N&M realises unique multi-vision show at the Europa-Park in Rust
The Europa-Park started its anniversary year 2015 with a birthday surprise and since the start of the season at the end of March, it has featured a spectacular highlight: the newly constructed "Traumzeit Dome" houses the world's largest 360-degree cinema. In a visually stunning multi-vision show, visitors experience a whole range of facets that go to make up "Beautiful Europe" - historical moments, diverse landscapes, unique metropolises, antique subterranean worlds and exciting peeks into the digital future.
The Traumzeit Dome covers 500 square meters, has a diameter of 25 metres and 13-metre-high dome. Eleven projectors, each with a brightness of 20,000 ANSI lumens, project the images of the eight-minute multi-vision show onto the projection surface in the interior of the domed tent with a resolution of 4K. A 24-channel audio system was installed all around the auditorium for the especially composed film music that accompanies "Beautiful Europe", thus guaranteeing a perfect auditory experience wherever the viewer may be sitting.
The TRIAD Berlin creative agency entrusted Neumann&Müller Veranstaltungstechnik with the technical realisation of the video and audio systems. TRIAD's own media department was responsible for the narrative development of the show, the film production and the technical concept. Together with the agency, N&M project manager Marc Ehrhardt created the technically elaborate solution for this globally unique production. Since its premiere, several thousand visitors have attended the 36 daily showings at the 360-degree cinema - this places exacting demands on the reliability of the equipment and means it must be easy to operate for the Europa-Park staff.
At the heart of the system is a 12-channel video server that enables the eleven projectors to display their images synchronously in native resolution (1920 x 1200 Pixel) and with a refresh rate of 30 hertz. The server also calculates the seamless edge blending of all the individual images as well as their complex correction algorithms. As Marc Ehrhardt explains: "We equipped the system with a so-called auto-alignment function so that is can calibrate automatically." To this end, lens reflex cameras were installed in the Traumzeit Dome and connected to the server. The system calibrates itself automatically by means of especially produced test images so that any changes (for example caused by varying thermal conditions in the Traumzeit Dome) can be compensated for. Manual intervention is not necessary.
Optical fibres have been used throughout for the signal cabling. These ensure a constant signal quality regardless of any possible fault. "A Showmaster media controller was installed to harmonise all existing audio, video and light systems," adds Marc Ehrhardt. "Staff can use the touch panels at the entrance and exit to start the show completely automatically and to manage any other situation that may arise." And so, in its 40th anniversary year, the Europa-Park in Rust has seen the creation of a technical and artistic highlight that will surely fascinate many more of the park's five million annual visitors.