Advanced audio technologies from Meyer Sound help deliver an immersive experience for audiences of all ages at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom’s 5D Castle Theater in Zhuhai, China. Located in the Chimelong International Ocean Resort, the 1,000-seat theatre presents an animated show with support from 119 Meyer Sound loudspeakers. The theatre’s sophisticated, multichannel presentation includes 26 input channels and various output channel configurations connected to the D-Mitri® digital audio platform via one of the world’s largest AVB (Audio Video Bridging) networks.
“D-Mitri with AVB was my favored solution for this application,” states Leo Wagner, infrastructure manager for Wels, Austria-based Kraftwerk Living Technologies, which designed and engineered the technology behind the theatre’s mesmerizing experience. “The fact that the AVB data shares the same network infrastructure as the control data is proof that the AVB and other common network tasks can coexist, even on heavily utilized networks.”
Use of the new AVB audio networking standard greatly simplified installation, while affording greater flexibility in developing the audio effects. AVB carries eight channels of audio to each seat in the theatre to use for localized effects and multiple language translations, in addition to connecting all elements of the main MICA® line array loudspeaker system.
“Because of the extraordinary size of this theatre, there were no cinema loudspeaker systems available on the market that could meet our stringent performance requirements of coverage up to 44 meters,” explains Christian Hofer, managing partner and technical director at Kraftwerk Living Technologies. “Fortunately, MICA line arrays increased the acoustic energy to ensure the entire auditorium was filled with powerful, high-quality sound.”
The 5D Castle Theater’s audio system comprises seven screen channel arrays of eight MICA loudspeakers and two 600-HP subwoofers each, which are supplemented by 15 700-HP subwoofers, 22 HMS-12 surround loudspeakers, and 12 UPQ-1P loudspeakers for surround sound and localized special effects.
The theatre’s multi-sensory “5D” concept incorporates the world’s largest permanent projection screen at 88-by-18 meters, and the world’s largest stereoscopic 3D projection, both confirmed by Guinness World Records. The theatre is also equipped with Kraftwerk Living Technologies’ proprietary 4D seats, incorporating motion, scents, air blasts, water effects, and “ticklers” for tactile sensations. Entitled “Kaka’s Great Adventure,” the show was produced by FAR Out! Creative Direction and Prana Studios.
Elsewhere in the Chimelong Resort, the new International Circus City presents world-class circus acts in a sleek 2,700-seat venue equipped with a MICA loudspeaker system for supporting live musical accompaniment. The system comprises 14 MICA loudspeakers, four 1100-LFC low-frequency control elements, eight-each JM-1P arrayable and UPJunior™ VariO™ loudspeakers, and 12 UPA-1P loudspeakers. Artist foldback includes four UPJ-1P VariO loudspeakers and six UM-100P and two USM-1P stage monitors. A Galileo® loudspeaker management system with two Galileo 616 processors provides system drive and alignment. All systems were supplied and installed by Shanghai Broad Future Electro Technology Co., Ltd. with design by the company’s technical director, Leon Yang.
Since opening in early 2014, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom was honored with the Themed Entertainment Association’s 2015 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in a Theme Park.