11/2007
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BMW with STAGETEC in the Driving Seat
Fully integrated audio/video system implemented at
BMW’s new automobile delivery and event centre at Munich
Buttenheim, November 2007: When the new BMW-Welt
(BMW-World) in Munich opened its doors to the public on October 20th a real landmark
in the world of brand-enhancing shrines to the motor car came to life. Constructed
by Coop Himmelb(l)au architects from Vienna (translates into English as Co-Operative
Blue Sky or Heavenly Construction), the futuristic steel and glass complex inspired
by the Acropolis in Athens houses a delivery centre for new vehicles, a multipurpose
Events Forum for concerts, shows, live broadcasts conferences, events and exhibitions
related to technology and design. To complete the experience there are shops, restaurants,
and a transport education centre, the Junior Campus, for children. The most remarkable
part of the avant-garde architecture is a transparent Double Cone resembling a cyclone
prominently positioned at the southern entrance to the building — called the “heart
of the BMW brand at BMW-Welt”.* 109 plasma displays are installed inside this
structure to form a “media dome of light and sound”*. Here, as well as
in every other part of the complex, all the audio, video, and public address systems
were designed, sourced and installed by SALZBRENNER STAGETEC MEDIAGROUP.
 One-stop Systems Shop for BMW World
The MEDIAGROUP completed two extensive tasks commissioned by BMW. The audio, video,
and sound-reinforcement systems in the Events Forum hall and the audio, video, and
pa installations in all other parts of the complex. While the Forum as a multipurpose
venue required flexible technology that can meet the requirements of any event, the
integrated AV-system control in the rest of the building was equally important in
sealing the deal.
"We are one of the very few systems integrators in Germany capable of providing
a one-stop shop for heavily customized audio and video solutions. This, and our previous
experience with comparable projects, was a key factor in winning this contract." says
MEDIAGROUP project leader Gerhard Reichart, who was in charge of the team responsible
for the BMW installation.
Flexible Audio in the Forum
A 48-fader AURUS with 136 audio channels handles all audio signals in the Forum.
This space offers more than 10,000 sq ft and can accommodate up to 800 people. Five
stationary NEXUS Base Devices plus a mobile Base Device (used as a stage box) provide
all the interfaces required and route audio to the Meyer-Sound speaker system. To
ensure that the installation offers maximum flexibility, the NEXUS is populated with
a wide range of analogue and digital interfaces. These allow in-house or hired equipment
to be integrated quickly and easily into the existing audio infrastructure as required.
This is definitely a key asset in a hall that is used for so many different types
of event — live shows, conferences, dramas, films, banquets, and many more!
The MEDIAGROUP met the highly demanding video display requirements by integrating
a fully-fledged projection system including a Barco XLM HD 30 high-brightness unit
for front projection and three compact Barco R12+ units controlled by a Barco Encore
for rear projection.
Total Integration - Universal Control At All Times
A fully integrated system comprising NEXUS and the newly developed MediaControl system
acts as the audio-visual backbone. The hardware installed includes 20 CAS-50010 Central
Control Units for MediaControl, 12 NEXUS Base Devices routing the audio, and an Evertz
video router for image distribution. All system components are networked using optical
fibres and Ethernet. This infrastructure enables centralized control and routing
of all in-house audio and video signals. It controls and monitors the sound-reinforcement
system (which was also installed by the MEDIAGROUP) as well as the impressive multimedia
system inside the Double Cone.
 Customised Control Software
This is the genuine article. Among the exciting features in the Double Cone is a
video installation constructed using 60 plasma displays (42" each) along the
spiral staircase plus a video wall composed of 36 individual displays. The significant
feature of this installation is that both the video wall and the line of displays
along the stairs present specially choreographed images that appear on the displays
just like a mosaic. The enabling technology at the heart of this is a computer that
calculates what part of the image must be displayed on which screen at any moment
in time. The resultant video signals are routed to the screens via the SDI router
infrastructure. Each monitor is separately controlled by the system. All the video
and audio files required to produce the partial images are downloaded from a central
archive to decentralized playout servers. Synchronization is accurate to the frame.
All the co-ordination tasks for the systems are handled by a hardware and software
operating and configuration system that was specifically built for BMW-Welt by the
MEDIAGROUP – MediaControl!.
Apart from controlling the video wall installations, another MediaControl
highlight is the way it handles the distributed coverage of separate public-address
zones and rooms with audio and video. Users are able to recall individual programs
specific to each area using a touch screen. The NEXUS routes the audio according
to these instructions while the SDI router does the same with the video signals.
All audio and video matrix crosspoints are set using MediaControl.
*
Quoted from BMW AG (http://www.bmw-welt.com/web/bmw-welt/de/index_highend.html) |
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