Almost half a century after their first gig in the city, The Beatles finally came home to Hamburg when the concept of a permanent interactive exhibition dedicated to the Fab Four became a reality, with a Renkus-Heinz loudspeaker system powering an immersive cinema experience.
Situated at the end of the Reeperbahn, in Hamburg’s famous red-light and club district, and close to many of the venues where the band performed, Beatlemania is a 1,300 sq m celebration over five floors of the Liverpool band, from their early days in Hamburg’s Indra club and Kaiser Keller to their break-up in 1970.
Technical partner for the ambitious project was Hamburg-based Amptown System Company (ASC), who designed and installed audio, lighting and video technology and integrated media systems.
To achieve the ultimate immersive experience, ASC chose a Renkus-Heinz system to power the sound, using Renkus-Heinz CFX81s for their combination of high audio quality and compact design.
Entertainment lighting distributor White Light and manufacturer Coemar have recently teamed up television lighting supplier Richard Martin Lighting to light the UK version of Minute To Win It, a new TV challenge show based on the US show of the same name.
Produced by Shine TV for ITV2, the show was shot at BBC TV Centre’s TC6 studio. However, part of the challenge faced by set designer Simon Kimmell and lighting director Will Charles was the production’s desire to feel like it was hosted in a sports stadium rather than a 600 square metre studio.
To help with this, Charles deployed the additional “fire power” of the high-output Coemar fixtures, making use of Infinity Spot Ms, Infinity Wash Ms and Infinity ACL Ms. “I used the Infinity Spots as ultra-wide backlights for the team entrances, the Infinity Washes as coloured audience front washes, and the Infinity ACL for creating ‘fingers’ of light framing the downstage screens,” said Charles.
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CSN Wine & Spirits installed Cayin’s digital signage solutions to drive the in-store screen media. The new digital screen network adds a modern touch to the traditional drinks store and conveys important information in a highly effective way.
CSN has a selection of over 3,500 wines, spirits, liqueurs and specialty beers. Before installing the in-store digital signage, the company had to print flyers and posters to promote its special offers. CSN Wine & Spirits owner Darcy Sandhu consulted DeltaTech, Cayin’s channel partner in Canada, and started to use the cutting-edge digital technology to replace printing posters.
The digital signage player SMP-WEBDUO is installed in the manager’s office to control all six monitors. To maximise exposure, monitors are displayed throughout the whole 8000 sq ft store: one at the entrance, one in a wine room, one above cashiers, and three monitors forming a triangle in the middle of the store.
SMP-WEBDUO features two signal outputs. With the help of two signal splitters, CSN can choose to broadcast the same content to all six players in clone mode, or divide all monitors into two groups; showing two different sets of contents in distinct mode. The great flexibility enables CSN to adjust presentations immediately through the media player’s user interface in accordance with their promotion plans.
PA/VA specialist Ateis has played a small but significant role in the recent redevelopment of Silverstone motor racing circuit, which has put the UK track back up with the top Formula 1 venues in the world.
The newly opened pits and paddock complex at Silverstone cost £27 million and was built after the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC), which owns the venue in Northamptonshire, signed a 17-year contract to host the British Grand Prix.
Ateis UK supplied the new IDA8 networked public address and voice alarm system, which was specified for Silverstone’s new wing by building services contractor NG Bailey and installed by fire and security specialist ADT. Representing its first landmark deployment, the IDA8 is being used for general day-to-to paging and announcement work as well as providing comprehensive safety and evacuation capability should the need ever arise.
PA/VA equipment has been installed in five different sites around the imposing three-storey building, which was designed by Populous, the architects also responsible for the London Olympic stadium. The complex houses 41 garages, the race control centre and podium, hospitality suites, a media office and a new spectator enclosure near the end of the lap. The installation is based on fibre optic cable.
