5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Video Wall

A video wall is a large display that’s created by combining multiple video tiles. If you want to get noticed in a spacious venue such as an airport, shopping mall, or stadium, then the impact a video wall can have is well worth it.

Video walls are statistically proven to increase engagement, given their instant appeal and the changing nature of their content. So if you’re looking for an innovative way to reach your customers or clients, utilizing a video wall for your ads, videos, and other content could be the ideal solution for your business.

However, because a video wall is an investment, you should put some thought into the specifics of your display’s size, location, content, and other factors to make sure you get the features and equipment that best fit your display’s purpose.

Here are five considerations to keep in mind before buying a video wall:

How Big Is the Wall?

How much space do you have for your video wall, and how big do you want it to be? Its ultimate size will influence other considerations, including the pixel density and how content will be created.

LED video walls are created by seamlessly combining tiles to form one uninterrupted display. That means the sky’s the limit when it comes to choosing your display’s size and dimensions (the largest LED video wall in the world stretches a massive 820 by 98 feet across the ceiling of a mall in Beijing).

However, if you choose to use an LCD wall, you may be restricted to certain dimensions. These screens are built from individual LCD TVs, so they may be restricted to certain ratios (2×2, 4×4, etc.), and the display is divided by the tile edges, called bezels. Although the bezels can be very small, they still cut across the display, leaving your screen segmented.

How Far Away Will Viewers Be?

Once you know what size your video wall is going to be, consider the location of your viewers. The most critical characteristic affected by their distance will be the resolution. On a screen where your viewers are situated farther away, like at a sports stadium, you can get away with a much lower resolution than if they are close to the screen.

One of the greatest advantages that an LCD TV video wall has over a single large LED screen is higher resolution. LED direct view screens can better match resolutions to the specific project, but high resolution versions can be expensive. LCD TV-based walls can have the best picture, but if the wall is very large, or viewers are far away, all the extra resolution isn’t being realized by the viewer.

What Kind of Content Will Be Displayed?

Will your video wall be used to display advertisements, or to show educational content, or for another purpose? Will you be using it for entertainment? In a conference room? For security? The specific purpose of your display will affect your decision-making process when preparing to install a video wall.

Content you can display on your video wall includes pre-recorded video, live video, graphics, or any other content that can be presented from a computer or other device. But remember that if your display is a non-standard size, custom content will need to be created to fit your screen’s specific ratio.

The more detailed your content is, the higher the resolution needs to be to accurately display it. So if you’re using a lot of small text, your display will need a higher resolution, while simple graphics or video may work well at lower resolutions.

Showing multiple types of content at the same time will normally require a video wall processor that can merge the different types into one display. Video wall processors are also used with non-standard display configurations to create one large, seamless video canvas. So deciding the types of content you want to use will help you know specific equipment you’ll need.

Who Will Create the Content?

When you have reached some decisions regarding what your board will display and who its intended audience is, then you’ll need to find a content creator. As you choose a designer, find out whether they will be able to create and scale content that fits a custom ratio if your video wall falls outside normal sizing standards.

When it comes to keeping your content updated, your video wall vendor can also provide recommendations for content management tools that allow for easy updating, tracking, and management of your video wall content. There are several options for digital signage platforms that can help you manage your content easily, and your AV company will have the expertise to help you choose a system that will work for you.

What Environment Will It Be In?

Finally, where will your video wall be? Its environment has a large impact on what type of equipment will be needed. Will your video wall be indoors or outdoors, in the heat or the cold, and in a heavily trafficked area or a more private setting? Finally, will it be a permanent fixture, or is it a temporary display (like one used at a conference or fair) that will need to be portable?

These considerations will affect the level of durability your equipment needs to have and may limit your options—for example, seamless LED screens fare much better when exposed to the elements than other options. But it’s worth it to invest the time and money into equipment that will last instead of spending on ill-fitting equipment that will quickly wear down because it isn’t suited to the purposes you intended it for.

Communicate Your Expectations

These factors are important because you’ll need to share them with the technician or AV company who’s creating and installing your display. They’ll be able to implement best practices and help you find the right equipment for your specific needs, but only if you can communicate what your needs are first. So the more specific you can be about the purposes you need your display to fill, the better.

Take some time to consider these questions so that you’ll be prepared to give the most detailed instructions possible. This will allow you to receive the best possible care and end up with the results you want: a high-quality video wall designed exactly for you!

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