A video wall is an example of digital signage.  A video wall consists of multiple monitors, cubes, projectors or panels that are tiled together. Most often they are tiled tightly together to form one large image, but they are sometimes tiled loosely or into several separate sections for multiple images and messages or unique results, especially for performances.

Typically, video wall displays have detailed, high resolution content which makes them engaging and powerful and they receive a lot of attention. Because of the impact and increasing affordability of video walls, they are growing in popularity and they are used in a wide variety of ways:

• To enhance viewing for concert/sports event attendees
• Advertising
• Control Rooms
• Security
• Interactive Communications
• 3-D Simulation

A flexible tool, video walls can help brand a product, encourage collaboration and interactivity in venues ranging from lobbies, museums, and zoos, to sports and entertainment arenas and shopping malls  – to name a few. They are placed in high traffic areas to attract the most attention.  A video wall can be used indoors or out; it can be flat or curved, and it can be designed for permanent or temporary displays. In short, their uses are almost limitless and your video wall can be as complex and creative as you want.

A very important step when you decide to utilize or install a video wall is to define your goals.  All successful audiovisual systems require a clear set plan of action and results desired. A complete video wall system requires a number of components with a wide range of options available for each, starting with the selection of the type of display. An enormous range of technologies, resolutions and sizes are available on the market today and can make selecting one bewildering. A video wall can be designed with LCD’s, LED’s, cubes or projectors.  Each has its own unique characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages so you need to understand the inherent strengths and weaknesses of each. What is an ideal type of display for one environment is often a disaster in others.

Do you want one image, called a blending, over all the screens? If so, the image has to be as close to seamless as possible and a very narrow bezel (frame) is vital to avoid lines running through the image or text. High resolution keeps the image sharp. Does your video wall require a touch screen to engage the viewer or to provide information? How many touch points are desired? The number can range from one to 32.  Do you want to allow multiple users to simultaneously interact with video wall without affecting other users?

There are applications that call for 3D video walls such as molecular modeling, engineering, and simulations. Is your display compatible with the graphics cards you want to use? For video walls the software is as critical to the design as the hardware.  All video walls are software based; many have software built in that can fulfill your needs but others require a network based software controller.

Installation presents its own series of challenges in mounting, power, and cooling. Video walls can also be subject to heating problems. Does the video wall have heat sensors and cooling fans that come on automatically when needed? Where the video wall will be installed impacts your decision making as well. Is the infrastructure in place  to hold the weight?  Is the installation hardware integrated as it is for the Chauvet® MVP models (which our Production division has in inventory for rent) or do you need to buy it separately?

Is a mission critical 24/7 application that requires a redundant power supply module that provides continuous operation even in the event of a power failure required?.Even the number of power outlets and their locations comes into play. There are video walls that do not require the power to be behind the display and that can handle multiple devices. That reduces the rack space and the number of outlets needed and helps reduce the costs.
A video wall is an excellent way to communicate, enhance your presentation and make an impact, but it takes a sufficient budget and level of commitment to the project. We have alerted you to only a few of the questions that need to be answered before you install one. Zeo Systems expert technicians are  capable of designing, installing and servicing your video wall or if your needs are for a single event, our Production division can provide a rental from our in house inventory as an alternative. Give us a call.

By: Carol R. Emmens

Mega-churches, those having 2000 seats or more, have been in the forefront of using audiovisual systems for dramatic effect in their services. Their music systems rival those of performing arts centers and rock tours, featuring state of the art projectors, multiple large screens and stage lighting. But now smaller churches, especially “satellite” churches, synagogues and numerous houses of worship (HOW) of all sizes are utilizing AV to inform and engage their congregants. Is your house of worship ready to add AV systems or to upgrade the ones you have?

State of the art AV/IT is important because houses of worship are trying to attract congregants especially the millennials. Attracting and keeping congregants is a multi-fold, ongoing project. For example, the younger generations often view an organ as old-fashioned. Planning to implement a more contemporary slant to your worship service? If so, the electric guitars, synthesizers and drums require speakers that can handle the more ‘rock’ type sounds that will be incorporated. There are also congregants who prefer a more traditional service. Does your audio system handle that as well?

And they are not the only audio issues; high cathedral ceilings often make intelligibility an issue. The congregants want to hear and understand the sermons, prayers, and announcements; consequently a house of worship needs several types of microphones.  And even though not required by law as in other public buildings, having assistive listening devices available for your older congregants may be a worthwhile investment.

Does your house of worship have a website? With the astounding proliferation of social media, it is the best and most cost effective way to post events whether it’s a potluck dinner, Bible study, or discussion of the Torah. Often a website is less expensive than print media and more accessible. Before attending a service the vast majority of people “visit” the house of worship online and they expect to find clear, concise information about the style(s) of worship, children’s programs, and schedules.

But people want much more when they visit a website – they are accustomed to the “wow” factors of social media. Do you have the ability to post video? Do you have a link to Facebook? Do you have a YouTube™ account? Who will produce the video and what equipment do you own? It is not enough to use your smartphone or iPad camera to record a video; the congregants do not expect the quality of a high-definition Hollywood movie, neither to they want to see a choppy, poorly lit video that screams “amateur.”

Once the congregants arrive at the house of worship they want the same AV technology they have in their offices, educational institutions and homes. They want to read the words to a hymn on a large screen, and sometimes they will need to see and hear the service or wedding ceremony in an overflow room. Hundreds, even thousands, of handicapped and senior congregants who cannot attend the house of worship want to see what they are missing on their flat screen televisions or tablets in the comfort of their living rooms while they sip a cup of coffee.

To achieve all the AV/IT goals of today, the systems are complex and intertwined; for example, the camera lights cannot wash out the screen(s); the speakers cannot transmit feedback – and these are only two potential problems.  All components must work together as a whole to complete the desired presentation.

The first step to incorporating audiovisual technology is to define your goals for each aspect of the project and determine the budget. In addition, it is typically difficult to install audiovisual equipment in a house of worship. It is possible an engineer will need to provide an analysis of the structural integrity of the facility, e.g. is it possible to hang heavy speakers from the beams or do they need to be reinforced? There are many factors to take into account: Is the electricity adequate? Is the network up to par? Is there storage space for components that don’t need to be seen?

The cost of audiovisual equipment has declined and manufacturers have brought new products into the market to address the needs of the house of worship clients. But generally a HOW relies on volunteers for everything from baking cookies to maintaining the website to operating the AV/IT systems. That places an emphasis on installing systems that are easy to use and easy to control. Controls range from pushing a button to amplify a microphone to handheld remotes to iPad systems that control all the equipment with a few clicks.

The components of an audiovisual system – audio, display, lighting, recording – need to be robust, flexible and seamlessly integrated. That takes working with an experienced audiovisual company at every stage of the project. Call on Zeo Systems for a free consultation to help you set your goals and meet them.

As the holidays approach, the spotlight—sometimes literally—will be on how houses of worship communicate and how they present their pageants, holiday shows or services.

The audiovisual systems will be more important than ever. They will be expected to have the highest level of resolution and fidelity in their stereo systems, projectors and flat screens, and even their own phones, tablets or digital cameras.

They will be expected to be easy to use, and to offer the capabilities of video capture and distribution. Often that is not easy to achieve because of the challenges of a house of worship’s design and construction (e.g. hard surfaces and high ceilings).

Now is the time to evaluate the equipment that the church owns and to assess whether or not it needs to be retrofitted or enhanced based for how the audiovisual systems will be used:

1. To Support “Conventional” Prayer
2. To Enhance Theatrical Presentations & Contemporary Services
3. To Archive Sermons and Guest Speeches on CD’s or DVD’s
4. To Stream Services or Project Them in an Overflow Room

Now is the time to evaluate the acoustics, to review the sightlines for video and computer displays, and to determine who will operate the audiovisual systems.

Audio

At a minimum a good, high-quality sound system is needed to ensure that clear intelligible speech is heard regardless of where anyone is seated. Houses of worship are not required by law to provide Assistive Listening Systems (ALS) as other public buildings are, but they are a plus.

The largest segment of the population is the Baby Boomer generation and approximately 30% of those over the age of 60 have some level of hearing loss. If they have issues hearing the service, not only will they not receive the message your pastor is trying to convey, but it is likely that they will lose interest in attending the service altogether.

Ideally, a well-designed audio system supports clear speech and music. However, there are systems that need to be retrofitted for contemporary “rock” services, which are increasing in number. Often this can be done easily and affordably.

For example, they may need to add an automatic audio mixer or sub-woofers, which adds the deep bass sound missing from most speakers. An automatic audio mixer senses the sound levels, and can make adjustments in real time to volume. It can also balance a group of microphones for a band, choir or stage production.

An automatic audio mixer does have limitations and it cannot compensate for acoustical issues inherent to your building. Sometimes acoustical panels are also required to absorb “noise”.

Video

Nowadays, video projection is just at home in a house of worship as in a corporation or a school. High resolution, adequate brightness and accurate colors are expected on both the large screens and the flat panel displays that are used to project the words to a hymn or song, a video, a schedule, or other announcements.

An audiovisual expert needs to determine the projector lens and brightness needed for the location and structure of the facility to ensure both an exceptional image without destroying the aesthetics of the facility.

The cost of flat panel displays has dropped so they are often used to display announcements, directions, and even photographs of special events, provided there is adequate staff or volunteers to keep them up to date.

A high-resolution LED flat screen provides a very creative way to add a back drop or stage set for enacting vignettes, religious stories, or to display the service in an overflow room.

Live Streaming

Streaming both live and archival video meets the needs of all age groups, and helps expand the size of congregations within the community and beyond. It presents a unique opportunity but raises a few questions:

1. Do you have a camera? Does it have the features needed?
2. Do you need more than one camera?
3. Do you have a budget for it and for a video selector/mixer?
4. Do you have a camera operator(s)?

Streaming allows baby boomers who are unable to attend the services due to aging, injury any other physical limitations to take part in the service.

The “Now” Generation—or Generation X, along with Generation Y—want the service available when and where it is convenient for them. The Internet is so pervasive that many people “sample” religious services to find the one they like best.

Streaming allows relatives and friends who are unable to attend an event the opportunity to see weddings, bar mitzvahs and christenings, and makes them feel that are a part of the event.

Many congregations report that streaming increases donations as the congregation has grown. It also provides data about who is watching and what are they watching. It is then possible to tailor the streaming to the needs and wants of the congregation.

Budget

Installing or retrofitting an audiovisual system is dependent on the budget. Don’t forget to include service and maintenance.

If the budget is modest, financing the equipment from one of our available financing sources, such as Global Finance or Direct Capital, is an option. If direct purchase or financing of new equipment is not in the budget, consider a short-term rental as a possible option.

To ensure a track record for safety, it’s important for the rental company to be certified as a mobile stage rental company.

Consumer grade or consumer equipment, while usually less expensive than professional products, is sometimes viewed as a way to save money. However, there are important factors to be considered. Typically, consumer products are less durable and dependable than professional models. Most manufacturers’ warranties for consumer products are often null and void when the equipment is used in non-consumer applications and contractors will sometimes refuse to install it.

Whatever your audiovisual system budget, it is worth a house of worship’s investment whether the facility services hundreds or thousands.

Even a modest budget allows a house of worship to make the best use of the technology and the facility. Sometimes the addition of a piece of equipment or rental of equipment alone can make an impactful difference.