It allows you to split a 4K signal into 1080p signals (up to four) to make a much larger image across 4 displays. Simply plug in a digital signage player, like BrightSign, a media player, a decoder, or heck a good old-fashioned Mac or PC into the HDMI in of the 1×4, and then, plug in up to 4 displays to create one unified image, across all of the displays, that doesn’t lose visual fidelity.

Now, you might be asking yourself, why do this instead of buying a larger 4K display? The largest commercially available 4K televisions are usually about 2-3 grand for an 85 inch at the absolute largest (We’re excluding Samsung’s “the Wall”). Projectors don’t always play nice with poorly-lit spaces, and LED walls are great, but again are pricey and require very specific hardware to install. Instead, you can put four 40 inch, 55 inch, 65 inch, or even larger displays next to each other, and have your very own video wall that’s being fed with one video source.

To configure your video wall, use the buttons on the front panel of Gefen’s VWC to tweak each display. Alternatively, you can sign into the 1×4’s web client for even easier management. Choose whatever kind of display configuration you want – even a custom one if you need it! Bezel compensation, global rotation, and color correction is all handled on the 1×4. De-embed the audio that’s in your screen content and pipe it out of the built in RCA jacks into an outboard DSP or mixer to play through an audio system. It’s all easily handled on the 1×4.

To push the 1×4 even further, you can actually show 4 different images or videos at the same time, with a little bit of preparation. Remember, all the 1×4 is doing is taking a 3480×2160 image and cutting it into 4 equal quadrants. Try this. Open up Adobe After Effects or Premiere, or any NLE for that matter. Make a new 2160p sequence, and align your 4 designs or videos into each of the 4 quadrants of the sequence. This process can be done in a myriad of ways, but now you have individual control over all 4 displays, and you can always switch back to treating all four displays like one whenever you want. Just put full screen content above the per monitor content in your editor and voila, you’re back to the Gefen’s intended use case.

USE CASES

The Gefen 1×4 has tons of potential use cases. (This is where it gets fun.) Obviously, this solution would work great in a conference or board room as your main display. Combat poor lighting, power and structural restraints by mounting 4 TVs in a quad configuration, and then, plug in a video conferencing or collaboration solution into the HDMI IN, and you’re ready to wow everyone in the room.

Use VWCs on a virtual production set to drive window-like background displays (New York stock footage not included). Use one in a restaurant or kiosk to display menus and promo videos. Use them to display branded signage at an expo booth to show schedules right along side product highlights and sponsored content. Speaking of Expo Booths… Connect 1 Gefen 1×4 to large displays in a cube configuration to create a completely immersive experience for anyone who steps inside it. The possibilities are only limited by your creativity.

The 4K Ultra HD 1×4 is an incredible device for visionaries looking to channel their inner Gance and push the limits of what’s traditionally thought as possible for displaying content. Expand not only the size of your content, but how it’s percieved by your clients and customers. So get out there and design your next visual masterpiece with the Gefen 1×4!