to give you the approximate closest viewing distance in feet. For example, the recommended minimum viewing distance for a 2.5-pixel pitch wall would be 25 feet.
Resolution
If you are like me, then often when you think about display resolution for common applications it is typically 1080p (1920×1080), WUXGA (1920×1200), or 4K (3840×2160), understanding that there are many others, but these are most common. With flat panel displays and projectors, the image size can vary while the resolution remains constant. For example, a 4K display can be 55” in diagonal, 98” in diagonal, or several other sizes, but the resolution will always be 4K. With projection, a native WUXGA projector, whether displaying a 110” diagonal image, a 216” diagonal image, or any size for that matter, the resolution will always be 1920×1200.
This is not the case with dvLED, as the individual LEDs (or “pixels”) mounted on the surface of the module are a fixed size, so that when the size of a dvLED display changes, so does the resolution. To illustrate this, let’s look at a dvLED panel that is 16:9, 27.5” in diagonal with a pixel pitch of 1.58. The resolution of this panel is 384×216. If you require a 1920×1080 display, you will need 25 panels in a 5×5 array making a 137.5” diagonal display, while if you require a 4K 3840×2160 display, you will need 100 panels in a 10×10 array making a 275” diagonal display, requiring four times the real estate!
Structural Considerations
In many cases, dvLED displays will either be wall-mounted or flown, although sometimes they can be ground stacked with the appropriate stacking hardware. Depending upon the size of the display, they can get quite heavy. For example, a recent 165” diagonal display (6×6 array) I quoted weighed just shy of 500lbs, and a 275” display (10×10 array) weighed over 1300 lbs. It is absolutely crucial that the structure or wall on which you are mounting the dvLED or the structure from which you are rigging can support the load.
Additionally, in order for a successful installation, the dvLED cabinets need to be perfectly aligned along the x, y, and z axes so there are no visible seams between the individual panels that make up the display. Since most walls will have some imperfections and not be perfectly flat, you will be faced with either using shims or exploring mounting hardware that provides post-installation adjustment of all three axes.
Power and Data
Unlike a traditional flat panel or projector, the display does not have a single power cord with dvLED. Instead, depending upon the size and resolution of the display, multiple AC circuits are required. If we go back to the 165” 6×6 array I referenced earlier, this display required six dedicated 110v/10A outlets. In this case, each AC circuit is powering six panels with a main connection to the first, then daisy-chaining with power jumpers to the next five.
In addition to power, every dvLED display requires multiple data connections between the display and the dvLED controller/processor using data cabling, such as Cat6. The number of data runs will vary based on the overall resolution of the display, but you can expect that the manufacturer will advise you during the proposal stage on the required cabling and power requirements for the specific project.
I am seeing more and more projects come across my desk that involve dvLED, and there has been dramatic growth in overall product sales in the category over this last year. There is no reason to believe that these trends will not continue, and I look forward to continuing my education on the subject.
Direct-view LED is a fantastic story of concept, evolution, and refinement… but someone needs to tell the tale.
Direct-view LED technology began its story on the biggest stages. Between pixel technology which offered only wide pitches (ergo further away viewers) combined with a cost-of-entry which was prohibitive to many spaces, direct-view technology was only realistically available in arenas, billboards, and certain high-profile spaces. Initial displays had poor power-balancing between their red, green, and blue elements resulting in massive power consumption. Initial dvLED also had limited viewing angles due to the early pixel-shader styles, which created discoloration and loss of image if you looked at a display from an oblique angle.
As direct-view technology has refined, so have the needs to implement it. The newest direct-view models boast fine pixel pitches, with robust and ruggedized pixel technology. Displays can run 24/7, while not emitting enough heat to require costly HVAC. Displays are light-weight, often requiring nothing more than a plywood backing for mounting, and a small handful of standard 110V circuits to power. This once mysterious and complex technology is now so modular and stable that many manufacturers now offer mobile cart options which sport full HD resolution, plugging into standard wall outlets.
In order to realize the full benefits which dvLED has over alternative display technologies, the conversation will need to eventually change. Direct-view technology deserves a new narrative from spokes-people familiar with the ease at which a variety of parts can quickly become a beautifully uniform and truly seamless display.
The best avenue to creating these technology evangelists is a simple certification, which can be earned in as little as three days. For many manufacturers, becoming certified requires an understanding of how data and power works with the technology, often including hands-on exercises. There are educational offerings out there to help installers get comfortable with the technology before jumping into a certification course. Almo Pro AV is offering a full dvLED installer education track at each stop of their 2020 E4 Experience. Certification in dvLED can be a powerful tool to becoming an ambassador, telling the story of a technology that does not require extraordinary mounting needs, complicated site-surveys, or extreme power handling capabilities.
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