d.breeze Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Hello A company I regularly freelance with are starting to dabble with LED screens and I need to bone up on them faster than they do. I am pretty familiar with the technology but I have no idea what seperates the makes/models currently on the market and I've only seen them used in anger on a couple of occasions. So does anyone here have first hand knowledge/use of any particular makes and models and would you care to share your opinion of them? Cheers Damian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian H Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Ok I have eight or nine years experience of using Extreme LED in Music and Live Events and have used most of the systems available currently on the Market. With regard to advice on how to use screens, the first and most important is read the manual(if available) understand the limitations and talk to somebody who has used screen previously (and have their number on fast dial). Never assume that just because product one did it this way product two will be the same especially if from the same manufacturer.. A good knowledge of digital signal paths and screen formats pixels helps. So if you have any questions about screens from, Barco, Element Labs, Winvision, Everbrighten, Martin, Daktronics or Optiscream. either post on BR or drop me a PM. Ian H Check out. www.led-tool.com very useful resource. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3guk Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Check out. www.led-tool.com very useful resource. Thought that might be handy, until I realized it was all Windows based. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 http://www.earsmedia.co.uk/gm.jpgI always thought this was rather nice. The sun sets during the song, leaving just the beach and sea - trouble was two minutes later the screen went black and a message came up saying "sorry, Windows has had to close ........". At the time, some BR members got quite cross when I wondered if maybe after spending all that money, a backup could have been a good idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian H Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 You will find most things LED are PC based ..... Barco have Projector and Director Toolset available for the Mac otherwise its Parallels or Bootcamp I am afraid. I must add Projector Toolset is just perfect...... I can only assume Barco outsourced its creation..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceecrb1 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Lessons to learn with led screens: Well really I find there are basic problem solving issues.. Ie a break in the signal chain etc... Think "like DMX" works up to x point so look at the output of x, input of y and the cable between x and y.. Common sense stuff really Most of the problems I find are from a client not understanding what they have hired.. Many expect you to rig a hidef video wall.. NOT the case.. Like I stated in another post..A 16mm screen (ie leds are seperated by 16mm, the most common large for event screens)Of 4x3 mtrs will only have 256x192 pixels, and that is only if it is the newer style where each led has the three colours.. Other older screens were 16mm between the leds of one colour, of a pixel.. Ie 4 leds in a square or 3 leds in a triangle make the pixel.. Far lower res!!! Basic rules.. Take the mm led seperation distance. Calll that number meters and that is the minimum viewing distance (its a very rough guide, but helps) ie my 16mm screens need the public 16mtrs away from them... I have had clients want to use them like a projector screen on stage just 2 mtrs from the public. Does not work. Will never work.. Here you need screens with far lower separations such as 6mm or the newset 4mm's but the closer the leds, the more expensive the screen and the price increase is exponential. We work with many chinease manufacturers.. But not those who copy.. We use glux who did the led screens and led floor for the olyimpics ceremonies in china, and absen who sell LOTS of screens all over the world for billboards.. Dont worry too much.. Once you have learned your screen, thy can be relatively easy jobs with less stress.. Far easier days than eqing a band or programming lights! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.breeze Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 Thanks for everyone's input so far, very insightful. Interesting what ceecrb1 said about clients expecting a hi-def video wall as I can imagine this happening a lot and causing upset when the client realises they've got their wires crossed. IanH, have you used any screens from Martin? If so which models? What were they like to work with? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceecrb1 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Yes it happens a lot.. And every time gets very messy on site.. Try to "train" the office to explain to clients what an led screen is before hiring. Many times a cheap projector and screen can have better results.. But led is the fashion.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.breeze Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 Many times a cheap projector and screen can have better results.. But led is the fashion.... Indeed, the last 2 shows I've seen were Rob Zombie's UK academy tour and Russell Howard's arena tour. Rob Zombie had hugely complicated and intricate videos playing in the background, synched to hit points in all the songs, but were being played back on LED screens and the low resolution really diminished the effect. Russel Howard on the other hand used the traditional rear projection method with much bigger screens tailored to a much bigger audience, yes some of the video content was just replicating him on the stage but VTs and live effects were used and had a much higher production value than the LED screens despite the content itself being less exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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