How BMW Museum reopening inspired Pixout products

One day, sitting in a rocking chair with a cigar in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other, I will tell my grandchildren how Pixout skyrocketed onto the European market. But today I have decided to share a story about what is behind one of Pixout’s products, namely, the Pixout HDMI ArtNet Converter.

Twelve years ago, I had the honor of participating in the creation of a massive LED installation for the BMW Museum in Munich. The museum had just undergone a major renovation, and the reopening was highlighted by the LED installation. The museum walls were transformed into a media façade with the addition of huge panes of sand-blasted glass, together creating a so-called “mediatecture”. The installation complemented the BMW brand’s dynamics perfectly.

I took part in this project with G-LEC and ART+COM, and it was a remarkable experience: creating a 700-m2 screen from G-LEC’s Chimera modules, with a total resolution of 3200×2400 RGBW pixels.

The most fascinating thing in the creation process was using a digital video for LED screens and LED devices which had complete flexibility for the user. At the heart of the system, we put the ability to individually control each one of the 1.75 million LEDs, and the means to cut each PCB into pixel-sized increments in order to fit the installation tightly around the shape of the space, including bridges, archways and wall fixings.

Back then, we were using pretty similar technology as the Pixout HDMI ArtNet Converter uses today. Having had this amazing experience with the lighting installation at the BMW Museum, I came up with the idea of creating a similar system which would be handy for everyone, not just for major lighting companies. I wanted the device to be very flexible, easy to use and up-to-date. That’s why we launched our brand new Pixout Converter, using ArtNet DMX, HDMI and 100/1000 Ethernet. We also developed the modern web software which runs the hardware.

The Pixout HDMI ArtNet standalone converter transforms a digital video or HDMI signal into ArtNet DMX control signals in real time. We designed it for medium to large-sized LED video matrix systems. The wow-factor of the device is that it allows the user to import and grab a pixel mapping from any third-party software. Since we launched our Pixout converter, our customers have been enjoying its features and easy-to-control software via Admin Web Panel.

Use of the converter for any kind of lighting installation, either outdoors or indoors, allows you to create an impressive spatial experience, blending architecture and media technology.

I believe that many entrepreneurs have experienced similar waves of inspiration, coming up with ideas of their own later on, and in this way enriching every possible market niche. I’m grateful for the experience I had at the BMW Museum, and I look forward to more inspiration along my journey.

Inspirationally yours,
Dmitry Klepikov
Pixout CEO