MagicINFO Explained: Sync Play for Seamless Screen Synchronisation

Imagine walking into your restaurant during the lunchtime rush, and suddenly, all your screens play a new menu special video in perfect sync. Customers will notice the seamless transition, and your team will not have to lift a finger.  

That is the power of Sync Play in MagicINFO. It ensures multiple screens work together, making your content look polished and professional. Whether you run a café, manage a retail chain, or set up displays in a corporate office, Sync Play guarantees that all your screens deliver the same message at the same time. 

In this guide, we will cover: 

• What Is Sync Play?
• Why Your Business Should Use Sync Play 
• How to Set It Up On Your Devices
• Practical Tips for Using Sync Play
• Frequently Asked Questions 

What Is Sync Play?

• If you play the same video on multiple screens, they will all start at the same time. 
• If you create a playlist with different files, every display will still follow the same rhythm. 

The result? A smooth, professional experience that grabs attention and avoids awkward delays between screens. 

For example, a restaurant can make all menu boards switch to a new promotion at once, or a retailer can launch the same sale video across every display simultaneously. Sync Play helps you deliver messages with maximum impact. 

Want to learn creative ways to combine different content items across multiple displays? Check out this blog post where we dive deeper into that topic. 

Why Your Business Should Use Sync Play 

Sync Play is not just a nice-to-have; it is a powerful tool that can make your digital signage more effective and easier to manage. Here is why it is worth using. 

1. Create a consistent customer experience 

Nothing looks more professional than multiple screens working together. With Sync Play, you can ensure that every display shows the same content simultaneously. 

In a restaurant, this could mean all menu boards update instantly when you switch from breakfast to lunch specials. In retail, it ensures promotions appear everywhere at once. Consistency builds trust and keeps customers engaged. 

 
2. Strengthen your brand image 

When your screens are in sync, your brand looks polished and reliable. Instead of customers seeing one screen lagging behind or showing something different, they get a seamless brand experience.  

This kind of attention to detail reinforces professionalism and helps people remember your business for the right reasons. 
 

3. Improve internal communication 

Sync Play is valuable not just for customer-facing environments, but also within your organisation. Whether you are making announcements, conducting staff training, or delivering important updates, Sync Play ensures that everyone receives the same message simultaneously. This consistency reduces confusion and keeps your team aligned. 

4. Save time and effort 

Without Sync Play, you would have to carefully manage each screen individually to keep everything aligned. That is time-consuming and leaves room for mistakes.  

Sync Play removes that hassle by making your screens act as one. You set up the content once, and the system takes care of the rest. 

How to Set Up Sync Play on Your Devices

Before explaining how to set up Sync Play on your devices, keep two things in mind. First, each device must connect to the same access point using the Snooping Protocol. This protocol, related to IGMP Snooping, conserves bandwidth by efficiently managing multicast data transmissions, ensuring only devices that request a content stream receive it, which reduces network load and boosts performance. Second, ensure you select the S3 player or a newer version when choosing supported devices.

Are you struggling to understand the difference between the different players available with a Samsung digital signage display? We have written extensively about the differences between the S6 player and S10, comparing the S6 and S7 players, or just discussing reasons why going for a built-in player is the best decision for your digital signage installation. 

You do not need to be a tech expert to enable Sync Play. Here is a quick step-by-step guide to implement this for your digital signage playlists.  
 

Step 1: Check your devices

Make sure your displays use an S3 player or newer. These models support Sync Play. 

Step 2: Connect your screens 

To ensure proper network connectivity, all devices must be connected to the same access point with IGMP Snooping enabled. This setup is essential for your screens to communicate efficiently and stay in sync.  

Step 3: Create tags

In MagicINFO, use the tagging feature to label content that you want to sync across displays. 

Step 4: Build a synced playlist

Add your tagged content into a playlist and select the Sync Play option.

Step 5: Test it out

Play your content across multiple screens to check that everything starts at the same time. Adjust if needed. 

For a visual walkthrough on how to work with Sync Play in MagicINFO, you can watch the YouTube video below.  

Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel, MagicInfo Services, if you have not already done so. We regularly upload content showing how to use MagicINFO to make the most out of your digital signage projects. 

Practical Tips for Using Sync Play 

To get the most out of MagicINFO Sync Play, follow these best practices. 

1. Plan your content in advance

Decide what content will appear on each screen and in what order. Planning ensures smooth playback and prevents last-minute errors. 

 

2. Use tags for targeted playback

MagicINFO lets you create tags to schedule specific content for certain screens. For example, you might tag lunch menus to display only on dining area screens. This makes it easy to manage multiple playlists without manually updating each display. 

3. Make sure your devices are compatible

Sync Play requires S3 players or newer and a MagicINFO Premium cloud subscription or licence. Confirm that all your screens support this feature before setting it up. 

4. Keep your network stable 

All screens should be connected to the same access point to ensure smooth data delivery. A stable network ensures that your displays remain perfectly synchronised. 

5. Test your setup 

Before going live, run a full test of your content. Make sure videos start at the same time and transitions are smooth. Testing helps you catch any issues before your audience sees them. 

6. Update and maintain your system

Keep MagicINFO software updated and perform routine checks on your devices. Regular maintenance prevents unexpected errors and ensures reliable performance. 

Using a cloud-based platform is a secure and reliable way to manage your digital signage network. MagicINFO offers users the highest level of security in the digital signage industry, backed by ISO27001 and ISO27701 certifications. These certifications ensure that the security measures in place meet top protection standards. With MagicINFO, you can process and store personal information safely, confidently managing personally identifiable information (PII) effectively. 

Following these tips helps you create a Sync Play setup that is reliable, professional, and easy to manage, perfect for small business owners who want maximum impact with minimal fuss. 

Conclusion

MagicINFO Sync Play simplifies the management of multiple screens, allowing you to deliver a polished and professional experience. By synchronising playback, you can reinforce your brand and streamline communication across all displays. 

Whether you operate a restaurant, retail store, or corporate office, Sync Play guarantees that your audience sees exactly what you want them to, at the right time, every time.