Leading manufacturer of AV and show control equipment, Alcorn McBride, is powering all video playback at the new American Prohibition Museum in Savannah, Georgia.
Thirteen immersive galleries across two floors tell the story of prohibition and its impact on 1920s and ‘30s America. Among the exhibits is an authentic speakeasy.
Attraction designer, Ryan McCurdy, performed the full AV design and install for the museum for Historic Tours of America.
“The museum is a linear, self-guided attraction with live actors and multimedia content,” says McCurdy. “Visitors follow a chronological path through history although there are moments when their tour can be diverted by the actors!”
McCurdy selected an Alcorn McBride A/V Binloop HD frame-accurate synchronized audio and video player to handle all the playback in the museum.
“We wanted a system that didn’t have any moving parts,” he comments. “We can buy as many cards as we need and upscale at any time without wasting technology. Binloop is the king of the install.”
To cram a lot of history, and the look and feel of the Roaring ‘20s, into a relatively small space, the museum dovetails traditional reader rails and artefacts with experiential technology.
Experiential technology and live actors evoke prohibition era
Music and soundscapes are used extensively to evoke the spirit of the era. The live actors add yet another dimension to the drama.
“Actors are able to adapt their dialogue based on the visitors,” explains McCurdy. “The museum has gotten great reviews for its unique approach.”
Some of the most memorable moments are provided by 4K life-size, talking portraits, which are designed to communicate with the live actors, other portraits and additional effects in a frame-accurate synchronization. In one example, a moonshiner appears on a 75-inch monitor and delivers 90 seconds of dialogue enhanced with sound and practical lighting cues.
“The Binloop is the best in the industry when you demand accuracy in playback,” confirms McCurdy. “It was important that the effects be 4K because of the size of the images and the fact that there’s not enough room to do a massive projection. Binloop allows for 2 channels of 4K. It was essential to making the portraits look good – visitors believe they’re looking at a live person.”
