Martin Fixture Quick Reference Charts

Martin has a great lineup of various automated luminaries and it can be confusing to understand the differences and similarities between the products.  Comparison charts are great to help as they provide an easy reference to the basic features and specifications.  Below you will find charts that detail Martin products by category:

 
These charts will be updated as new products are released.  Stay tuned for more soon!  For full product details and specifications, please visit www.martin.com.

Martin M-Series New View Management

Martin has recently released version 3.70 of the M-Series software which brings exciting new features to the console platform.  The development team has redesigned the views system in incredible ways that also opens the door to more new features coming soon.  Although existing views from previous software versions are not importable, that is a small price to pay for the powerful new system.

New tools allow for simple layout creations, configuring of monitors, storing of views, quick recalls and much more.
 
One of the key benefits of the new system is that all views now work and adjust across all consoles and M-PC!  This is a great tool that allows programmers to prep or edit on M-PC and then load their show into an M-Series console without having to change their views and screens.  Of course this works the other way around and between the various console models too.  Plus there are remarkable new tools for creating views and managing all your windows.

A new concept called Workspaces allows a quick toggle to change the behavior of the sidebar, views, and function keys.  This is useful for creating your own different "modes of operation" on a console or M-PC system.

Version 3.70 of M-Series software also includes many more changes and enhancements when working with views, windows, and screens.  It is essential to understand the relevant terminology:

Screen	The actual monitor. This can be a single touch, multi touch or non touch screen. The position and resolution can be changed.
Sidebar	A small strip on the left or right edge of a screen.
Toolbar	A small bar shown at the top edge of a screen.
Layout	Arrangement of docking spaces (3 columns, 4 boxes etc).
Window	Contains the content (like presets, groups, clock, etc...).
View	Arrangement of layouts and windows placed in them. With this you can change the content on one or multiple screens at once.
View directory	A collection of all views within a show. A show has only one directory that is shared in a network environment.
Workspaces	The screen sidebar show the content of one workspace. It is a mixture of views and function assignments.
Workspace Browser	The user can switch workspaces to get another set of assignments in the screen sidebar. Workspaces can be added, copied, moved and deleted.

The following video explains all the changes and new features in detail.  Take the time to watch the video and try out the new features on your next M-Series show!  https://youtu.be/8nw1Fahp7eY

Download the current software and read release notes here.

4 Rules for Changing Gobos

Hard edge, spot, profile, performance, and other terms are used to describe automated fixtures that can project a sharp image.  Most of these units also make use of gobos for projecting images from the abstract to the literal.

While fixtures from Martin such as the MAC Viper Profile or MAC Axiom Hybrid come with a great selection of stock gobos, many LD's prefer to load custom gobos.  Care must be taken when changing and handling gobos and certain rules should be followed to help ensure the proper life of both the gobo and the lighting fixture.

Rule #1: Gobo Handling
Most automated luminarires utilize glass gobos, although a few also may use metal gobos.  No matter the material, there are basics that are required when handling these tiny pieces of art.

• Always treat gobos with the upmost care; store them in a dust free environment and make sure they don't rub or scratch each other.
• It is best to wear gloves when handling gobos as this will eliminate fingerprints and other oils from transferring to the glass or metal.
• Always ensure the gobo is clean of dust, oil, or other contaminants before placing in a fixture.  Use a soft, lint-free cloth or compressed air to clean any dirty gobos.

Rule #2: Gobo Placement
Glass gobos are typically made from a borosilicate with an aluminum coating on one side.  You MUST ensure that the coated side is facing away from the lamp or source otherwise it could cause the gobo to crack.  In addition improper placement could cause unwanted reflections within the luminaire.

To determine which side of the glass is the coated side, use the "pencil test".  Simply place the tip of a pencil or other small object near the edge of the glass.  If the reflection is right next to the object then you have found the coated side.  The un-coated or "glass" side will appear with the reflection a small distance from the object.  Be careful though and ensure you do not scratch or mark the gobo with your object.

Some gobos are not coated and instead are made from a unique textured glass.  Always be sure to place the textured side towards the lamp or source.  The only exception would be if the textured glass has also been coated for color or effect.  In this case you still want the coated side away from the light source.

Rule #3: Consider the Optics
The optics of your automated lighting fixture will cause images to project "backwards" from what you may think.  Always consider this when inserting gobos that have a specific look or direction required of them.  This is always important with gobos that are based on words or logos.

Rule #4: Understand the Carrier
Many rotating gobos use a carrier that includes the gobo as well as the gears for rotation.  This makes it easy to change out the gobo, but you must consider how the gobo gets into the carrier.  With some fixtures the gobo will be glued into the carrier from the gobo manufacturer, while others such as the MAC Viper series will use a retaining ring along with the carrier.


Most carriers will have an orientation mark (or magnet) that ensures the carrier can be placed back into the wheel in the same orientation for each fixture (see A below).  You will want to also check that your gobos are all aligned with this marking within each carrier and inserted into the fixture with proper alignment; otherwise each gobo might be at a different angle within each fixture.

Gobos can create many dynamic and interesting looks on stage or in the air.  By shaping the light output, creative images are easy to achieve.  Ensure that you understand the methods for changing gobos on your fixtures.  Martin has a wide range of hard edge fixtures that make use of gobos, each with their own set of imagery.  Be sure to read the user manual for each fixture for specific gobo changing information.

Great New Creative Video Products from Martin!

 

Martin by Harman has just announced two new exciting creative video products.  The VDO Fatron 20 and VDO Dotron add more unique options to the VDO Sceptron line with many of the same features and qualities.



Both units can be controlled via the Martin P3 system or DMX 512.  They integrate well into video systems using the original VDO Sceptron or the VDO Face 5 panels.  Just like the Sceptron units, the VDO Fatron 20 and VDO Dotron have a multitude of different diffusers available for creative looks and varying applications.



The VDO Fatron 20 is a 20 mm pixel pitch outdoor-rated LED video batten that can be used for eye-candy, uplight, wall washing, and more.  It is fully color calibrated to ensure all Fatron units have color consistency and that they match other VDO products too.  Just like the Sceptron, the Fatron is available in two sizes: 1000 mm and 320 mm.




The VDO Dotron provides a new shape to the VDO family.  The rounded configuration of 16 pixels punctuates designs with blasts of color and imagery.  Each Dotron unit has various diffusers that easily screw on to change the look and output.  Color calibration, built-in effects, and various mounting options further the feature set of the Dotron.


Speaking of mounting options, a host of new mounts allow for easy combining of various VDO elements.  You can easily add Dotrons to any Sceptron or Fatron layout using the specialized brackets or any standard clamps. 

Martin has even developed custom flight cases for both the VDO Fatron 20 and VDO Dotron so taking the units on the road is simple.

Want to know more?  Here are some videos about the new VDO products:

 VDO Fatron 20: https://youtu.be/7Lu1lOdf-JQ

VDO Dotron: https://youtu.be/ntlmno8a8YQ

Martin P3 DMX Control is Awesome!

The Martin P3 processor is an amazing tool for controlling Martin creative video products such as the VDO Face 5, VDO Sceptron, and VDO Creative Pixels.  I have written about the benefits before on this blog.  A new feature adds incredible control possibilities when combined with a DMX lighting console.

In short, you can modify via DMX (or Art-Net) intensity, color, rotation and other parameters for each object within the P3 system.  Additional system-wide controls provide easy access to presets, global intensity, color temperature, and much more.  Any modifications then made via DMX override the video that is currently playing through the P3.  This allows designers to create exciting imagery directly from their lighting console.  In other words, the video elements become lighting elements or combination units that can do both video and lighting!

Once you have added fixtures to your P3 layout, click on the "DMX & Motion" button on the top bar of P3.  This will open the DMX & Motion screen.  On the left you will see a list of control types and on the right tabs for DMX, Art-Net, and K2.  To configure the DMX control you need to tell P3 what you want to control and with which DMX channels.  You can simply click and drag items from the left section to the right, but it is much easier to use the wizard.

Click on the wizard button on P3's top bar to open the "DMX Control Wizard".  You will be guided through several options to setup and configure your DMX control.  First you can select if you want to control fixtures together, individually, in groups or other options.

Next you select DMX or Art-Net input and then decide what type of control you want for each.

The next screen refers to the layout of the DMX channels and asks if you want the order to be grouped by parameters or by fixture.  I prefer fixture as it is easier to match up to default fixture libraries in most lighting consoles.

Finally, select the starting DMX address for your range and then click on "Create DMX Controls" to have P3 configure everything for you. 

 

Your DMX screen will now be filled with DMX addresses assigned to their appropriate function.  You can see the mapping of the DMX channel to a specific "Target" (fixture) and various other options for each channel.

Now just apply DMX or Art-Net to your P3 controller and you are ready to have fun from your lighting controller.

As mentioned earlier, you can also click and drag DMX options from the DMX screen.  In the screen below I have dragged over a couple of Global Controls.  These effect everything within the P3 layout.  If you right click on the "Current Value" field you will see the DMX protocol (or map) for that specific channel.  As you can see there are many options available via DMX control.

P3 processors provide an unprecedented amount of control and processing to the attached video devices.  By adding in DMX control from a lighting console, LDs are able to further modify and use video products with ease.  This ability provides additional creative possibilities not available with other systems.

Martin MAC Viper High CRI Lamp

The Martin MAC Viper line of automated luminaires are extremely popular due to their extensive feature set, great color mixing, small size and weight, quiet operation and more.  You will find them on concerts, television shows, Broadway and other theatre, corporate shows and more.  The MAC Viper range ships with an Osram Lok-It HTI1000W/PS lamp which is a wonderful source.

Osram has recently updated this lamp with some design improvements and suppliers are changing over to the newest revision.


The lamp can be ordered as Osram code 54385 or Martin P/N: 97010346.

Osram has recently developed a new lamp for the MAC Viper series that has also been approved by Martin.  The Osram Lok-It HTI1000W/PS Brilliant is an alternative for situations where quality of light is key to the performance.  This lamp delivers enhanced color rendition (CRI >95), resulting in better performance in critical applications such as theatre and TV productions.

The color temperature is the same as the original lamp, but there is no green peak in the spectrum; resulting in no further need to use the minus-green filter from the static color wheel.  The output appears more brilliant and the colors from the CMY mixing system even more vibrant than with the standard lamp. The only downside being a slightly lower output (-5%) compared to the standard lamp.

The lamp can be ordered as Osram code 53973 or Martin P/N: 97010351.


Martin has also approved an alternate lamp from Philips for the MAC Viper series.  The Philips MSR Gold 1000 MiniFastFit lamp has a slightly longer lifetime (900 hrs.) than the Osram lamp, but a little lower output (-10%) and a CRI around 80.

The lamp can be ordered as Philips code 928171405115 or Martin P/N: 97010350.



The following comparison chart utilizes data supplied by the lamp manufacturers and is a great way to understand the differences between the lamps:

All of the above lamps are now available from lamp retailers as well as direct from Martin.  Be sure to ask your rental company for the best lamp for your application.

The NEW Scanner from Martin

Martin Professional has released a new mirrored fixture called the RUSH Scanner 1 LED.  Taking on some iconic design elements from the classic Martin 1220 and Martin 518 scanners, the RUSH Scanner 1 LED is a totally new and updated fixture.

The RUSH Scanner 1 LED is based on a 90W white LED engine; the unit boasts an impressive 2300 Lumen output from the fixed 15 degree lens.  All the features you would expect come standard including remote focus, both rotating and fixed gobo wheels, two color wheels, an independent prism, along with dimming and strobing capabilities.

Programming is simple via 16 DMX channels, or you can use stand alone programming, or even audio triggering.  Movement is accomplished by moving the mirror through its 170 degree pan and 75 degree tilt.  Weighing in at only 21 lbs (9.6kg), the RUSH Scanner 1 LED is a great choice for many installations and productions.




The yoke is adjustable and can both extend and be used as a floor stand! 






The following video shows the RUSH Scanner 1 LED in action: