Refocusing on Worship Displays for Returning Congregations

By: JIM GROOVER

With COVID-19 restrictions easing across much of

the nation, houses of worship are gearing up for the

imminent return of their congregations.

In many states, over a year has passed since

sanctuaries were able to be filled to capacity. Pastors and church

technical directors are anxious to pull congregants back from

pandemic routines of televised, or online virtual worship services.

To this end, updating sanctuary interiors provides an opportunity

to entice worshippers back with a fresh and exciting, in-person

experience.

One positive aspect of a forced pandemic hiatus may be

that emerging display technologies are now a year further into

their development cycles. In some cases, that means they’re less

expensive, more reliable, and have evolved with new deployment

options.

Video projectors have been a traditional staple in display

technologies for worship. With a smorgasbord of brand,

brightness, and resolution options; projectors offer something for

every venue. But they can easily be underspecified for changing

demands in a modern sanctuary. Dynamic lighting employed in

elaborate stagecraft can leave even the most capable projectors

struggling to keep up. So, while they continue to be a good value,

projectors may not be the best fit for every sanctuary application.

Alternatively, direct-view LED (light emitting diode)

technology has only recently started to be actively utilized in

worship venues. High-costs and limited options have challenged

the value of this exciting display technology and relegated its use

to a smaller population of well-funded houses of worship.

That is changing…

With a myriad of new options that address price, performance,

and installation; direct-view LED should definitely be a

consideration for any new or soon-to-be updated sanctuary.

The “bleeding-edge” on the LED cost front relentlessly cuts

towards increasingly finer pixel-pitch variants. This migration has

significantly driven down the costs associated with larger pixelpitch

options that are perfect for worship venues. Over the past 18

months, the cost to deploy a 2mm - 4mm LED display has literally

been cut in half.

And, while LED costs have come down; performance has

improved. A great LED image is a captivating combination

of vividly saturated colors, inky-black contrast, and stunning

brightness. These systems perform as well in a brightly lit sermon,

as they do in a theatrical, stagecraft driven, “gospel concert.” And

since many contemporary services are a mix of worship, music,

and media; direct-view LED may be the only display technology

that will perform consistently under all of these diverse viewing

conditions. Factor in that many LED systems have a 100,000-hour

life expectancy (about 5 times longer than a good laser projector)

and you start building an LED “value proposition.”

Of course, price and performance may not be the only

important considerations in an update of a church’s displays.

Installation and logistic concerns often dictate the viability of any

large image in a worship sanctuary.

Most modern projectors are based on a 16:9 imaging platform,

which often translates to a somewhat outdated “big TV” on the

wall aesthetic. In all of these projection systems, image size is

determined by the distance between the projector and screen,

and the available lens options. More often than not, getting the

desired image size means suspending a boxy projector, from an

unattractive pole, directly above your congregation. In some cases,

there is simply no viable way to deploy a projection solution.

And that’s where aesthetic options and creative mounting

solutions may elevate LED from a functional viewpoint.

Consider this; large direct-view LED displays are literally

assembled from many smaller, edgeless, LED modules. This means

you’re not limited to a predetermined image size or aspect ratio.

This allows LED displays to take on a form fits function dynamic

versus a projector that is tied to a native 16:9 aspect ratio. Of

course, if all you want is a large “TV-esque” display, you can build

that. But you can also let the size and shape of your image be

defined by the aesthetics of your space, or the content you plan to

view.

Most LED solutions require a fixed frame that is mounted to

the wall or floor supported. Occasionally, this creates obstacles

& additional expense if the existing structure cannot support

the weight of a large LED display. And for churches that reside

in designated “Landmark” or historical buildings, there is often

reluctance to do anything that changes the original walls or

structure.

Some new LED cabinet alternatives employ unique interlocking

mechanics that create a built-in, rigid spine that makes a

secondary frame redundant. This allows the display to be easily

“flown” from truss, anchored to ceiling joists, or ground-stacked

on an independent mounting system.

Since there isn’t a predefined frame for this type of LED system;

displays can also be disassembled and reconfigured into different

sizes and shapes. This unique flexibility is ideal for creative

stagecraft and can help make special events fresh and exciting.

And because you’re working with a display you already own; it’s

cost effective, too!

Finally – and perhaps the most important consideration if

you’re exploring direct-view LED – choosing a reliable integrator

and manufacturer. Installing a direct-view LED solution is

considerably more challenging than mounting a flat-panel TV or

hanging a projector. Thorough planning and design will ensure

that the display you end up with – is the one you envisioned.

Engage a reputable integrator that will partner with a reliable

LED manufacturer to support your project. A typical LED

display requires an upfront site survey, contractor consultation,

engineering and CAD design, custom fabrication, project

management, installation, and calibration.

A good integrator can be the difference between a beautiful

display delivered on time, and an expensive eyesore that you want

to replace sooner, rather than later.

Choose wisely.

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Jim Groover is an AV display veteran with nearly 3 decades of professional experience. He has nurtured a passion for high-performance video with industry leaders such as Stewart Filmscreen and (currently) Digital Projection. Jim shares office space and coffee with his canine-coworkers, Brutus & Cassius.