Related Manuals for Martin Professional TRACKPOD 1.8
Summary of Contents for Martin Professional TRACKPOD 1.8
- Page 1 ARTIN RACK ARTIN RACK Getting Started Fourth Edition: March 2001 Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 1 www.audiovias.com...
- Page 2 Edmonton, Canada. Protected by international patents pending PCT/ CA98/00684. Lighting control portions of the TrackPod software are licensed exclu- sively world-wide to Martin Professional A/S, Denmark by APR inc. Virtual positioning control technology is licensed non-exclusively to Martin Professional A/S by APR.
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Assigning behaviour Fader patch Height control Megapod More on maps Map remote control Using the new console driver Real time - playback Real time screen The controller’s features Example About sighting devices For further reference Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 3 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 4: General Warnings
General warnings 1. The TrackPod is not for domestic use. 2. Use the device only as described in this manual. 3. Do not expose it to rain or moisture. 4. The TrackPod controller does not have an ON/OFF switch. It turns ON automatically when it is connected to the mains. -
Page 5: Laser Safety
7. Consult local and state laws regarding laser use and possible registra- tion requirements. 8. Do not open the laser enclosure under any circumstances. Laser warning Laser aperture label General purpose attachment plate Counterweight F3 button TrackPod Controller FIGURE 1 Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 5 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 6: Welcome
Welcome! Thank you for purchasing the Martin TrackPod, the World’s most sophisticated automated followspot tracking system. This booklet contains introductory information on how to set up and use your system. To get the most out of the TrackPod, like with any other sophisticated controller, the lighting designer or technician will need to familiarise him or herself with the system. -
Page 7: Trackpod Card Installation
The default address of the TrackPod ISA card is $D0000 - D0FFF. If this is not free, check which memory space is available and use the card’s dip switches to set that address. Since the Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 7 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 8: Trackpod Assembly
TrackPod card is based on Martin’s 4064 card you can obtain detailed instructions on setting the address at http://www.martin.dk/service/manuals/4064inst.pdf Please note that in the great majority of cases the default address is fine. If you are aware that other hardware in the PC is using the TrackPod default address, or if you are experiencing unexpected system crashes, then perform this procedure. -
Page 9: Trackpod Connections
It should be elevated between 25 and 75 degrees from the stage floor and have a good visibility of the area to be tracked. The key issue is to maximize the amount of pan and tilt move- Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 9 www.audiovias.com... - Page 10 ment that needs to be done to cover the area to be tracked. Truss spot locations are preferable to long-throw FOH locations. At the same time, the operator must be able to have perspective: a location exactly over the stage would not be suitable because the operator would not be able to gage the height at which the followspots should be directed.
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Page 11: Trackpod Controller
You may lock the TrackPod head in which case all the functions will be blocked until you enter the security code, which is the number 1209. Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 11 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 12: Before You Begin
Backlit display F1: data display Selection keys Cancel, back F2: page notes Setup F3: map notes and calib. laser O K, forward Decimal point Numerical and load pages key pad Clear, dimmer blind Blind fader Status LED FIGURE 4 - The TrackPod controller Before you begin The TrackPod can be powered by either 115 or 230V. -
Page 13: Trackpod Calibration
5. That the marks are not moved during calibration and the TrackPod tripod is not moved during and after calibration. Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 13 www.audiovias.com... - Page 14 Upstage Stage Stage right left Downstage Public FIGURE 5 - Stage terminology and location of stage marks Measure the distances between the stage marks as shown in Figure 5, six in total. The measurements have to be in centimetres if metric units are chosen in the preferences and in inches if Imperial units are chosen.
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Page 15: Manual Calibration
(or inches) of each TrackPod relative to the origin, which is the centre stage mark. Upstage Height over the stage +Z Stage Stage Right Left Origin XYZ=0 Downstage FIGURE 6 - Convention for measuring X, Y and Z Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 15 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 16: After Trackpod Calibration
Measure the XY and Z distance from the centre of the TrackPod head to the origin following the convention shown in Figure 6: • At the origin the X, Y and Z are zero. • X is the stage width, with positive values towards stage left and negative values towards stage right. -
Page 17: How To Connect To Dmx Consoles And Fixtures
Tip: if you want your lighting board to control fixtures by sending them DMX through the TrackPod, you will need to define those fixtures in your console in the same way that if you did not have the TrackPod in between. Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 17 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 18: Basic Light Definition
Basic light definition The TrackPod supports up to 128 DMX fixtures or devices, using up to 512 DMX channels. You may add more DMX channels by adding additional TrackPod cards. The system needs to know specific informa- tion about the lights that you will be controlling. To enter the light model, addressing mode, base channel, and 3D position, choose “Light- ing Set-up”... -
Page 19: Automatic Followspot Calibration
“detect” them with a calibrated TrackPod: Press button number 1 to evoke a tracking screen. Press the “track” button, point the TrackPod at followspot calibration point 1 and press “Save”. Repeat this procedure for calibration points 2, 3 and 4. Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 19 www.audiovias.com... - Page 20 Upstage Stage Stage right left Downstage Public FIGURE 9 - An example of alternative positions for followspot calibration points. Step 2 Select the fixture that you want to calibrate from the 128 boxes and point it to the four calibration points. Again, you have two options: i) Use the TrackPod software controls.
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Page 21: Manual Calibration
Tip: the only times that you might use the manual method are: a) if you already know the position and orientation of the fixture (e.g. reading it from a previous configuration file), b) if you can’t power up your Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 21 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 22: Followspot Set-Up Recommendations
fixtures but still need to set-up, and c) if you must calibrate in bright sunlight and you cannot see the light beam. Followspot set-up recommendations • Choose the right fixture for the job. A PAL FX fixture is better than the profiling one because it has an adjustable iris. -
Page 23: A Tour Of The Trackpod Software
The editor may shows fixtures, TrackPods and the stagemarks used during TrackPod and followspot calibration. Map remote Quickmap Fader Interactive control Layers Editor tools patch area FIGURE 10 - Map Editor screen Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 23 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 24: Quickmap Vs Layers
QuickMap versus Layers The first thing to do is to specify where on the stage you want a particu- lar set of followspots or effects to be operative. If you want to cover the whole stage area then you can simply make a Quickmap, which by definition is applicable over the whole stage area. -
Page 25: Fader Patch
Alternatively, you may leave the fader patch empty if you want the operator to only control the direction of the beams (i.e. pan and tilt). Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 25 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 26: Height Control
Tip: try to make patches consistent for all maps. For example, always set the first fader to control dimmers and the last fader to control the target height offset. This way the operator will be able to remember fader assignments. Fader patches may be generated automatically by choosing the “suggest patch”... - Page 27 1.5 m). Tip: the final target height is the result of applying all three methods simultaneously: map target height + riser + manual offset. Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 27 www.audiovias.com...
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Page 28: Megapod
Megapod - If you have two TrackPods you may combine them to give you a true 3D point by asking both operators to point at the same performer. This is useful in shows with flying performers or where the target height is constantly changing and cannot be approximated with manual control. -
Page 29: Using The New Console Driver
Tip: the driver does not replace maps which can still be programmed and triggered in the normal fashion. Maps can accomplish many sophisticated effects like followspot cross-fading in certain regions. Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 29 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 30: Real Time - Playback
Real Time - playback The Real time screen Real-time mode allows TrackPod(s) to track performers on stage or simulate tracking by using the computer mouse. The real time mode allows the system to send and receive data according to the behaviours programmed in the loaded maps. -
Page 31: The Controller's Features
To temporarily “blind” the followspots press the “c” clear button in the keypad, as you press it the followspots blackout and you may point at a different place. Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 31 www.audiovias.com... -
Page 32: Example
To blind a fader press the blind button on top of the fader, this will allow the operator to set a fader without asserting it and snap the value by unblinding the fader. In general, if the red LED is not on for a fader then it does not have control of any parameter. -
Page 33: For Further Reference
“subscribe”. This sub- scription is free and open to anyone who wants to learn the latest tricks, case studies and features of the system. On average there is only one message a month. Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 33 www.audiovias.com... - Page 34 Martin Professional A/S APR inc. Olof Palme Allé 18 Suite 200, 8526-109 St. 8200 Aarhus, Denmark Edmonton, Alberta www.martin.dk T6G 1E5 Canada Page 34 Getting Started www.audiovias.com...
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