Hippotizer controls the video walls of the new Princess Cruises cruise ship

This new ship Princess Cruises It has an innovative AV infrastructure in its different spaces, including The Piazza, The Arena Theatre, The Dome, the Princess Live venue, The Landing and Lido Pool. In total, two have been installed Hippotizer Ground+ MK2, two Mayon+ MK2, one Karst+ MK2 and two Amba+ MK2 Media Servers to run the video walls.

The new ship Sun Princess de Princess Cruises set sail on her maiden voyage in mid- 2024 with a completely renovated audiovisual system. Multiple Led walls were installed, all of them controlled by Hippotizer multimedia servers.

With capacity for 4.300 people and its unique multi-level dome, It is the largest in the company's fleet. Innovation moves to the boat's video elements, including The Piazza, The Arena Theatre, The Dome, the Princess Live venue, The Landing and Lido Pool. In total, if Hippotizer is installed Ground+ MK2, of the Mayon+ MK2, and Karst+ MK2 and two Amba+ MK2 Media Servers to run video walls.

“This new ship is different from other audiovisual systems installed on ships.”, since we sought to add large and cozy spaces, without bulky elements that obstruct the design of the place, such as projectors and screens, says Matt DeJong, Princess Cruises Fleet Lighting and Video Supervisor. “The solution and desire for large video surfaces resulted in the specification of LED walls with a relatively slim form factor and I chose Hippotizer to run them due to their unified user interface and scalability based on the needs of the space.”.

“The MK2 range provided greater performance and reliability, and it was important that the servers were one hundred percent reliable, especially since many of them are expected to work the 24 hours of the day, los 7 days of the week, to offer constant format screen images”, DeJong adds..

At the heart of the ship is The Piazza, which has a large Led wall composed of three sections. “This screen works 24 hours of the day and displays atmospheric content, time and location specific, in addition to being used for night entertainment”, explains DeJong. “We have installed a Hippotizer Tierra+ MK2 here with two capture cards and an external LTC device of CB Electronics to sync media with show control”.

The Tierra+ MK2 is also responsible for controlling the RGB architectural system from a ETC Atlas Pro, providing a DVI input where the entire room is mapped to respond with specific content.

DeJong used the Hippotizer's Shape function to track the position of the screens, so the Led panels move through the content. This allows it to be displayed whether the screen is open or closed and creates a seamless transition when the screens move. “We use Macro Manager to calculate the content of 24 hours, which is configured with OSC messages from a console MA Lighting grandMA3”, DeJong adds.. “Hippotizer is primarily controlled from a MA3 Lite in the room via SACN. It is connected to the ETC Atlas Pro for Arch lighting..

At the Arena Theater, an Led wall composed of nine segments is prepared to move up or down the stage and rotate, configured according to the needs of the production in question, many of which are of Broadway or West End caliber.

“I knew that the media was going to play an important role in defining this space and providing much of the images and scenery for the shows”, explains DeJong. “The large format of the Led wall, along with demanding room performance needs, made a Hippotizer Tierra+ MK2 chosen, equipped with two capture cards and an external LTC reader from CB Electronics. He Hippotizer VideoMapper used to adjust the viewport sizes of screens when in cabaret mode. For control, we install a grandMA3 Full Size”.

Led panels were also incorporated into the stage stands of the Arena Theater, where a key show required a large pixel map for custom shaped scenic pixel light boxes. Was used a Hippotizer Mayon+ MK2 for this task, elected “for its output capacities and its load capacity”. The pixel map connects directly to the 10G port of the Mayon+ MK2 and is distributed to the set via the show's network.

The ship's unique glass dome features another large LED wall in the center of the curved structure.. During the day, shows atmospheric content, but can also be used as a backdrop for shows such as Cirque Eloize and for nightclub events.

A Hippotizer Karst+ MK2 takes control of the video in this space, Equipped with a capture card and an external LTC reader from CB Electronics for show synchronization. The content of 24 hours runs with Macro Manager and OSC messages from another console MA3 Lite. It is mainly controlled from sACN from the lighting table.