A nightclub in Linz has implemented 42 displays to create an eye-catching signage installation. Club Vanilli utilised Matrox TripleHead2Go Graphics eXpansion Modules (GXMs) to power the displays that encircle the entire venue.
Wolf Dieter Holzhey, owner of Club Vanilli, wanted to distance himself from the opposition by reinventing the establishment’s interior layout. He looked to vitalise the club with an arrangement of LCDs positioned strategically in high traffic areas. Holzhey outsourced the digital signage project to Kraftwerk Living Technologies, who selected video specialists, 4youreye, to install the panorama playout installation.
Eva Bischof-Herlbauer and Gerald Herlbauer, partners in charge of 4youreye, proposed a layout of more than 40 side-by-side displays encircling the entire club.
Kraftwerk installed all displays including cabling and 4youreye took care of the computer hardware, selecting Matrox’s TripleHead2Go Graphics eXpansion Module (GXM), an external multi-display upgrade that connects directly to the computer’s monitor output to drive three displays.
Although Matrox recommended using one TripleHead2Go under Mac OS X, 4youreye was explored the GXM’s multi-display potential and decided to do some experimenting. After several trial runs in a variety of multi-display set ups, they eventually engineered 15 Matrox TripleHead2Go Digital Edition units connected to three MIDI-synched Apple Mac Pro workstations powering 42 displays. Each Mac Pro was equipped with three dual dual-link DVI-enabled graphics cards, allowing for five TripleHead2Go units per computer to successfully run 14 displays from a single system.
4youreye worked on the creative content using GarageCUBE Module8’s real-time video mixing application. Incorporating works from the locally-based Lichttapete video artist group, 4youreye delivered an array of video sequences, imagery, and loops that run at 800 x 480 per display for a total panoramic resolution of 33,600 x 480.
“The new club atmosphere is simply outstanding,” said Holzhey. “Best of all, we can instantly modify the mood for our customers, quickly adapting from a romantic light setting to a hard
and flashy techno beat.”