Martin Announces New USB DMX Dongle, USB Duo DMX

When ever Martin Announces or releases a new product, it seems like it comes in pairs or a whole bunch at once.  Following the announcement of the Martin One-Key, Martin Professional announces a new USB DMX device called Martin USB DUO DMX.

This new USB device carries two XLR 5 pins and the latest DMX implementation with RDM capability. Each Martin USB DUO DMX can be used to give two additional DMX outputs/inputs to the following software:  LightJockey II, M-PC Basic, M-PC Pro, MSD5, MaxModules, Martin M1 and Maxedia. Drivers for the Martin USB DUO DMX are available for Windows XP, Vista, and 32- or 64-bit Windows 7.

No information about pricing or availability has been made public yet, but as PLASA 2010 is right around the corner, there is a good chance you can see all of Martin’s new offerings at their stand in Earls Court.

Convert a MAC 2000 Wash into a MAC 2000 Beam Without Magic, Just a Conversion Kit

Martin Professional has now made it possible to easily convert two of the most advanced wash lights on the market – the Martin MAC 2000 Wash XB and MAC 2000 Wash – into a powerful beam fixture with an inexpensive conversion kit that installs in minutes.

Ideal for any large scale event where both beam and wash effects are required such as stadium and arena shows, the conversion kit gets the most out of existing lighting gear, eliminating the need to invest in a completely new fixture.

Simple, inexpensive upgrade
The MAC 2000 Beam XB upgrade kit consists of a new front lens module with micro-Fresnel lens and a set of four beam effect gobos/apertures. The kit installs in less than 5 minutes and also works with the MAC 2000 Wash. Components can be easily uninstalled and the fixture returned to a standard Wash configuration at any time.

Super bright
The 1500 W MAC 2000 Beam XB delivers a fat, tight and amazingly bright hard edge beam, perfect for big beam effects and long throws. Even at very narrow beam angles, output is outstanding with very high intensity. An electronic ballast offers hot-lamp re-strike and the advantage of flicker-free light.

High efficacy and efficient optics
The extremely high output from the MAC 2000 Beam XB is made possible by a combination of high efficacy and very efficient optics. If users require the fixture to match the power output of existing 1200 W fixtures, a reduced 1200 W mode can be employed, saving energy and increasing lamp life.

Compact yet loaded
Despite a surprisingly compact size, the MAC 2000 Beam XB includes all the proven features of the MAC 2000 Wash XB including full color mixing, color wheel, smooth dimming, strobe, variable CTC and zoom (wash effect).

Seamless color mixing plus color wheel
A CMCY color mixing system offers a broad spectrum of colors. A four-position (plus open) color wheel is interchangeable, allowing designers to customize shades and complement perfectly the color mixing system.

Smooth dimming and strobe
The fixture allows for very smooth fading via a combined dimmer/shutter. Mechanical dimming is from 0 to 100%, and the shutter offers rapid strobe effects up to 10 Hz with instant open and blackout. In addition to mechanical dimming, an optional dimming wheel can replace the color wheel.

Color temperature flexibility
A continuously variable color correction system adds the flexibility to gradually and smoothly increase or decrease color temperature. It is also useful when working alongside tungsten halogen or for smoothing out color temperature inconsistencies when working alongside older lamps.

Beam effect gobos
A gobo wheel with 4 static beam effect gobos/apertures plus open allows for wider or tighter beam effects as well as multiple beams or cone looks.

Zoom option wash effect
With a motorized zoom option, the fixture generates a wash effect instead of a hard-edge beam. The wash effect can be zoomed from tight to wide.

Proven reliability
The MAC 2000 Beam XB keeps the same optical train, effects and form as the MAC 2000 Wash XB, guaranteeing advantages such as proven reliability.

More on Martin’s Mystery Video and Control Surface

Yesterday I posted a very interesting video from Martin about what they plan on launching at ProLight + Sound at the end of the month. Well, Martin was kind enough to send over a few details and photo of the desk. Here are some of the details that Martin was able to provide about the new desk.

• Fully integrated control solution in smaller a form
• High resolution touchscreen in 16:9 format
• Folding built-in display
• Lightweight and solid construction
• Powerful software with unmatched ease of operation
• High quality components for tactile access
• Multiple playback systems
• Multiple external display
• Up to 46 direct access to playback from surface
• 6144 parameters
• Digital LCD buttons for direct parameter access
• Multiple wing attachment (MaxModules)
• 4x DMX Universe direct from the console
• Up to 12 Universe over Artnet
• Calendar and schedules
• Customizable Graphical User Interface
• Powerful effects engine
• 1000 cuelists with fader control
• 1000 cuelists with playback control buttons
• Parallel execution of multiple cuelists
• Submaster, Groupmaster and Override functionality
• Fanning functionality on Parameter and time
• On-the-fly global timing adjustments
• All this is just 14.4kg or 32 lbs.

A name has still not been released along with any additional photos. But from yesterdays video, what what you can see when the camera is in focus and in between strobes, it looks super sexy. The new Control surface will be on display at ProLight + Sound in Frankfurt Germany starting March 24 in the Martin Professional Stand, Hall 9.0 B91.

Rumor Mill: Sneak Peak From Martin @ ProLight + Sound

I received a VERY interesting email yesterday for one of my contacts deep under cover at the Denmark plant of Martin Professional.  They sent me a link to a server that has disappeared as of this morning.  Thank goodness I was I able to snag a copy of the file off the server before that happened!

Looks like Martin is preparing to announce something huge at ProLight + Sound 2010 at the end of the month.  From the looks of the video, Martin is playing this one close to the chest. From what I can tell, it HAS TO BE a new control surface! Take a look at the 52 second video, what do you think?

Martin Announces Tripix IP65 Exterior LED Striplight

Martin Professional adds to its rapidly growing range of innovative LED luminaries with the Tripix 1200™ and Tripix 300™, the first fixtures in a new line of IP65 rated outdoor LED striplights.

Tripix are the first installation LED fixtures from Martin to offer single lens tricolor RGB mixing – a superior color wash system that projects a more uniform wash of color across a surface that eliminates the ugly color fringe shadows of competitive fixtures.

The Tripix uses tricolor LEDs (3-in-1 RGB) mixes color at the lens before it leaves the fixture, resulting in no multicolor fringe shadows, a more uniform distribution of color and a broader range of color choices, a level of quality that architects, LDs and installers will appreciate.

To learn more about the Martin Tripix Exterior LED Striplight, visit their website at www.martin.com.  Something that came with the Press Release that I wanted to include with the article is a photo of the Tripix lighting up a brick wall.  Take a look for yourself!

Martin Mac 401 Dual Video

I just saw a great product demo video of Martin Professional’s Mac 401 Dual LED fixture. @MainLight posted the link to the video via their twitter feed and wanted to make sure everyone got a chance to view it. What is so great about the video?  Well, don’t expect to learn much more about the fixture then you already learned about my article that I wrote a couple of months ago about the Mac 401 dual.

What is nice about the video is that is shows the Mac 401 Dual in action.  There are more transitions to very nice marketing photos with some video goodness of the 401 in action, but with the overlaying music you don’t get a good understanding of one of the main selling points of the fixture, the super quite operation. Still, it is a great video in HD to get a feeling of how the fixture operates.

What to learn more about the Martin Mac 401 Dual, visit their website at www.martin.com.

Martin Introduces RADAR

Martin Professional just sent out an email about their latest offering, the Martin RADAR lighting Information Feedback System. More from the Press Release:

Martin Professional has teamed up with Wybron, Inc. to offer an innovative lighting feedback system based on the industry-standard feedback protocol Remote Device Management (RDM).

Called Martin RADAR™, an acronym for Remote Access Diagnostics And Reporting, the information feedback and monitoring system enables users to communicate with lighting fixtures by gathering lighting fixture data remotely and sending it to operators for immediate attention. It allows troubleshooting and fixture repair to be completed in minutes instead of hours, cutting down on expensive repair time and increasing productivity and ROI.

Martin RADAR uses RDM to collect fixture data from an installed system – or from a rig before and during a show – and then modifies it if needed (DMX, lamp, fixture status, etc.). Imagine checking lighting equipment and diagnosing any problems from the convenience of a computer and without the hassle of having to access the lighting system, a great benefit for installations such as theatres, retail, outdoor architecture, cruise ships, theme parks and more. It also simplifies fixture patching by scanning the system, applying DMX addresses and uploading to fixtures.

RADAR real-time monitoring can directly increase return on investment by decreasing expensive down time. It lets users be proactive, foreseeing problems by providing precise information even before a break down occurs, and is a great benefit in connection with service planning.

Rental companies can benefit from the system as well to quickly diagnose, service and repair returned gear before sending it out on its next assignment, increasing uptime and therefore earnings. Martin RADAR also lets users prep fixtures before arriving on site, and resets them once the event is over.

To learn more about the Martin RADAR, visit their website at www.martin.com or visit them on the LDI show floor next week at their booths 1769 & 1763.

Martin Maxxyz PC Now with 2 FREE DMX Universes

You have got to love free stuff! With the release Martin Professional’s latest software update to the Maxxyz PC lighting control, version 2.60. The crazy Danes from Martin has decided to throw in two universes of DMX with the Maxxyz PC controller.

Simply connect the Martin Universal USB/DMX box to any Maxxyz PC to generate 1024 DMX channels. This is an ideal opportunity for Martin LightJockey™ users with larger requirements to experience all the power and benefits of Maxxyz PC.

You can download the latest version of the Maxxyz Control software from Martin’s website, www.martin.com.

PLASA09: Martin Professional New Lighting Solutions

We just received a press release from Martin Professionals regarding some of the things they plan on announcing and showing off at the PLASA Show next week at Earls Court.  More from the official Press Release:

Martin Professional heads to PLASA 2009 at Earl’s Court in London (September 13-16) armed with a new and rapidly expanding range of LED lighting solutions. On display at stand 1-F44 will be Martin’s first LED moving heads, new LED video solutions, and new LED luminaires for indoor and outdoor use.  A new compact beam fixture in the MAC family will also feature. Also on display will be a host of lighting and video control solutions, as well as updates in the Jem and Magnum line of fog and haze machines.

MAC 401 Dual™: The MAC 401 Dual is a creatively fresh and versatile LED moving head washlight with an innovative double-sided design that gives it flexible dual functionality, for example as a double washlight or beam reflective mirror. The 401 Dual’s innovative color mixing system fully blends colors at the source before they leave each lens, eliminating the problem of rainbow shadows and the messy multi-color lens looks of traditional LED fixtures. The 401 Dual’s advanced wash characteristics combine with a host of other useful features like fast zoom, new broad beam look and individual LED segment control to add a new and inventive element to a host of applications.

MAC 301 Wash™: The MAC 301 Wash is an LED moving head washlight that features a powerfully fast zoom with an impressive zoom range. It is capable of producing a wide range of exceptional colors from rich saturated shades to uniform pastels through the entire zoom range. The fixture’s 108 high-power LEDs produce a bright and well-defined beam and its compact, lightweight design makes it ideal for rental applications, television use, night-time venues and more. Appropriately quiet for noise sensitive environments, it offers all the reliability, energy and cost benefits of a highly efficient LED luminaire.

LC Plus™ Series: The LC Plus is a modular system of semi-transparent LED video panels with new generation technology that closely integrates light, video and set design for all new possibilities in indoor and outdoor staging. Designed for the demanding rental and staging market, yet equally suitable for fixed installations such as retail environments and outdoor architecture, the LC Plus is an easy-to-use, all-in-one video solution. It offers several key advantages over other types of LED panels including an innovative P3 technology platform for no-hassle processing and signal distribution, low weight, superior color and brightness uniformity, and true IP65 protection.

P3-100 System Controller: The LC Plus is driven by Martin’s innovative P3-100 System Controller, an ultra robust unit for advanced video signal processing and integration with lighting control. It includes built in scaling and de-interlacing, supports multiple video protocols and resolutions, and allows for direct DMX control of brightness, color, pixelmapping and more. It also includes a built-in graphical user interface and other innovative features.

FlexDOT™: FlexDOT is a lightweight yet bright string of LED pixels that allows designers to break free from the flat, rectangular format of conventional LED displays and create customized video solutions with maximum artistic flexibility and a minimum of effort. Easy to handle and simple to use, FlexDOT is made up of individually controllable, intelligent, full color pixels mounted on a flexible cable to provide unlimited options for enhancing interior and exterior spaces.

Martin MEL™: Martin MEL are the first fixtures in a new Martin line of IP65 rated outdoor LED luminaries. These attractively designed striplights are the first architectural fixtures from Martin to use tricolor LEDs for superior color mixing directly at the lens resulting in an absence of color shadows and a broader range of color choices. The MEL range also incorporates a new custom-designed lens system for very narrow beam angles that have been difficult to achieve with tricolor LED fixtures in the past. The MEL range installs in minutes.

Martin MSL™: Martin MSL is a simple yet highly capable plug-and-play LED striplight designed to enhance interior spaces in a wide variety of applications. Built for ultimate ease-of-use with full spectrum RGB color mixing, a choice of diffuser lenses and an exceptionally easy means of installation, Martin MSL is ideal for color enhancement in clubs, bars and restaurants or anywhere a low maintenance, decorative color effect is required.

MAC 250 Beam™: This new member of the industry’s most popular 250 watt series is an extremely punchy and compact beam fixture that generates variably sized pencil beams as well as wash effects via a motorized frost filter. It is available as an easy and inexpensive upgrade that installs in only 5 minutes on any existing MAC 250 Wash™ fixture.

Maxxyz™ Modules: Based on the modular design of the Maxxyz Compact™ lighting console, a new range of stand alone modules has been developed for the Maxxyz system that allows users to design their own console. These new modules allow for customization around the user and the specific control demands of a show. Five innovative modules are available to build a custom console or to be used with Maxxyz PC™, Maxxyz™ or Maxxyz Compact™ and all of them can be used table-top, mounted in a 19” rack system or in the new Maxxyz Module Frame.

Maxedia 4™: This new version of Martin’s Maxedia media server is optimized to play H.264 MOV encoded video files using a state-of-the-art H.264 video decoder. This latest broadcast hardware is capable of playing eight 1080p Full-HD video files, encoded in H.264. The Maxedia 4 engine is capable of playing pixel-accurate Full HD resolution.

ColorFox VX01™: Martin’s ColorFox VX01 is the first lighting controller specifically designed for architectural use with dynamic color changing fixtures. This incredibly simple control solution allows users to customize and personalize a variety of architectural lighting settings. It allows for easy playback of static and dynamic scenes and provides a simple-to-use interface for users to alter the hue, saturation and intensity of their surroundings.

Jem ZR44 Hi-Mass™: The Jem ZR33 Hi-Mass™ has undergone a thorough makeover that preserves its reputation as a reliable and highly efficient fogger. The new Jem ZR44 Hi-Mass features improvements in overall performance and fluid type, as well as advances in digital functionality such as RDM compatibility.

Magnum Wireless: The newly introduced Magnum range of fog and haze machines is now even more accessible thanks to new wireless control capability.

Be sure to stop by the Martin Professional booth to see all of these great products in action.  For more information before hand, visit Martin’s website at www.martin.com.