The latest addition Mein Schiff 4 was commissioned earlier this summer, having been built at the Meyer Turku shipyard. It followed on from Mein Schiff 3, built the previous year, and will operate routes across the Baltic, Mediterranean and Caribbean seas, as well as the Canary Islands and Central America. Martin Audio systems have been fitted in all key areas across the 15 decks on both ships.
With these two 99,500 tonne, 2,506 passenger capacity vessels configured identically, installation specialists Funa International created the technical infrastructure, working with consultant Torsten Hirche, TUI Cruises' technical director for the past six years.
In addition to Martin Audio's flagship MLA Compact Multi-cellular Loudspeaker Array - making its marine debut - Hirche's recommendation included mission critical solutions from across the manufacturer's catalogue. This included OmniLine, Screen 4 and Effects 5 cinema speakers, DD6 differential dispersion technology, W8LC compact line array, XD15 and examples from the AQ architectural range - as well as special marine versions of standard speakers to withstand life out at sea.
Torsten Hirche played a critical role in the implementation. As technical director for all entertainment systems - and consultant for audio - he and Funa were able to turn the concept ideas into reality. "Although I have a very good experience in working with British audio brands, the MLA [Loudspeaker Array] which we have in the theatre, was my first time working with this awesome speaker system," he said. "TUI Cruises is a premium product, so I also needed premium audio brands."
As there had been no opportunity to specify this for the earlier cruise ship, the award winning system made its debut on Mein Schiff 4, with two hangs of eight MLA Compact and six DSX subwoofers designed in two batches of three. DD6's have been used for in-fills and XD12 for side-fills onstage, with the option of LE1200 reference monitors.
Both the ships' multipurpose cinema and theatre needed to be configurable and switchable for live sound, as Torsten Hirche explains. "For example, in the theatre we also had to accommodate a TV show for the naming ceremony. Therefore, the approach was for a system with headroom for special requirements."
As for the multipurpose, acoustically-treated 'Klanghaus' this represents another massive achievement for a cinema which doubles as a classical venue for opera and chamber music - turning it into a full philharmonic concert venue. "On one side is the world of acoustics, on the other hand the vastness of the ocean," as the website puts it.
This space required three separate, switchable sound systems: a main Left/Right OmniLine hang, with subwoofer support for band set-up; an additional cinema surround, for when the room reverts to movie mode and an acoustic control system to set the venue for different reverberation times - for instance when a string quartet or piano soloist are performing.
The OmniLine system comprises two left/right arrays of eight elements, with AQ212 sub support, with the option of DD6 floor monitors.
The Screen 4 (and Screen Sub 1A) cinema speakers are arranged in a classic L/C/R design behind a perforated drop down screen with Effect 5 enclosures providing the surround sound. Both the OmniLine and cinema rigs can operate as stand-alone systems or be combined at the sound desk.
In addition to the theatre and cinema, Martin Audio indoor products have been specified in a total of eight bars and three lounges, many with small live stages.
For Martin Audio the project was instigated by product support engineers, Nigel Meddemmen and completed by Robin Dibble,
