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Daisy chain, cascade, splicing: what the words mean
Buyers use several words for joining LED posters, and they do not all mean the same thing. Four ideas are mixed up most: the signal chain, the picture split, synchronized playback and the physical joining. Knowing which one you need saves a wrong order.
- Terms
- Daisy chain
- Splicing
1. Daisy chain and cascade: the signal
In a daisy chain, also called a cascade, the video signal runs from the HDMI output of one poster to the input of the next. The control card in each poster is replaced by a cascade card. This is about the signal path.
2. One picture across several posters
The reason to chain is to show one picture across several posters. Two 640 posters make a 1280 × 1920 mm canvas and three make 1920 × 1920 mm. The pixels add up, and the artwork is designed for the total size.
3. The same content on separate posters
Showing the same content on separate posters is synchronized playback. It needs no chain: each poster plays its own stored content.
4. Splicing: placing posters edge to edge
Splicing means placing posters edge to edge so they read as one wider screen. It is the physical side of a chain, and the word buyers in some markets use. We use daisy chain as the main term, and splicing as a synonym.
Which posters can do it
Die-cast, tri-fold and outdoor posters can be chained. Double-sided and acrylic posters stand alone. Pitches never mix in one chain. See the cascade guide.
Questions and answers
Is a cascade the same as a daisy chain?
Yes, in this context both mean the signal runs from one poster to the next.
Is splicing the same thing?
Splicing is the physical edge-to-edge placement. Used by some buyers as another word for joining posters.
Do I need a chain to show the same video on two posters?
No. Load the same content on each poster.
What do I need to chain posters?
Posters of the same pitch, a cascade card in each, and HDMI links from the output of one to the input of the next.
Can I chain different pitches?
No. Pitches never mix in one chain.
Why does the number of posters vary?
The number is set by the total pixels the controller and its cards can drive, so it depends on the pitch.
Does a chain change the picture quality?
The pixels add up; the quality per poster stays that of its pitch.
What is a video wall?
A video wall is a different product made of many screens. A chain of posters is a smaller structure of tall portrait posters.
Request a quote
Request a quote and tell us the type, the pixel pitch, the quantity, the destination country and your control system (NovaStar with Mean Well PSU by default; Huidu or Colorlight as a lower-cost option). Price, MOQ and lead time are quoted per order. Samples are available.