The park recently inaugurated its first indoor attraction, a dark ride called Ghostville - a trip through the haunted ruins of an old Western gold-mining town featuring a cutting edge audio, lighting and animatronics set-up.
The ride was designed and built by specialist firm Art Project of Torbolo; they, in turn, called in Vida Studio Srl of Milan to supply a turnkey package, comprising hardware and systems for all the ride's audio, video, lighting and control, including automation control via PLC. To ensure perfectly distributed high-impact sound with the ability to cover the screams of up to 1,000 people per hour travelling through Ghostville, Vida Studio chose QSC loudspeaker systems and Rave 522aa devices operating under the company's QSControl.net platform.
The main control system is made up of a show controller, four 8-channel stereo players and a DMX machine controlling the lighting rig. An input/output expander receives the signals from a series of photocells and proximity sensors installed along the ride; these are triggered by the goldmine carriages - designed by Emiliana Luna Park - as they pass, and via serial messages communicate the show control presets to be recalled. Audio and lighting signals are therefore fed out in sync.
Vida's Italo Lazzarini describes how the ride's audio system functions. "The audio tracks from the players enter the QSControl.net system, which features six Rave 522aa units and is configured as a large matrix, with CobraNet connections. All the DSP is interconnected by means of two 3Com hubs: one for the CobraNet signals and the other for the QSC control network, which handles the actual control of the signal processing." Thus the special effects, triggered by the sensors along the route, can be fed out to the appropriate audio zones.
The six Rave 522aa units combine two distinct QSC technologies within a single hardware product. Configurable DSP and CobraNet audio transport are seamlessly integrated into a powerful single rack unit package.
The network also greatly facilitated the implementation of some (almost inevitable) last-minute additions and variations to the sound effects once the system was finished; during installation it also allowed Lazzarini to fine tune equalisation and volume in the various zones via Wi-fi.
As far as the choice of loudspeakers was concerned, Lazzarini had no doubts: "The QSC AD-S52 loudspeakers were chosen for their very high efficiency and excellent quality, in spite of their compact dimensions, which enabled them to be easily hidden in the scenery - in fact the 58 enclosures are virtually invisible to the clients."
The black QSC AcousticDesign AD-S52 enclosures are full range, surface-mount loudspeakers, whose high output, 2-way design incorporates a 5.25in weatherproof LF transducer and 1in neodymium tweeter. The lightweight systems also feature the added benefit of built-in dynamic power protection, which ensures reliability in the event of overload conditions.
At other park attractions in the past Lazzarini has been able to call on weather-resistant AD-S52T's, equipped with a 70V/100V matching transformer to cover outdoor queues, with further distributed audio systems for restaurants; he has even used QSC for discrete sound reinforcement requirements in television studios.
To add low-frequency extension and power to specific points on the Mirabilandia ride, Vida Studio installed three single QSC 15in HPR151W subwoofers. As well as being capable of producing 133 dB peak SPL with frequency response down to 43Hz they ensure tight, punchy low-end even where space is at a premium, thanks to their small footprint.
The subs at Ghostville are ins
