HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si2 Digital Console Brings an Expanded Sonic Palette to Cruise Ship Paul Gauguin

POTTERS BAR, United Kingdom — Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the cruise ship m/s Paul

Gauguin, which can accommodate 320 people for a week long luxury cruise experience

through Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific. Since its maiden voyage in

1998, the Paul Gauguin has been the longest continually operating year-round cruise

ship in the South Pacific. The audio system in the ship’s Grand Salon was recently

upgraded with HARMAN’s Soundcraft Si2 Digital Live Sound Console, which is designed

for installations where space is at a premium yet where a full-featured console is

required.

“The Grand Salon is one of the focal points of the Paul Gauguin,” notes Jean Jacques

Canot of French Polynesia systems integrator Total Vidéo “It’s the ship’s

entertainment venue, where the crew performs cabaret shows in addition to

appearances by guest artists and musicians. On occasion, bands also play when they

have dance events.”

“Before installing the Soundcraft Si2, the Grand Salon was outfitted with an analog

console and a lot of external effects processors, compressors and equalizers,” Canot

continued. “Everything had to be done manually. Nothing was automated. We needed to

bring the system up to modern day standards, and the sound of the Salon’s audio

system had to be improved.” In addition to the Soundcraft Si2 console, the Grand

Salon system was upgraded with four JBL AC18/95 loudspeakers, installed in the stage

ceiling as monitors.

“The Si2 provided big improvements in many ways. The stage manager and performers

say their jobs are a lot easier now, thanks to the Si2’s ability to store scenes and

instantly recall them,” says Canot. The Si2’s Virtual Si offline editor program lets

users set up and manage complete shows offline, for later download to the console.

“Also, we no longer need to deal with outboard effects racks, and their space,

complexity and expense.”

“Everyone is also impressed with the sound of the system now, especially the

incredible quality of the Si2’s built-in digital effects, and the ability to tailor

the sound with the board’s EQ and compression. The crew and performers are really

satisfied with the improvement in the sound. With its 64 mic inputs, 24 faders and

logical layout of controls and display screens the Si2 can easily accommodate the

show’s present and future requirements, and is a pleasure to use.”

For more information about Total Vidéo, please visit www.tvdis.pf