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ENTERTAINMENT: LIGHT, SOUND AND ACTION

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ENTERTAINMENT: LIGHT, SOUND AND ACTION

ENTERTAINMENT: LIGHT, SOUND AND ACTION

Super Yachts Review nº 033

Comment Email article:Print Texts Salvador Doménech Translation Marco Benevento

1. Introduction2. Integration3. Companies and products

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Having a quality entertainment system has become something characteristic for the large lengths. Songs and films are à la carte, digital TV, mail and Internet. The systems are integrated in the decoration, in the atmosphere, with the illumination and the climate.

Moments of unusual authenticity are usually lived on board of a yacht. To recognize that the entertainment systems take part in many of those situations helps to understand the importance given to them. A good installation can equal, and depending on how we look at it, exceed a domestic one, as it will let notice its effect in the different places where it is installed.
After great doses of dedicated effort to design, to install it and to fine tune it, the sound, the image and the cinema are really special, thanks to the many visible and invisible systems that form it. Admitting that there are not great differences regardless of being a new build or a later modification, it will be useful to consider that its development follows the stages of the tailor made projects.

ASPECTS TO BE CONSIDERED
Specification: firstly the aspirations and the tastes have to be identified, to later to propose and to choose the configuration that better adapts to these. It is necessary to make clear that there is no universal formula and that everything is not possible still. If in the end different solutions are adopted, hopefully it is only due the diversity of criteria at stake: in other occasions it will be the style, in others the capacity, the quality or the power will decide.
Design: once the elements chosen, the problematic of the location has to be solved, feeding, connecting and integration with other pieces of equipment, as well as working with the configuration of the screens and the controls. In order to obtain the best atmosphere, a decision on the materials and furniture is also made, where the interior designer or decorator and the image and sound specialists collaborate.
Installation: as several trades take part (electronic, electricity, mechanics, carpentry), they all must be coordinated to fulfil the specifications and the requirements of the design.This stage ends with the start up and the tests that are used for the measurement and correction of defaults. It is considered that the evolution of the technique can lead to changes, in such a way that there will be no definitive version until getting to the as built.
Configuration: normally it takes more time in this case than in other systems, therefore it is better to consider it like stage in itself. It is necessary to consider that is not only is to fine tune the operation of the equipment until eliminating any imperfection but that it also consists of completing all the utilities that will make its use simple and pleasant.

CHARACTERISTICS AND LOCATION
Do not anticipate too complicated or expensive installations, generally they are not too far from much of the initial plan. And talking about plans, it is convenient to remember that like other installations on yachts, the entertainment systems satisfies very specific requirements that require attention.
As soon for the adaptation to the environment, pieces of equipment not suitable for the use or service on board of a yacht should be avoided. It is convenient to remember it because the experiences with similar systems at home or in hotels influence the preferences. As an example we can mention that, sometimes, a projection system is inadequate for an atmosphere as the required darkness is not obtained, some mechanical systems work loose with the movement, there are pieces of electronics too sensible to electrical disturbances, and specially, elements that do not tolerate the conditions of salinity, humidity and temperature that they will be undergo.
Regarding their location it is necessary to remember that the spaces of the yacht arranged for the people are always different, and private to different extents. When the entertainment is takes throughout all the boat, these spaces are divided in areas and sub areas that will be to treated separately, observing some interactions: private reproduction, even of small devices with memory, access to common sources, extension to passage areas.
Audio, living or cinema rooms: the get the best, high fidelity and high resolution usually taken to the superlative, arranged in the appropriate space and if possible brightened up with combinations of lights, curtains and other mechanisms. Being careful to leave them safe from unexpected unnoticed harm that the crew or guest might cause.
Owner and guests’ cabins: they come next with the maximum degree, having to match in addition with the space to which they are destined.They are made off high end products that additionally have the characteristic of being more compact. Covering the adjacent spaces, like studios, corridors runners or bathrooms. Captain’s cabin: besides from the space, the determining of his rank is considered. High range elements are used, compact and compatible, that are going to allow him to enjoy his moments of privacy and continuing caring for the obligations.
Crew mess: it is the most crowded and busy space, therefore special emphasis is given in balancing quality and longevity. It is a good place to integrate alarm signals or surveillance images from the closed circuit, as well as to house equipment that requires expert manipulation.
Outer Decks: they require a quality that is open air proved that is, synonymous of splashes. And even more, because extending the sound (or the image) beyond the limits of the boat forces us to take care of the reproduction, especially in terms of power and distor tion. The neighbours are more tolerant with the musical tastes that do not sound like canned music coming to their boat.

INTEGRATION
Experts say that a well-manufactured yacht is recognizable because it is balanced. Should it be for that reason or by the value of synergy with other systems, the balance is usually determining in the selection. There are specific cases in which this characteristic is essential, such as the creation of certain scenarios. It is an approach that allows connecting all the aspects related to the audio-visual experience. When pressing the right button the equipment activates, the screen that was hidden in the furniture appears, the illumination is dimmed, the air-conditioned is silenced and the curtains close.
The same happens with the tracking and the concurrence. Most of the modern monitoring systems are able to take their information to the entertainment systems, in such a way that video-monitoring or navigation screens will be able to be shown by means of television channels. The same piece of equipment caters for different requests, the data storage and channels are shared and global instructions are configured acting over the local ones. Perhaps less evident is that when the greater is this capacity, proportionally the system requires fewer elements.

SOLUTIONS
We realize that it is not a small issue what is being entrusted to the people in charge of the installation. For that reason, the project manager usually joins the team. It is worth mentioning that in fact, there are two ways to go, the one of a global solution through a single make with just one supplier that takes charge of the whole project and the solution to fit, the most frequent one. In the first case, when deciding, the competence of the design and the specifications of the make, as well as of its installation and configuration agents are important.
The solution to fit can be determined by different factors. Sometimes it happened due to the different representatives, others because of trying to combine equipment of the highest ranges, or to integrate the monitoring beyond the minimum requirements. Definition attempts aside, we could say that the different categories are based on adapting developments already proven and others in proving adapted developments. Generally, modern entertainment systems include several fields, that is why it can be interesting to think separately about them.
Audio: receivers, reproducers, amplifiers and loudspeakers that provide a high fidelity sound and sound track effects. We find an assorted range of product made with instrumentalist passion and different technologies. It is useful to compare parameters such as power output, response frequency, suppression and harmonic distortion factor, although it is almost compulsory to visit a properly equipped demonstration room.
Video: players, recorders, processors, projectors and screens that provide high-resolution images in different formats. To get familiarized with characteristics like resolution, contrasts, brightness, colours, angle of view, response time, size or aspect will help us to understand the reasons, although at the end it is usually the eye that ends up making the decision.
Servers: storage, management and distribution elements for music and films to the different receivers. They allow eliminating shelves full of CD’s and DVD’s, no matter how many how many reading or connexion slots are added for the users. Great capacity, simplified search and obtaining contents via Internet are some properties of the best equipments.
Multimedia: just talking about the CD/DVD would not be appropriate as all the equipment can store and reproduce sound, photos or domestic videos files, as well as accessing to other Internet contents.
Television: receivers, decoders, controllers and antennas that allow receiving analogical and digital signals, both terrestrial and from satellites. This last modality takes to the most attention in the selection and the installation of the components. A good reception at sea involves quite a few difficulties, and on the other hand, as many receivers as independent services are required.
Control: control panels, switchboards or remote controls, keyboards or screen, that communicate with control units, by means of cables, networks or waves. We also include the programs and the computers that have this mission. Either if they have a make or are programmed, they are thought both in functional as well as aesthetic.

COMPANIES AND PRODUCTS
Next we will mention a few compulsory names in each one of the mentioned categories. Some company systems appear, with solutions designed and provided by their organization of technical and sales networks. For the it is needless to say that they also needs the work of specialists in their installation and configuration, that can be reached following the installation they have made or by means of other rreliable sources.

LINN
This Scottish company specialised in the highest-level entertainment is endorsed by an extensive list of installations on super yachts. Their individualized designs range from the independent installation to the full coverage of the totality of the atmospheres on the yacht, integrated with other systems and able to evolve with the time. Among all the high level range we stand out their multi-atmosphere products.
Main source: Unidisk SC, universal multi-channel, reproduces any audio or video disc (CD, Super Audio CD, DVD-Audio, DVDVideo, VCD, SVCD) and data that contains the MP3, AAC, JPEG and MPEG 1 and 2 formats.
Preamplificador: Exotic, 12 entrances (6 pairs of RCA, 3 digital and 3 optical) and processes most of digitalis algorithms of digital audio, including Digital Dolby Surround, ProLogic II, DTS and AAC. Configurable for any loudspeakers system, from stereo to 7.1.
Amplifiers: Chakra, from two to six channels with 100 and 200 watts exits per channel, completely stable at any volume level and harmonic distortion inferior to 0.01 percent.
Loudspeakers: Artikulat, for stereo and home cinema up to five channels of active operation, with servo-assisted bass, acoustically balanced cones, magnetic shielding and finished in ash, maple, cherry and rosewood. Also the Komri series of passive loudspeakers that are the better adapted for the marine applications.
Server: Kivor, digitalises the analogical signals, stores in the hard disk, downloads contents from the Internet and distributes with the best fidelity up to 2.310 hours of music to up to 16 users.
Controls: Knekt, controls the audio distribution of the main area to local areas and adjacent sub areas (up to a maximum of 128), by means of programmable keyboards (RCU), easy handling controls (Basik 3) or software for PDA’s (Kinik).

REVOX
This prestigious Swiss make provides solutions such as singulars, modular and systematics, with totally scalable functions and technology. Their elements are handled by means of simple operations and are compatible with those of other manufacturers. Although it does not store video, the system is limitless as for its expansion. Up to four areas of eight rooms can be configured for each managing unit, and allows operations from a PC, a PDA, or the domotic system. Special attention is deserved to the concept, the design, the operation and the control of its several elements:
Central module: M51, it is connected to the rest of modules and also to other M51 if there were any. It incorporates CD and DVD player, decoder (stereo, ProLogicII, DDS and DTS) and amplifier (5 x 60 W analogical channels and 5 x 200 W digital channels).
Other sources: radio tuner (digital, memorizes up to 50 stations), audio analogical (4 inputs and outputs) and video commuter (up to different 7 signals for TV receivers satellite, DVD recorders or CCTV signals).
Televisions: Reception, LCDTV (1.280x768, 200:1) 17 inches with DVD reproducer and 23 inches with progressive scan and surrounding sound, and 42 inches plasma HD (1024x768, contrast 10.000:1) with double tuner and step by step function. Loudspeakers: Re:sound models Column, Piccolo, Centre and Active Bass, a set thought for home cinema, and applications of various formats and sizes, with excellent acoustic quality and finished in textured or lacquered aluminium.
Audio server: M37, can store, order, group and reproduce up to 2.700 hours of music, unloading complements from the Internet, to synchronize with wireless devices and has modem, Ethernet and USB interfaces.
Multi-room client: M219, provides access to the distributed audio and admits other three local inputs, with pre amplified output (2 x 100 W channels) for loudspeakers or digital control system. Remote controls, wall mounted and by means of software: M207/M208, M217/M18 and M217/M218, only with buttons or also with screen, combining with the decoration, sober and intuitive handling, making possible the interactive experience and having user programmable functions.

B O
This veteran Danish company that bets for the individual perception and the technological development is well known for their high performance audio, video and telephony solutions. Their products are a reference in industrial design as far as appearance, function and operation. As it happens with other companies aimed to the residential sector more than the marine environment, it is not an obstacle to enjoy on board of a yacht their digital and wireless performance.
Centrals: BeoCenter 2 and 6 that unify sources (CD, DVD, radio DAT and even TV) that at the same time include receivers for the bidirectional communication between several pieces of equipment in different areas.
Loudspeakers: BeoLab 5 and 9, with acoustic lenses and with active digital amplification, a combination of loudspeaker and bass with BeoLab 3 and 2, or combinations of the series 7 for cinema effects.
Television sets: BeoVision 4, of 50 and 65 inches, HD plasma screens (resolution 1366x768, resists 3.000:1) and BeoVision 9, of 50 inches that in addition has an integrated hard disk, together with to BeoVision 7, 32 inches LCD TV of (8ms, 1366x768, 1.200:1) and 40 inches (8ms, 1366x768, 1.000:1) with DVD and surrounding sound.
Processor: BeoSystem 3, compatible with DDS 5/6/7,1, DTS and ProLogicII. Reads and optimizes signals of any format, adapts the image to the environmental conditions and controls the sound of up to 12 loudspeakers.
Server: BeoMedia 1, black box type with a hard disk of 250 gigabits, allows the storage, access and reproduction of up to 110 hours of video, 60 of high resolution, sound files, photos, video or Internet favourites. It connects with other PC’s or portables, it organizes multimedia files and it distributes them on the network.
Multi-room: BeoLink network, based on the wall mounted Active Eye elements linked by means of the Masterlink wiring, it adds versatility and possibilities with the wireless transmitter Wireless 1 that allows to eliminate the wiring from the receivers.