By Jenny Richards
LED video walls are increasingly popular in Houses of Worship for creating high-impact visual displays throughout services, or in lobbies. This article will guide you through the basic steps of installing an LED video wall and how to find the right local partner to work with.
Making a Plan & Addressing Wall Mounting, Pixel Pitch & Refresh Rates
Before you start building, you’ll need a plan. Think about how the video wall will be used, as this will determine how to mount your wall. For most congregations, a permanent install wall mount near the stage, flanking the stage, or in the lobby makes the most sense, so you’ll want to look for LED video panels that come with wall mount brackets or can be wall mounted.
You’ll also want to think about how far away the first viewer, or pew, will be, as that will determine the pixel pitch you need. The lower the pixel pitch, the higher the resolution of your screen, and likely the pricier your wall will be, so finding the sweet spot here will make sure you get what you need without overpaying for what you don’t. This “Find My Panel” Quiz can help you find the perfect pixel pitch for your needs with just a few simple questions.
Finally, if you plan to film or broadcast livestreams with the wall visible, you’ll want to think about how that will work with your existing setup and look for a refresh rate that is camera safe (between 1920-3940 Hz) so you don’t have flickering visuals on your stream.
Assessing the Location & Designing Your Wall
Now that you’ve decided on the location and what your congregation needs, it’s time to design your wall. Decide approximately how large you want the wall to be, and how many panels you will need to cover that scale. If you want to keep things easier for your tech team, you’ll want to look for panels with a native 16×9 aspect ratio so that it’s built and ready to go for all types of ready-made content. If you’d like to occasionally play Blu Ray discs or show a TV broadcast, you will need a processer that has HDCP capability.
From there you will want to make sure the wall is reinforced to support the new LED panels and brackets. And if you want to keep your electrician and code compliance folks happy, looking for a wall with an ETL certification is critical. This means that the product has undergone thorough independent testing to meet strict safety and performance standards.
Installing & Calibrating Your Wall
Once the wall has been prepped and cleared for install by your team and building/tech partners, you’ll start by securing the mounting brackets to the wall, ensuring they are flush and seamless against one another. Next, you’ll slide the panels on and lock them into place with locking screws. From there everything will get cabled together with ethernet cables, one per panel in and out. And then you’ll want to configure it with your processer. Most LED video panels will have recommended receiving card hardware. Once the wall is installed it needs to be calibrated so that the separate panels blend together seamlessly as one LED video wall.
Partnering with a Professional
You’ve done your homework, now it’s time to find the perfect products that both meet your needs and are within budget. This is where a partner comes in. By partnering with a local installer, you can make sure you find the right products for your needs and that everything is installed safely and correctly.
Jenny Richards is the Director of Marketing at Blizzard Lighting, a leader in LED video and professional & entertainment lighting. She enjoys engaging with customers and weaving their captivating stories into the fabric of Blizzard’s narrative, one conversation at a time. Learn more at blizzardpro.com
