Synchronized playback across multiple displays

Sync display makes every screen show the same item at the same moment. Turn it on for video walls, for matched pairs, and for any screens a visitor can see at once.

Without it, screens that started at different times stay out of step all day.

Turn on sync display

Sync display is a switch on each display record. Every screen in a synchronized group needs it turned on.

1. In Builder, open your Signage project and go to the Displays tab.

2. Open the display you want to synchronize.

3. Turn on Sync display.

4. Click Save.

5. Repeat for every other screen in the group.

The Sync column in the Displays table shows a tick for each display that has it on. That's the quickest way to check a whole project.

Sync is set per display, not per playlist.

When to turn it on

Turning it on costs a small amount of extra network traffic. Leaving it off costs nothing.

Check that it's working

Stand where you can see both screens and watch a slide change. They should change together.

If they don't, work through these:

• Check the switch is on for both displays. One screen alone won't do it.

• Check both are playing the same content. Follow the Content column links in Builder.
• Check both have the same timezone. A schedule resolves in each display's own timezone, so two screens set to different timezones can legitimately show different blocks.
• Reload both displays from the settings overlay. Each one re-measures its time offset.

Good to know

• A synchronized display works out its position from the clock, not from when it started. A screen that reboots at 3pm rejoins where its neighbors are.
• At load, the display measures its clock against a time server and shows "Calculating server time offset". It re-measures every five minutes.
• A new time offset is applied at an item boundary, so the picture never jumps mid-clip.
• Video is held on schedule by adjusting playback speed very slightly. A clip more than a second out of position seeks instead.
• Displays do not need to be on the same network, or able to see each other. Screens in different buildings stay in step.
• If the time server can't be reached, the display keeps playing using its own clock. Screens may drift until the next successful check.
• With a location program, crossing into a new zone normally restarts that zone's playlist. Synchronized screens stay in phase with each other instead. See Location programs: zones and live maps.

FAQ

Does sync make two different panels look identical?

No. Sync controls what each display plays and when. Panels of different makes have different processing delays, so two screens can be perfectly synchronized and still look a few frames apart. For a video wall, use identical panels.

Do I need to turn it on for a single screen?

No. There is nothing for it to synchronize with.

Does it work across sites?

Yes. Each display works out its position independently from the time, so screens in different buildings or different countries stay in step.

Next steps

• Assign content to a display

• Display status: what the badges mean
• Create a playlist