Clearwing Systems Integration provided a complete audio and video package for The Ark Encounter, which opened on July 7, 2016 in Williamstown, KY. As the largest timber-frame structure in the world, Ark Encounter features a full-scale Noah’s Ark, spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high.
In the first phase, it was necessary to distribute audio to nearly 200 zones park-wide. Processing is handled by a Core 1100 with a second Core 1100 for redundancy. Fifty QSC CXD4.3Q and CXD4.5Q amplifiers power over 500 QSC AD series loudspeakers.
All 144 audio input tracks to the system come from Alcorn McBride Binloops over Dante. They are then routed over a redundant
QLan network to a total of eleven distributed amp racks located throughout the ark, grounds, restaurant, and guest services. TheCXD-Q amplifiers drive 195 zones of distributed audio. Everything is fed over network with no analog cables running between racks. A single redundant processor drives the entire system, handling hundreds of inputs and outputs with less than one millisecond of latency.
Multiple paging stations and touch panels allow the users to control and page throughout the park-wide system.
Video distribution over HD-SDI or Cat5 cable was not practical due to the distance limitations. Instead, an Extron XTP II Crosspoint 3200 Matrix Switcher distributes to 24 displays over fiber. Content from Alcorn McBride AV Binloop HDs, fed a variety of displays including LG commercial and 8 Peerless IP68 rated outdoor displays.