LED screens 101
The following is a re-print from the good folks at LiveDesign. It’s a great article on LED screen technology originally done by Fabio Aversa of Eurodisplay.com. Looks like it’s only up for a month then it’ll have to go into digital oblivion, so read it while you can! While you’re at it, have a look at Eurodisplay’s website- it’s chock full of great info about LED’s, LED technology, and outdoor displays.
Reel Video Systems Screen Demos
Here’s a couple of videos from my friends at Reel Video Systems. Their roll-up screen are SICK and must be seen to be believed- keep in mind these can be viewed in broad daylight and still look good!. They offer a number of roll-up size options including 4,5,6, and 8 meter…..I know the guys that work there and they don’t mess around. They calibrate in-house, and can deploy screens up to 35′ high using a ground mount system. If you want some quality work with a beautiful result give them a call!. I ran a short piece on RVS a while back , but here’s a refresher if you missed it.
Skrillex is out of control
Skrillex blew up the Ultra Music Festival this last weekend and then took off in his own scissor-lift style spaceship. Here’s the proof. With Lasers, dammit! Can someone please teleport me back to being 18 again?….
CALL 911 NOW! UMF takes over Miami and is SOLD OUT
EDM superstars Skrillex and Fat Boy Slim are just a drop in the bucket at the Ultra Music Festival. Combine that with a stage and visual design from V Squared Labs and you get the real star of the show– the mainstage rig! Here’s a look at the rig courtesy of MTV and Vello: Get More: Music News
If V Squared is there you know it will be great….maybe rivaling the famed Amon Tobin ISAM rig….we’ll see. “We have this crazy high-definition output system taking it to the next level at Ultra this year,” Virkhaus beamed. Of course, possibly the most exciting one-up from last year’s undertaking is the presence of, wait for it, an “LED roof” over the stage that is going to be an added visual element for each set.
“This is the overhead grid that’s going to be over viewers,” Virkhaus explained. “You’ve got artists like Tiësto, Afrojack, Skrillex, Avicii — people coming who are going to make a fantastic show for the audience — and we are going to do some amazing visuals. I know [the fans] are going to be blown away with the experience we are bringing.”
Of course there are other projects going on as well. Large scale projection masters Senovva will be projectionmapping for Red Bull with 12 Barco FLM 20k’s as seen here:
Send pics please…..or a ticket and a flight to Miami….
Barco NSL-5521
Barco has announced the NSL-5521, a 55″ full HD LCD with LED backlight. You’ll probably install it in a control room with a bunch more to make a huge wall, but why not stick one in your board room or living room for that matter? As a tiled LCD solution, the NSL-5521 is ideal for personal wall environments and adjunct control rooms in Emergency Operations Centers, traffic management and surveillance centers, C4I-SR environments, utilities and process control centers and broadcast & telecom monitoring applications.
Narrow-bezel display for tiled video walls
The new NSL uses durable LED backlights positioned directly behind the LCD panel and has the (more…)
Dig the New Elation EPV6 LED Video Screen
More details from Elation:
LOS ANGELES – The new EPV6 LED display panel from Elation Professional is equipped with 3-in-1 Tri-Color SMD LEDs. This 6mm indoor video panel features 2,500-nit brightness (more…)
Elation EPV762MH Moving Head Video
I guess I’m not exactly sure why you’d want to have moving video panels ….apart from the eye-candy factor…or if someone gets real creative and hangs them sideways to make a wall out of them…but they are pretty cool! Elation Professional’s EPV762 MH is a high-resolution 7.62mm pitch moving head video panel that can rotate just like a moving yoke light fixture, panning a full 540° and tilting up to 265°. The EPV762 MH’s sweeping motion gives video displays extra exposure at shows and events, since the screen is viewable from all sides and every angle. Equipped with 4,096 tri-color (red, green, blue) SMD LEDs and featuring 2,000-nit brightness, this screen can be used for high-res videos, graphics, text messages, special effects and more, “broadcasting” them around the room with its smooth pan/tilt motion. Part of the company’s (more…)
WinVsion LED Displays
WinVision is a name that has become synonymous with super-bright, rugged LED displays. You see them everywhere from Beyonce to the sides of NBA courts to the Superbowl half-time.
Winvision is manufactured by Galaxia Electronics, a huge corporation that makes everything from the Winvision panels to tube-type LED lamps to LED studio lights.
The Winvision series of panels range from a pixel pitch of 5mm to 18.75mm and can flex to form curves, or be arranged in pretty much any fashion you can dream up. Many are super lightweight and most are IP 65 rated for water. Connecting the panels together is usually accomplished by means of clamps or posts on the sides and a few of the models feature the power box directly on the panel itself, making setup time fast and easy.
Electric Zoo Festival 2011
One of the first large-scale gigs I ever worked was Lollapalooza ’92. I still get excited when I hear about multi-day festivals with tons of acts and boatloads of production…I got that same thrill when I received the news of the Electric Zoo Festival from fellow projectionfreak Mojo Video Tech (AKA VJ Doctor Mojo). MVT was contracted to act as technical consultant and projectionist for the huge event on Randall’s island by the production design company StarLight Visuals.
(more…)
Low-res Storefront Skin in Frankfurt
Check out this low-res LED skin on the Zeilgalerie mall in Frankfurt. Th structure was in need of a facelift and what better medium than LED? With the size and spacing of the pixels it looks like they’ve pretty much maxed out their design in terms of complexity, but such are the vagaries of low resolution- you can only display so much. The second vid shows some details of the face and some close-ups.
The Technology Behind Spiderman
PRG has started putting out some great behind-the-scenes webisodes about the technology behind Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. This latest one is with respect to video and features Howard Werner, Jason Lindahl, Jeff Kaye, and Phil Gilbert talking at length about the amazing rig they had to build for this show. They use a V676 and Mbox Extreme Media servers to feed and manipulate the content over 8 LED legs which are 2.5m w x 10m h. You can bet there’s all kinds off custom bells and whistles software-wise too. For as much crazy press as this show has received, I still can’t wait to see it.
Go Big or Go Home
GoVision is a company in Texas that rents GIANT mobile LED screens. Their GoBig Mobile HD Video Unit features a Daktronics 9′ x 16′ LED screen that can go to 25′ high. For those who need a size upgrade, the GoBigger Unit is 19′ x 33′ and claims to be the biggest screen of it’s kind. Mounted on an 18 wheel tractor trailer, it boasts 720p (with any acceptable signal), a self-contained generator, IP65 outdoor rating, and a full-blown mobile production studio with crew. With a deployed height of 34′, size is no issue here….
With a full line of other screens available (from custom sizes to golf scoring to pickup truck-towed units) GoVision provides a whole bunch of screen real estate. Their gear has been featured at concerts, outdoor events, and major sporting events like the recent Dallas Mavericks Championship parade. GoVision also provides optional camera rigs and personnel. Check out the size of that screen!
For a quick view of the tallest LED screen ever, check out their video at http://youtu.be/k9kyaC9q2WY
Reel Video Systems LLC
Reel Video Systems LLC has opened for business in Indiana. RVS will exclusively rent the Pix20 roll up video wall that we ran a short article on a while back. This unique, amazing unit rolls up and stores in the truss it hangs from so users can basically bolt together a whole module and fly it in less than time than it takes to unbox other comparable walls. It’s 3-in-1 SMD LED units are available in 5,6, and 8 meter widths, 4:3 (or 16:9), 6500 nits brightness, and fully IP68 rated. All power and signal routing is integrated.
We wish Reel Video Systems the best- and maybe if we save our pennies we’ll rent one….
Barco C7 at the Sky Church
Seattle’s Experience Music Project houses the Sky Church, a live performance and exhibition space. They had a huge LED screen already, but just unveiled a new, massive HD+ 60′x33′ curved screen featuring the Barco C7 surface-mounted LED tile. The C7 has a 7mm pitch with 2,000 nits brightness at 15.75″ square. With nearly 6 times as many LED’s as the previous wall, it still uses less power. Gotta love technology! Read the full press release here.
Live Design Announces it’s Projection Products of the Year Awards
LiveDesign announced the Projection Products of the Year Today. The winners of this prestigious honor are as follows:
Display: Pixled F11
Software/App: ProjectorCalc by Michael Kohler
Content Creation/Editing: Maxon Cinema 4D R12
Accessory: coolux Pandoras Box Sensor Link
The Pixled F11 is a lightweight indoor/outdoor LED video display module with a 6500 nit output and an IP/65 outdoor rating. The use of Nichia SMD LEDs – at a pixel pitch of 11.25mm – make the display an ideal solution for applications with relatively short viewing distances and wide viewing angles. It is extremely lightweight, at only 3kg/7lbs per tile (15kg/33lbs per m2), the F-11 is four times lighter than the current industry average, removing many typical design constraints and opening up new creative design possibilities for both rental and permanent installations. The ultra-light weight of the F-11 also considerably reduces transport costs and requires less manpower to install. The F-11 is a modular system (45cmx45cm/1.48′x1.48′ tile), specially designed for easy transportation and quick rigging.
really cool feature is the switchable transparency- a manual shutter release opens the space between the rails to allow the module to be opaque or see-through (with a 10% transparency).
ProjectorCalc from Michael Kohler is a program for professional lighting technicians and projectionists. Its primary purpose is to determine the size of a projected image given various information about the projector and its location. It’s for iPhone (no Android yet- big drag…we’re stuck with the TI-99) and available at the App Store.
Cinema 4D is pretty much the standard for graphic creation (at least in the projection world, Maya notwithstanding). It comes in 4 flavors, Prime, Broadcast,Visualize, and Studio- each with their own separate capabilities. Here’s the comparison chart. It’s not as pricey as some other competitors at under $1000, but it’s unbelievable software. A lot of the videos you see featured on here Projectionfreak used Cinema 4d in some way. Maxon has released Ver. R12 and it’s available here.
coolux’s Pandoras Box Sensor link is a module that allows Pandoras box to be integrated with industrial encoders, distometers, analog potentiometers, and contact closures. Sounds exciting, huh? What it means though is the video server can accept input from all these devices and cue different aspects of a show or presentation. Think interactive amusement park rides where a lot of different things happen at once. You used to have to integrate everything with time code (coolux does have a module for this too) or some other wacky get-up. Here’s a write-up from this site from a while back.
Congratulations to all the producers of this wonderful magic from Projectionfreak! Keep on making the great stuff that allows us to practice our craft…
LED Wall from Moment Factory
Check out this great interactive LED wall installed and designed by Moment Factory. Low res, but we like it anyway! Motion tracking is all the rage these days…
Barco’s Coolest LED Video Wall Wins Red Dot Award for Outstanding Design
From the folks at Barco- their OL-521 has won the prestigious Red Dot award. The OL-521 is an LED-lit, rear-projection display cube designed for fixed video wall installations in command centers and control rooms. The OL-521 is part of Barco’s LED video wall series launched in 2010, which tackles some of the biggest issues (e.g. screen size restrictions, color imbalances…) in video wall design today. These LED-lit video walls integrate cutting-edge DLP™ technology and a Barco designed projection engine for use in 24/7 mission-critical applications. They’re not just the coolest figuratively, they’re the coolest literally. This model is part of their liquid-cooled series and because of this, it’s the brightest display cube on the market without shortening the system’s lifetime. Additionally, by using mercury-free and energy-efficient LEDs, the OL produces less waste and allows recycling for future use as it comprises recyclable materials only. Check out the video on this page.
The OL-521 is the most space-saving display cube in Barco’s LED video wall offering. It’s a 50″ 4:3 with a depth of less than 45 cm (1.5 ft) and a weight of less than 44 kg (97 lbs), so the OL boasts significant fuel and cost savings during transport and installation. Barco’s OL is also available with front accessibility, which removes the need for a rear maintenance access, allowing a highly compact control room design. Furthermore, the OL display cubes can be stacked to a video wall of practically any size without sacrificing image quality or detail.
I need a couple for the mission-critical command center in the Projectionfreak HQ basement, except maybe I’ll go for the 70″ model.
Some Great, Great work in out in Videoland
After seeing and working the Blue Man Group 2010 Tour, I was convinced I had “seen the light”. It is perhaps the coolest use of video/interactivity that’s out there. A recent discovery revealed my new heroes- Bob Bonniol and MODE Studios, who helped develop some of the technology that led (no pun intended) to that astounding production. Make sure to check out the link as it’s a great reference for some behind-the-technology info on BMG as well as a number of other cutting-edge works. Projectionfreak is humbled.
Why Projectionfreak?
The entertainment business is loaded, (a true video fan would say saturated, pun intended) with manufacturers sites, blogs, technical papers, and magazines that provide everything. Here we want to provide one thing. A single place for all the info, eye-candy, and news about large format projection, display technologies, and behind-the-gear experience in the entertainment biz. Want to find out about the latest greatest FOH audio console?  Look somewhere else.  Hoping to see some killer concert lighting reviews?  uh-uh.  Confused about native resolutions?  YES.  Wondering what the heck kind of projector they used for that ridiculous display you saw on the net? YES.  Need to know how LED/LCD/DLP displays and LED walls work? YES.
Projectionfreak is just starting out, but the buzz is building….look for us to only expand but while we do that- we’ll only provide ONE thing. A place for projection freaks! Â Tools, Tips, and Tricks of the Trade, equipment features, designer and working technician interviews, information and how-tos on connectors, signal, resolutions, cabling, LCD/DLP displays, LED walls and hook-ups, and all the technology that makes it go.
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Media Servers- Coolux Pandora’s Box
Yet another very capable media server, Pandora’s Box from Coolux.de offers a high performance link between projection and digital image compositing. Â It’s an extremely high quality server with a real-time powerful rendering engine that allows projections on any shape or surface. Â Key features include: 2x DVI/VGA with a max resolution of 2048 x 1536 PER OUTPUT (crazy!), stereo audio output, keystone correction, soft-edge blending (for super-wide display with projectors), multiple live inputs, 16 video layers + 32 graphic layers, true 3D rendering with X/Y/Z scaling, and slow motion. Â Video formats include Quicktime, AVI, MPEG2. Â Image formats include BMP, JPG, TGA, PNG. And it comes with an extensive library onboard.
Tools, Tips, and Tricks of the Trade
PART 3- Signal
So you have a high-end projector, LED wall, or display and now you have to send it signal. Â Whatever you do- do NOT use “the little yellow RCA” jack. In fact, that type of input doesn’t even exist on most professional gear and is dying a rapid death. The type of signal you use in your project will have a HUGE impact on quality. The end-result will largely depend on the the type of cabling you use, the source of your material, and the means to deliver that material. Whatever the case, you’ll want to use the right signal. Most content starts in the digital domain with HD video(either disc or tape-based), 3DS, Photoshop, Cinema 4D, (hopefully not) Powerpoint, or any other content creation software. In some cases you’ll have digital stills (which you’d run through PS anyway). We’ll cover those technologies in future posts, but the fact is you’ll need to deliver their output (whatever it is) to your display whatever it may be. (more…)
Roll up video
How’s this for portability?
The folks over at Tyler Truss have collaborated with Pix20 to come up with this innovative product- the Pix2o roll up video wall. The actual tiles are called VideoBlades and roll up onto a spindle. Their options are a roll-down style called Skyroll and bottom-up version called Groundroll.  You basically send it anything 1920×1080 60fps or less on DVI. The control software, called BladeRunner, allows the modules to be mapped in any configuration from effective lighting and scenic accents to full blown video wall. (more…)
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