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How to Set Up a Video Wall with ScreenCloud
How to Set Up a Video Wall with ScreenCloud

This article will instruct you on how you can set up the ScreenCloud player for a Windows video wall.

Updated over a month ago

1. Introduction

Now let's first answer the question of why you might want to set up your digital signage in a video wall configuration. And these are the two main reasons;

First, perhaps you just want a bigger screen real estate. Sometimes one display is just not big enough and we can understand that. This might be to garner more attention, to allow a bigger audience to interact with the screen, or to allow more room for content displays such as text, presentations or diagrams.

Secondly, you might want to show more than one instance of an app on different displays powered by the same media player. Even though multiple screens make up the display, content can still be used either separately across each monitor, allowing you create different layouts and constantly diversify your content.

1.1. Compatibility and limitations

Before we continue, we’d like to first explain ScreenCloud's compatibility with multiple displays;

1.1.1. Currently, ScreenCloud's multiple display functionalities are only available on Windows-based media players that support multiple display outputs in collage mode, or in other words, extended desktop mode. A video wall controller may be used with other devices, with ScreenCloud OS, ChromeOS and other compatible devices. Other hardware that can support simple video walls, such as ChromeOS and macOS, are not able to display the ScreenCloud player properly, so they would require a video wall controller

1.1.2. The displays also must be in symmetrical layouts for your video wall, meaning you can only use your screens properly if they are either all side by side or fully stacked on top of each other. For example, with a setup of 3 screens, unfortunately, you will not be able to have a pyramid-like setup with 2 displays on the top and 1 on the bottom, as ScreenCloud will not be able to make that custom layout of available space usable. However, what you can do is place all the 3 displays side by side vertically or horizontally.

1.1.3. Another factor to consider is that the available space for content changes based on the player being used. For example, if you connect two 1920 x 1080 resolution displays side by side with a device that supports dual displays, you'll get an available space with a resolution of 3840 x 1080 for that combined screen in your ScreenCloud account.

1.1.4. The ScreenCloud player supports a 4k output if the content is uploaded to ScreenCloud as an image or video file, or a 4k video is displayed with our YouTube apps. To enable this, please refer to How to Set Your Video Playback Source or Image Resolution in Studio for help.

2. How to set up ScreenCloud for a video wall

Each Windows device that supports a video wall has a unique setup and set of display option tools, so we have not included this in our guide. We instead strongly advise that you contact the support team of the manufacturer for your device as you build your video wall.

2.1. Installing the ScreenCloud player on your Windows video wall

Once you have created a giant desktop across your array of screens, install the ScreenCloud player from our download page, and open up the app.

Windows Video Wall Desktop.jpg


You can then use the pairing code to connect your screen to Studio and begin building your content for your video wall screen. Once you pair the player to your account, the screen dimensions will be displayed in Studio for that screen.

ScreenCloud player Video Wall Landscape.png

2.2. Setting up the channel and screen in your Studio account

2.2.1. Once you have used the pairing code to add the screen to your account, you should get a view of a screen preview that has the exact ratio of your video wall. Here, with the screen specifications on the right, we can see that the dimensions for the sample below are 5760x1080 px.

Video_Wall_Section_1_IMG_6.png


2.2.2 You could go ahead and set a single app or piece of media on your video wall screen, but in case you are planning to add more than just a single piece of content, and wish to take advantage of Zone Layouts, we recommend that you set up a "Channel" with the same dimensions as the screen as well.

You can do this by selecting the icon of your Channel to change the Channel’s dimensions. Select "Custom Size", input the dimensions of your video wall and click "Confirm". For help with setting up custom Zone Layouts in your Channel, please refer to ScreenCloud CSS & Zone Layout Guide.

Video_Wall_Section_1_IMG_7.png

2.2.3 When everything is ready, set your Channel on your screen, and let that massive screen collage beautifully display your content!

Video_Wall_Section_1_IMG_8.png

3. Video wall device recommendations

3.1. Video wall controller with media player

A video wall controller allows you to manage and display content across multiple screens in a video wall setup from one input source. You can select any device you wish to be the source of your video wall screens, allowing you to stretch your output to larger than its standard size. If you shall be splitting the video wall into separate zones with each its own content so it appears as separate screens, for example, three videos at once, please note the device must be powerful enough to run this. In addition, the video wall controller only stretches your screen but it does not increase its resolution.

If you wish to create a video wall with a ScreenCloud OS device, a video wall controller is the way to go. If you are interested in alternative hardware for your video wall controller setup, you can refer to our hardware recommendations on this page to still ensure the best performance with ScreenCloud.

We recommend purchasing video wall controller hardware from either iSeevy or J-Tech. Please speak with their support or sales teams directly for input on what might be best for your setup. What you must keep in mind is that the ScreenCloud player can only output with a 16:9 or 16:10 ratio for 2x2 or 3x3 dimension layout.


3.2. Video wall of 2 to 6 screens from a single device

For a video wall setup of 2 to 6 displays, please see the selection of Windows Mini-PCs on our hardware recommendation page. Only Windows devices can connect to separate screens via HDMI and DisplayPort and be able to display the ScreenCloud player across this - As long as the ratio and dimension criteria are met.

Although you can create small video walls with ChromeOS and macOS computers, the ScreenCloud player is not able to adapt correctly. Please use a video wall controller when using these devices as a video wall with ScreenCloud.

Please note that each Windows mini-PC has its performance level, so we recommend doing your homework and purchasing a more powerful device if you are going to be running more high-quality media and data-heavy content for your video wall.

3.3. Video wall of 4 to 24 screens

For something more industrial, and support for 4 to 24 displays, we recommend an iBase PC, or iBase Digital Signage Player, which you can find here. With iBase, we recommend getting support from their sales and support teams more directly. For help with purchasing an iBase PC, please see the Windows section of our hardware recommendation page.

You can refer to our selection of iBase recommendations here. When building your iBase video wall, please seek the advice of the iBase support team if you find it difficult to create, as each computer works with its unique systems and video cards that all contain their differences in setups. Once you have created your giant desktop arrayed across your multiple displays.

If an iBas PC is out of your price range, you can always build your very own custom Windows PC that can power a video wall according to your needs. Just keep in mind that the ScreenCloud player outputs best with a 16:9 or 16:10 ratio output!

Please note, if the links provided above are sold out of the item(s) or redirect to a different product, please reach out to [email protected] to let us know so we can help assist further. You can also take a look here for some additional information.

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