Big Pit is a real coal mine and one of the UK's leading mining museums. The historic site around the pithead has been restored, and the lamp room has been relocated to where it would originally have been. The expanded mining gallery features an exciting new audio-visual experience, together with exhibitions of modern mining equipment. The unique Pithead Baths building has been refurbished, and now houses the Museum galleries with exhibitions of industrial and social history surrounding the coal industry in South Wales.
There are three main AV systems with control and source equipment located in central control rooms in the Mining Galleries, Pit Head Baths and Historic Pit Head areas. The Mining Galleries AV system consists of five areas, which are synchronized together into a single show which guides the visitor through the gallery experience. Several smaller, locally controlled systems with equipment cupboards adjacent to the exhibits are in the Blacksmiths Forge, Fan House, Sawmill and Conservation Store areas. All video material is stored and replayed from Electrosonic MPEG2 Video Servers. Audio is from Electrosonic ESTA Sound Stores; and overall show control is by an Electrosonic ESLINX Show Control System.
(Lee Baldock)
