Beams, Beams, Beams!

Tight, narrow beams of light are a staple of lighting design and Martin Professional has several products that create stunning beams of light.  These units are very impressive when used in large quantities and can wow audiences and professionals alike.

The Martin RUSH MH3 Beam and RUSH MH4 Beam fixtures are designed for maximum beam effects.  Each can produce extremely narrow rays of light that seem to go on endlessly.  The RUSH MH3 Beam boasts a zoom range of 1° to 3.8° while the RUSH MH4 Beam has a powerful fixed beam angle of 3°.


 
Both units include a color wheel, gobo wheel, rotating prism, and dimmer.  Even though they are based on low wattage lamps, the small aperture and narrow lensing allows for an extremely bright output.  In fact, the collimated beam is so intense that you MUST be careful where you point them as it is very easy to burn things.

For even brighter and more feature rich beams, consider the Martin MAC Viper Beam.  This fixture is comprised of the MAC Viper AirFX with a special lens attached to the front of it.  The micro-fresnel lens is easy to install and produces amazing pencil-thin beams of light.  In fact, the unit has a zoom range of 7.5°-31°.  When combined with all the built in features of the MAC Viper AirFX you get an amazing beam fixture that can create a multitude of looks.  In addition you can use the internal iris to narrow the output down to near zero degrees!  Don't worry if you cant get your hands on the MAC Viper Beam, the MAC Viper AirFX on its own can also create some stunning beam effects with its native lens too.

Powerful narrow beams have been all the rage on many stages in recent years and are here to stay.  It is important to understand how to design and program with this type of fixture and to be aware of the dangers too.  Martin Professional has a broad range of products to help you create various types of narrow beams on your stage.

M-Series 2D Plan View Basics

Martin has recently released new software for the M-Series controllers that adds an exciting new feature called 2D Plan View.  In its simplest form, this new tool allows users to build custom graphical layouts of their lighting rig.  The 2D Plan View allows for quick fixture selections and also displays fixture output, color, and positional information.  While that is certainly wonderful, the capabilities allow for much more and the 2D Plan View can quickly become a primary workspace for any programmer.

 
The 2D Plan View includes functionality for background images, groups, objects, layers, and pages.  Once configured as desired, the feature essentially allows the programmer to create their own custom selection and visualization screens.

Building a plan is very simple.  First you need to add the 2D Plan window to one of your screens.  Then you can begin to work within the 2D Plan View.  One of the most important functions to
understand is the button in the top left corner of the window.  It toggles between Live and Edit.  As the names suggest, this button allows you to either use the window to select and visualize fixtures or to edit the layout and options of the 2D Plan.


Once you are in Edit mode, select your fixtures in any manner that you would normally select them (command line, groups, fixture center).  Then click on the Add button to open the Select Type to Add window.  

Here you can choose between adding fixtures, groups, or objects to your 2D plan.  When Fixtures is selected you are presented with several options as to how to add the fixtures (Add mode).  Options include individual fixtures, lines, curves, circles, or grids.  Make your choice and click on Place Fixture(s) to be returned to the 2D Plan.

Now click (or click and drag) to add your fixtures to the 2D Plan.  Note that if individual fixtures is selected as the add mode then with each subsequent click the next fixture of the selection will be added.  The example below shows clicking and dragging a selection of 12 fixtures with the line Add mode:

Within no time you will have a layout on your screen.  Now toggle back to Live.  As you begin programming or playing back data you will see this represented on the 2D Plan View.  You can also click on (or touch) individual fixtures to select them or click/touch and drag to select multiple fixtures.  This makes for a great way to grab fixtures during programming.

This is just a very basic explanation of how to get started with the 2D Plan View.  There are tons of things that can be created when you combine groups, objects, background images, pages, and layers to make quite a dynamic setup. 

Check the M-Series support pages for more specific details on the 2D Plan View features and also watch the video below for some cool examples of the possibilities.

Martin LED Products Video Tracking

Martin Professional has built many great features into their lights, yet some go unnoticed or are misunderstood.  All Martin LED fixtures operate at a high refresh rate (generally >1200hz) and are designed for use with HD/high-speed video cameras.  However, there is also an additional user setting called "Video Tracking" that provides an optimization for dimming and color changing when using Martin LED fixtures with a video based control system.


The video tracking feature will change the internal methodology used to control the dimming of the LEDs.  This is important ONLY when using Martin LED products to display a video signal (pixel mapping).  In normal use, the fixture processes the DMX signal it receives, tracking (or smoothing out) changes in values in order to ensure smooth fading between colors and/or intensities. This signal processing takes fractions of a second and is normally invisible, but if the fixture is used to display video the processing can interfere with video response times.

In situations where a video image is controlling intensity and/or color it is advised to enable video tracking.  If you are using pixel mapping from a console or media server or even a Martin P3 Processor to convert a video file to DMX values then it is suggested that you utilize the video tracking feature.  When enabled, the fixture will not ‘smooth out’ DMX input but instead will snap instantly when a DMX value changes.  This leads to the best representation of the color changes coming from the video file as the DMX value changes correlate instantly without smoothing. 

For best results, Martin recommends that you enable video tracking during video display control and disable it (the default setting) during normal DMX control.  The video tracking feature is found on  MAC Quantum Wash, MAC Quantum Profile, MAC Aura XB, and Atomic 3000 LED fixtures.  The setting can be adjusted either via DMX (found in the control channel) or via the fixture's menu system.  Note: The video tracking feature is referred to as "video dimming" on the MAC Aura XB.

With a proper understanding of the internal software of Martin LED products, any programmer or designer can optimize the fixtures for control from video or DMX.

Wash the Stage with Color and Style

The Martin MAC Viper Wash and MAC Viper WASH DX are extraordinarily wonderful discharge sourced wash lights.  They both are very similar in terms of specifications and pricing with the difference being that the DX model includes an internal barndoor system.  Because the price is so similar, most designers and rental companies choose the DX model.

Using the same 1000w lamp as all Viper models, the MAC Viper WASH DX has a solid output of over 33,000 lumens and a high CRI. The fixture has a native color temperature of 6500K while a variable CTO filter allows the user to adjust the color temperature down to 3200K.  The color system is the same ultra smooth CMY system found in all Vipers.

Many theatrical and television designers prefer the MAC Viper Wash DX to other wash lights (including LED models) because of the output, light quality, smooth color mixing, and small size.  In addition, it has received high marks for how quiet the unit is.  Many shows on Broadway are using the MAC Viper Wash DX as they have found it to be near silent.  The fixture is also popular on major auto shows, corporate events and more.

The internal barndoor system (framing shutters) help to turn the output from round to various shapes.  This is great for washing banners or any unique area requiring a strong cut off of output.  Plus both versions include an iris for further beam size control.

If you have not had a chance to use the MAC Viper Wash or MAC Viper Wash DX yet, you should get your hands on one soon. 

Multiple Heads Better Than One!

The RUSH line of products from Martin includes an exciting fog/haze product called the RUSH Club Smoke Dual. 

The system can utilize fog and/or haze heads with the same fluid, thus the word "dual" in the product's name.  It is actually a fog/hazing system that allows users to remotely locate the fluid reservoir and connect up to six fog and/or haze heads. 




That's right, you can keep the pump unit (fluid reservoir) on the ground or at the DJ booth and have the heads located anyplace in the rig.  The pump unit has a 10 liter reservoir which is sure last quite along time in most environments.  Plus since it can be mounted on the ground, refilling is extremely simple.  In addition because the reservoir is remote, you can aim the heads in any direction including straight up or down!






The fog and/or haze heads connect to the pump unit via a small hose for the fluid and you can have up to three distinct zones of control.  Each zone can be controlled individually as the heads are also connected to the pump unit and to each other via standard RJ45 Ethernet cables.  In fact, you can even daisy chain the units that are on the same zone.  Configuration is simple as there are no network settings to worry about.



The entire RUSH Club Smoke Dual system is very versatile and extremely useful in permanent installations.  Imagine having the fluid located in one easy-to-replace location while having six different heads throughout the venue.  I love that one zone could be hazers, while another could be fog in the rig, and a third could be floor fog effects.

Control is very simple via DMX, direct controls on the pump unit, or a special wired remote.  With DMX you can easily trigger each of the three zones plus a fourth channel provides access to control functions.  The fog and haze heads have also been designed with forethought as the status LED's for Heat and Ready are on the side of the unit instead of the back.  This makes it easy to spot the status from the ground and ensure the heads are ready.



The RUSH Club Smoke Dual has been designed with longevity in mind and is a perfect choice for any installation.  With a very affordable price, there is no reason not to invest in the RUSH Club Smoke Dual and open up your designs to new possibilities.

The OTHER New LED Strobe from Martin

The Martin Atomic 3000 LED strobe is not the only new LED based strobe announced by Martin.  The RUSH line also now includes a LED strobe called the RUSH Strobe CWL.

The RUSH Strobe CWL is a white LED strobe consisting of 99 Cree 3W LED's in a linear configuration.  With the integrated reflector the unit produces over 17,000 lumens of bright white output. The beam angle is fixed at 87 degrees which is great for a wide strobe effect.  Plus the high color temperature near 7500K looks stunning.

The RUSH Strobe CWL can be operated via DMX using 1 or 4 channels (with the 4 channel mode matching the industry standard Atomic 3000 DMX layout).  The unit also includes stand-alone and sound activation modes.  The fixture has Powecon In and Thru connectors so it is ease to connect many to the same circuit.  An LCD display allows for quick configuration and setup.

In addition, there is an accessory that allows you to stack four units together and hang from a single bracket.  This really opens up some cool programming possibilities with a bank of Strobe CWL's. 
Expect to see the RUSH Strobe CWL used on stages, clubs, and in a variety of other situations where a high-output, low-cost LED strobe is desired.

Atomic 3000 LED Unique Abilities

 
The Martin Atomic 3000 LED is an incredible piece of technology.  It is an amazingly bright LED based version of the original Atomic 3000 DMX strobe.  But it goes far beyond what the original could do, and not just in terms of reduced power consumption.  You can even connect the Atomic Colors scroller to the new unit and plug it directly in without the need for an external power supply!  The Martin engineering team added many more unique abilities to provide designers with a large range of creative options.

The Atomic 3000 LED strobe includes an amazing Aura Backlight feature that not only allows the designer to glow the reflector in any color from the RGB LED's, but also provides a plethora of stunning animated effects.  The programmer has full control of the effect selection, speed, and color to create some wonderful never-before-seen looks.  Now the Atomic 3000 LED strobe can be used in ballads and more as it becomes a beautiful accent addition to the set or lighting rig.


One of my favorite software innovations in the Atomic 3000 LED is the ability to toggle between output modes called "LED" and "Xenon Emulation".  This setting changes the behavior of the primary LED's as they illuminate.  When set to LED mode, the LED's behave as expected from an LED source and simply turn on/off at a defined rate.  A crisp clean strobe or ON state is emitted from the unit.  However, when the Atomic 3000 LED is set to Xenon Emulation mode, the LEDs will rapidly pulse whenever activated (strobing or ON).  This behavior perfectly mimics the original Atomic 3000 DMX xenon lamp that could never achieve a true ON state.  Exciting cue building is easy with this simple DMX setting.

Martin engineers have also created another unique mode in the Atomic 3000 LED called House-light mode.  This too can be activated via DMX and it serves two purposes.  First, it reduces the total output thus allowing it to remain on for an unlimited timeframe.  During this state, strobing, continous on, dimming and more are all possible.  Furthermore, when set to House-light mode the Atomic 3000 LED will retain its last state when DMX is removed from the unit.  This allows operator to turn on the units (in a solid ON state) at the end of a performance and utilize them to illuminate the venue.  Then the lighting console can be turned off and the Atomic 3000 LED units will remain on.  They will only shut off when power is removed or DMX is reconnected and a new setting sent.  This is an extremely useful feature in many situations as it allows stand alone operation and bright white illumination.

The Martin Atomic 3000 LED is poised to be an industry workhorse much like the original Atomic 3000 DMX strobe.  The added creative and technical innovations delight designers, programmers, and technicians.  Take a look for yourself...