Coasters with on-board audio

[Jer]

i've been on 2, Bizarro and Rock'n'Rollercoaster.


Bizarro (Gadv) is just ruined by the audio, completely, it's not even coherent it's just a random collection of pointless sounds.

Rock'n'Rollercoasters however worked very well, I liked the music, I like Steven Tyler yelling at me.

 

[ECG]

I guess I've always been lucky in capturing the audio on all my POVs. Even though my camera picks up a lot of wind, the audio is about the same as what you can hear while riding.
Some are done really well: HRRR, X2, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, California Screamin'; while other leave a lot to be desired: Terminator Salvation & Bizarros.
As far as the Space Mountain ones, I though the Ghost Galaxy one for Halloween worked really well:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyGIoBqC8Zc[/youtube]
California Screamin'
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Gi8pfOtII[/youtube]
blue fire
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-QH4055acU[/youtube]
Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjI2a8wRe34[/youtube]
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHkpfxyOcD0[/youtube]
X2 (They didn't have the Is everybody in? X..x..x..2..2..2! audio in the beginning since it was the 1st ride of the day.)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBK-Amxf8fk[/youtube]
Terminator (I had to hold my camera close to the speaker just to pick up the audio.)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDmpo6I3lbM[/youtube]
Bizarro (SFNE)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfkohW6FXs8[/youtube]
Bizarro (SFGAdv)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC_4GjLc5BI[/youtube]

 

[Xpress]

I haven't heard the reasons why the audio was removed, although I'm sure the excuses will be ridiculous.

Being someone who deals with audio equipment somewhat similar to the ones used on rides, as well as the power sources, i can guarantee you that due to the volume they are at, that the batteries can no longer supply the required current to the speakers. a couple minutes on the station charger isn't long enough to top of the batteries.

They can choose to use 2 different battery types:

-Pb, or Lead Acid batteries (the same kind used in vehicles)
-Li-Ion batteries (the same batteries used in cell phones, lap tops, ect.)

Both battery types are safe for use in high stress situations, like on coasters.

Lead acid batteries will be heavier, and thus, will probably consume an entire car, which is what is used on terminator. I got a good enough look one time when we stopped on the block while a couple of technicians were working on a train.

Lead acid batteries are only good for a couple years before they will need to be replaced. My guess is that this is why terminator does not have sound anymore- because the lead acid batteries will no longer hold a charge, and replacing them would mean a hefty bill. They need to use deep cycle type batteries on this application, and they don't come cheap (some batteries can go for as much as $400 a piece!). With Terminator using probably 10 batteries in parallel to essentially make one big giant battery pack, while still operating at 12v for the speakers, that's one expensive ass power system. Multiply that by two for both trains, and you can see why they would rather just run the trains without the audio.

Now, li-Ion batteries are a lot lighter and can produce more power. Rides like Silver Bullet would use Li-Ion batteries for a power source, because they're light, compact, and can easily fit on the train. You can see the battery containers for SB's onride camera system in the first row here.

Li-Ion batteries also last longer, which is why rides that are equipped with them tend to not have in station rechargers, because they can easily last an entire day and power the equipment with rides running at full capacity. They can also be less expensive to replace, and can be hidden beneath a trains body pretty easily for a clean look.

And this concludes Xpress' 5 minute battery tutorial.

 

[cp23]

According to Wikipedia:

"Fourteen months after its opening, the ride's audio no longer functioned properly. Six Flags closed the attraction on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 to add new audio. The ride reopened on Monday, August 16, 2010 with new audio and a new layer of sealant added to the track."

Has anyone been since August 16? Sounds as though the audio is back. What I liked about this audio was the way it synched with the ride - "Here they come!" just as you reach the top of the lift hill, "Take the tunnel!" just before you dive through the tunnel, "This is your salvation" as the ride hits the brakes, just found that a really nice touch.

Look forward to checking out Blue Fire's audio; since this is Europa Park we can be sure that the audio will still be running in 10 years' time.

Thanks for the POVs - can't watch them at the mo but look forward to checking them out!

 

[Gangster4Life]

One thing I've always wondered is how can anyone actually hear it, I mean just imagine this, your on the ride, your at the top and suddenly a strong wind blows, and you've got someone sitting next to you, screaming at the top of their lungs. How do you hear it :?

 

[Xpress]

One thing I've always wondered is how can anyone actualy hear it, I mean just imagine this, your on the ride, your at the top and suddenly a strong wind blows, and you've got someone sitting next to you, screaming at the top of their lungs. How do you hear it :?

Kinda hard to not to when it's almost blowing out your eardrums.. :?

 

[Xpress]

According to Wikipedia:

"Fourteen months after its opening, the ride's audio no longer functioned properly. Six Flags closed the attraction on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 to add new audio. The ride reopened on Monday, August 16, 2010 with new audio and a new layer of sealant added to the track."

Has anyone been since August 16? Sounds as though the audio is back. What I liked about this audio was the way it synched with the ride - "Here they come!" just as you reach the top of the lift hill, "Take the tunnel!" just before you dive through the tunnel, "This is your salvation" as the ride hits the brakes, just found that a really nice touch.

I am going sometime this month, I can double check on that.

 

[cp23]

One thing I've always wondered is how can anyone actualy hear it, I mean just imagine this, your on the ride, your at the top and suddenly a strong wind blows, and you've got someone sitting next to you, screaming at the top of their lungs. How do you hear it :?

Terminator's audio is really loud, plus luckily I don't recall too much screaming when I was on it.

 

[Ben]

I really like on board audio, I think it can really add.

The audio on X2 is amazing <3 The stuff on Terminator really adds as well IMO.

Obviously all the Disney ones are really cool, I can't think of anything else haha...

OH, Blue Fire has audio? I really don't remember that at all, might have been off I guess.

 

[Gavin]

I'm assuming that Six Flags uses the same, crap company for the audio systems on all their coasters?

Out of the four that I rode recently, only one was actually working. X2, Terminator (which has now been explained) and Bizarro at Great Adventure were all **** ed on the days I was there.

Bizarro at SFNE was working, and it was ****. As others have said, it's just pointless, annoying noise; it adds absolutely **** all to the ride experience. Normally, I wouldn't go as far as saying crap audio would detract from the actual coaster experince, but in this case, thanks to the placement of the speakers, it does.

As Hixee mentioned earlier, I found it really uncomfortable to ride with my arms up as the speakers were in the perfect position to dig into my shoulders. Ok, maybe not a huge problem normally, but when you consider how strong the airtime is on that ride, then it actually became painful in places.

Others that I can think of would be Space Mountain at Hong Kong Disney. They had introduced the Ghost Galaxy overlay that California took up a couple of years later, and it was fantastic in my opinion. The audio seems perfectly in sync with the ride and projection work.

Rock 'n' Roller coaster was really good, though seemed to be music for the sake of general atmosphere than particularly synced to the ride?

Space Mountain Mission Two: I have no idea. I can't remember the audio at all, I was too focussed on what a rough, crappy, painful piece of **** the coaster itself was.

Hollywood Dream: Being able to choose your own music is a great idea. I feel stupid saying it, but it really does create a whole new atmosphere for the coaster when you're riding accompanied to Eminem on one ride, then Japanese pop music on another.

 

[Xpress]

I'm assuming that Six Flags uses the same, crap company for the audio systems on all their coasters?

Like I said, it's likely the power system, and NOT the actual audio equipment itself.

Lead acid batteries are unpredictable. Just because the warranty says 5 years on it doesn't mean it's going to last that long. If you ask me, they need to use a Tesla coil to send electronics flying through the air and into a receiver on the train to power the system, wirelessly.

 

[Gazza]

^I didn't think any coaster with audio used batteries....Aren't supercapacitors the standard thing to use?

 

[Xpress]

^I didn't think any coaster with audio used batteries....Aren't supercapacitors the standard thing to use?

I wouldn't think so.. For a coaster it seems like they would need a very large amount of super caps, to power the audio for an entire ride. Not to mention if a train stops on a block.

If you think about it, a battery would be a better choice, something that can hold enough juice for an entire day, and top off in the station.

Also, super caps like to discharge their power quickly, which wouldn't last an entire ride. They can be more lethal than a battery too. If a worker accidentally discharges one on himself, he's as good as dead.

 

[jjjjustin]

^I didn't think any coaster with audio used batteries....Aren't flux capacitors the standard thing to use?

fixxed :--D

 

[Mysterious Sue]

Ohh god what's with the battery type discussion. I feel like I'm at work!

Wasn't a big fan of Rip Ride Rokit, Florida if I'm honest. The music didn't detract from the ride but it didn't add much either - I thought it was a bit of gimmick overall.

I'll save my judgement on audio then Gavin if you reckon HK Disney have a better example.

 

[Brookes]

X2's is amazing as it really adds to the ride with all the effects up to and including the lift hill, and Aerosmith's Love in an Elevator as you go down the first drop. Unfortunately I didn't get to hear Terminator's, but the audio on California Screamin' was awesome. I really like on board audio, I think it makes the ride better. What pointed this out to me was my second ride on California Screamin' when the sound wasn't working, and it was nowhere near as good as when it is.

 

[Gavin]

I'll save my judgement on audio then Gavin if you reckon HK Disney have a better example.

I rode it around Halloween though, when they complete change all the effects and audio for a few weeks, so not sure how it is normally.

Actually, when are you going? They've got their Halloween stuff going from September 16-October 31st, which will include the Ghost Galaxy version of Space Mountain again.

They're calling the Halloween event Malificent's Reign, and it's looking to be their best yet:

http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/html/Halloween/en_US/index.html

 

[Xpress]

^I didn't think any coaster with audio used batteries....Aren't flux capacitors the standard thing to use?

fixxed :--D

Uhmm, wouldn't that cause the train to time travel? Or would it have to hit 88mph first before time travel is possible?

Another thing: Because time travel causes flames to spontaneously appear from the vehicles intense speed acceleration, wouldn't this burn terminator down to the ground? :shock:

 

[jjjjustin]

^I didn't think any coaster with audio used batteries....Aren't flux capacitors the standard thing to use?

fixxed :--D

Uhmm, wouldn't that cause the train to time travel? Or would it have to hit 88mph first before time travel is possible?

Another thing: Because time travel causes flames to spontaneously appear from the vehicles intense speed acceleration, wouldn't this burn terminator down to the ground? :shock:

No because it will not have that much speed so it could not timetravel.

 

[Gazza]

Also, super caps like to discharge their power quickly, which wouldn't last an entire ride. They can be more lethal than a battery too. If a worker accidentally discharges one on himself, he's as good as dead.

Errrm....

http://www.coasterforce.com/interview_w ... _binkowski

CF: Going along with the audio on the rides—how exactly does that work? Where exactly is the amp for example?
JB: The amp is onboard. And you know, I’m not technical so whatever I say is going to be wrong, but it’s not necessarily a battery that’s on board. It’s like a capacitor that takes a tremendous amount of voltage and then goes. But that’s all onboard. So it comes into the station, runs through some brushes, gets its pump of energy, and then off it goes again. It only has about 60 seconds to 2 minutes to be able to get its charge and then off it has to go for its next run. So that’s how we do it now. How we picked the music for it—for instance with Led Zeppelin—we bent the steel of the ride to work with that song that existed. But the Eagles re-did their music to work with the ride we already had.

And also....

http://www.magicalmountain.net/disney-h ... aster.aspx

Rock n RollerCoaster uses capacitors instead of batteries to power the onboard sound system. When the limo arrives at the load station, it picks up enough power into its capacitors to power the sound system for one cycle of the ride. This system helps reduce the weight of the limo.

But thats not all....

http://www.wdwinfo.com/universal/univer ... Rockit.htm

Power gets to each vehicle’s cameras and computers via on-board capacitors that get freshly charged each time the vehicle passes through the load station – similar to how an electric subway train is powered. And finally – the brains of the system is a network of self-checking computers called Programmable Logic Controllers which constantly check the entire system and synchronize wirelessly.

Hmmm, turns out a heap of coasters use capacitors and not batteries, there's this piece on RoTM.

http://www.birketspecialtylighting.com/projects.html

This is the first rollercoaster in the world to have an onboard LED lighting and sound system where the guest can choose any audio track. The project was the first to combine elements that have never been put together before for an onboard effect system mounted in a rollercoaster.

The rollercoaster consists of 4 cars, 312 white LEDs, 72 speakers, 36 MP3 players, 36 guest interface panels, numerous sensors and super capacitors, and at the heart 40 RabbitFLEX microcontroller boards.
.......
The system implementing this effect was designed in Orlando, installed in Switzerland, and commissioned in Osaka by Birket.

Revenge of the Mummy uses it too:

http://www.thestudiotour.com/wiki/index ... _the_Mummy

The ride vehicle is themed as a mine car, which was used for removing artifacts from the Mummy's Tomb.
As the ride vehicle is in the loading position, it's taking a few moments to recharge it's on-board power supply. The "ultracapacitors" which store the electrical charge have a greater current capacity than comparably sized batteries, but don't hold the charge as long, so need regularly recharging every time the vehicle returns to the loading position. Forklift truck chargers are used to keep the capacitors topped up. The on-board power are used to supply the MP3 players which provide sound throughout the ride, along with other system electronics and amplifiers.

But to round this post out, check out the site of the guys that did X2, Terminator, Bizzaro, Italian Job etc:
http://www.showsys.us/projects/onboard.html