Application Note: Themed Attraction

NORTHSTARSHOW SYSTEMS

Application Note: Themed Attraction

Multi-zone immersive walkthrough with Northstar

Scenario

A themed walkthrough attraction with 8 zones over a 2,000 m² floorplan, multiple media players for synchronised video, full surround audio per zone, and pneumatic show effects. Throughput: 1 group every 90 seconds, ~40 groups per hour.

Hardware Layout

• 8 Polaris GPIO Nodes — one per zone, each driving 8 to 10 effects
• 4 Polaris Audio Nodes — covers 8 zones with two channels each
• 4 Polaris Video Nodes — synchronised media playback at key reveal points
• 2 Polaris Bridge panels — primary at the control booth, secondary at the rear of the attraction for technicians
• Custom NEMA enclosures with PoE-to-USB-C splitters for clean cable routing

Synchronised Video

For multi-screen reveals (e.g., 3 projectors fading up together), use a single event-cue-complete chain rather than multiple manual triggers. Compose's Block Editor supports tight timing via the wait block down to single milliseconds; HelmOS dispatches UDP commands in parallel where possible.

Group Spacing

To prevent overlapping groups from triggering effects simultaneously, use input combos with held mode and timer-based reset cues. Example: "PIR triggered AND zone occupancy timer > 90s" — implemented as a combo hat with a held mode and a separate reset cue that clears the occupancy state.

Technician Access

A second Polaris Bridge panel in the back-of-house gives technicians access to Maintenance Mode without entering the show area during operation. Both Bridges share the same maintenance-key role; turning either one engages Maintenance.

Network Sizing

• Single enterprise AP for ~24 Polaris nodes plus 2 Cuemaster tablets — well within capacity
• Subnet /24 with static reservations for Helm, Bridges, and APs
• 5 GHz only on 80 MHz channel for the show network

Related Documents

• NSSS-DOC-0012TrueNorth Network Design
• NSSS-DOC-0014Scaling Guide

Revision History