Martin TRACKPOD Manual de usuario
Martin TrackPod 2.0 Page 1
MARTIN TRACKPOD
2.0BETA
Getting Started
Fifth Edition: November 2001
MARTIN TRACKPOD
2.0BETA
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Page 2 Getting Started
Martin TrackPod, by Acoustic Positioning Research Incorporated,
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.
Martin TrackPod is a trademark of Martin Professional A/S. Other
product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks
of other companies.
The information in this booklet is furnished for informational use only,
is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a
commitment by Martin Professional A/S or APR inc. Martin Profes-
sional and APR assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or
inaccuracies that may appear in this manual.
No part of this manual may be reproduced, in any form or by any
means, without prior written approval of Martin Professional A/S.
© Martin Professional A/S, Denmark. All Rights Reserved.
Printed in Canada
Fifth Edition: November 2001.
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
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Martin TrackPod 2.0 Page 3
Contents
General warnings 4
Laser information 4
Laser safety 5
Welcome 6
What’s included in the TrackPod package 6
What’s NOT included in the package 6
Software installation 6
TrackPod card installation 7
TrackPod assembly 8
TrackPod connections 9
TrackPod placement 9
TrackPod controller 11
Before you begin 12
TrackPod calibration 13
Automatic calibration 13
Manual calibration 15
After TrackPod calibration 16
How to connect to DMX consoles and fixtures 17
Basic light definition 18
Groups 18
Followspot calibration 18
Automatic followspot calibration 19
Manual calibration 21
Followspot set-up recommendations 22
A tour of the TrackPod software 23
Map editor - programming 23
Quickmap vs layers 24
Assigning behaviour 24
Fader patch 25
Height control 26
Megapod 28
More on maps 28
Map remote control 28
Using the new console driver 29
Real time - playback 30
Real time screen 30
The controller’s features 31
Example 32
About sighting devices 32
For further reference 33
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Page 4 Getting Started
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. Therefore, before
connecting, please make sure to switch the TrackPod controller’s
power to 115 or 230V according to your needs.
5. Make sure the device is properly grounded.
6. Immediately repair or replace damaged power cords.
7. There are no user-serviceable parts inside; refer all service to a
qualified technician.
Laser information
The TrackPod contains a class 3A laser calibrator with a 5mW maxi-
mum power output. It is located below and protruding from the Track-
Pod’s general-purpose attachment plate, between the two counter-
weights and within a grounded enclosure (see Figure 1 in the next page).
The only aperture through which laser light is emitted is directly in the
centre of the grounded enclosure, with the beam being colinear with the
attachment plate.
The laser produces an intense, highly directional beam of light. It is
needed only briefly during the TrackPod calibration procedures and
cannot be turned on during normal operation. The TrackPod’s laser will
only turn ON when all the following conditions are met:
1. The TrackPod is powered on.
2. The laser is connected to the TrackPod controller.
3. The TrackPod is connected to the control PC.
4. The TrackPod software is running in the control PC.
5. The TrackPod is in the automatic calibration mode.Tip: you may
block access to this mode to prevent unauthorized operators from
calibrating the instrument. Set the appropriate access priviledges in
the preferences screen of the TrackPod software.
6. The laser aperture is not blocked by a lid or cap.
7. The F3 button in the TrackPod controller is pressed. Releasing the F3
button stops laser emission.
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Martin TrackPod 2.0 Page 5
Laser safety
1. DO NOT STARE INTO THE BEAM OR VIEW DIRECTLY WITH
OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS. Extended direct exposure can result in
damage to the eyes.
2. The laser should never be used while other people are walking around
the stage, unless they are wearing protective goggles.
3. Avoid pointing the laser at mirrors or reflective surfaces.
4. Only qualified and trained employees approved by a laser safety
officer should be assigned to install, adjust and calibrate the TrackPod.
5. When not in use, the TrackPod should be stored safely out of reach of
unauthorized personnel.
6. Do not remove the warning label on the TrackPod’s general purpose
attachment plate.
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 aperture
General purpose
attachment plate
TrackPod
Controller
Laser
warning
label
Counterweight
F3 button
FIGURE 1
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Page 6 Getting Started
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. You may want to receive training from
your Martin dealer in order to learn the TrackPod thoroughly. In addi-
tion, please read this booklet in its entirety and look over the rollover
tips and informative memos that appear in the TrackPod software.
What’s included with the
TrackPod package?
1 CD-ROM with software and utilities
1 Getting Started booklet
1 TrackPod ISA card with TrackPod and DMX connectors
1 TrackPod controller with switchable power supply and cables
1 sensor head with laser calibrator
4 Laser reflectors for calibration
1 Tripod
1 Flight case
What’s NOT included with the
TrackPod package?
A PC compatible computer
DMX cables
A sighting device such as a video camera, telrad or scope.
A TrackPod PC card for portable computers (sold separately)
Additional DMX cards to increase the channels from 512 to up to 3584
Software installation
The TrackPod software is supplied in a CD-ROM. Insert the CD-ROM
and double-click on the “Setup” icon. This will run a wizard that will
help you install the software.
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Martin TrackPod 2.0 Page 7
You may also download the most recent software from the Martin
website www.martin.dk. This may be useful if you do not have a CD-
ROM reader in your TrackPod PC as you may download the software in
a zipped format that can fit into a few 3.5” diskettes. You may use the
software without installing the TrackPod hardware.
The minimum PC requirements to run the software are:
Operating System: Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 or XP
Processor: Pentium III 500
RAM: 32 MB RAM
Hard disk: 10 MB disk space
Display: 800 x 600 pixels, 16-bit (high colour)
Mouse: 2-button mouse
Expansion Slot: one 8-bit ISA slot.
PCMCIA Slot: for optional laptop compatibility
Video card: nVidia GeForce 2 or 3 recommended
TrackPod card installation
The TrackPod card is an 8-bit ISA card that needs to be inserted into
your PC. Make sure the PC is turned off and its power cord is unplugged
from the wall. Remove the PC chassis cover as discussed in your PC
owner’s manual. Locate an ISA bus card slot and insert the TrackPod
card in it, making sure that the card is nestled all the way into the slot.
Secure the card by screwing the card’s bracket to the computer chassis.
Please note: the TrackPod card is very sensitive to electrostatic charges.
When it is not in the PC, keep the card in the anti-static bag provided.
The TrackPod card is a memory mapped I/O device with a default
memory setting of $D0000. To verify that this memory is free in your
PC do the following:
Right-click on “My Computer” icon
On the pop-up menu that appears, select “Properties”
Select the “Device Manager” tab
Click on the “Properties” button
Click on the “Memory” radio button
This will open a window that details the memory assignments for the
installed hardware. The default address of the TrackPod ISA card is
$D0000 - D0FFF. If this is not free, check which memory space is
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Page 8 Getting Started
available and use the card’s dip switches to set that address. Since the
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.
Tip: Shadowing should be disabled for the TrackPod card’s memory
address. This is done by visiting your PC’s BIOS, typically under the
heading “BIOS Features Setup”.
TrackPod assembly
Figures 1 and 2 show the parts of the TrackPod. Unfold the tripod as
widely as possible and set it to a comfortable height. Screw the Track-
Pod head on the tripod until it is fully inserted in the thread. Make sure
to lock the head using the pan lock knob; the idea is that the pan move-
ment will take place at the pan encoder not the tripod thread. Attach the
handle bars by inserting them in the clamp grips on the sides of the
TrackPod head plate. The grips for the handle bars are saw-toothed so
that you may choose an appropriate angle between the TrackPod
attachment plate and the handles. Since TrackPods are located above the
stage, the operator will be pointing it down most of the time and there-
fore a sharp angle of 90-120 degrees is preferred. Lock the handles in
place, making sure that the handles protrude from the head at an angle
of about 30 degrees between them, as shown in Figure 2.
Place the controller on the handle bars so that the two handle bars are
outside the thumb screws, i.e. the handle bars should NOT go between
the screws and the controller box. You will have to find the right height
at which this is possible and perhaps even adjust the angle at which the
handles diverge. Secure the controller in place by using the thumb
screw, the bracket holder and the butterfly nut. Extend the handle bars to
a comfortable length and lock them in place.
Mount and lock the counterweights underneath the front end of the
attachment plate, beside the laser. Slide the weights along the bars until
the TrackPod is balanced. Ensure that the weights are firmly attached
and that a safety lock is placed at the end of the rods.
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Martin TrackPod 2.0 Page 9
TrackPod connections
The back of the controller box has several connectors. The laser and the
pan and tilt encoders come with attached cables which must be plugged
into the appropriate connectors. The male XLR “IN” connector is used
to hook the TrackPod up to the TrackPod card in the PC. This is done
with the supplied serial cable (which is the same as DMX cables, using
pins 1 and 2). The female XLR “OUT” connector is used to connect up
to six additional TrackPods in series.
TrackPod placement
The TrackPod may be placed anywhere around the venue, preferably
close to the stage and high up. 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-
Counterweights
Tilt encoder
Thumb screw
with butterfly nut
Lock for
handle
Laser (underneath)
General purpose
attachment plate
Clamp grip and
lock for handle bar
Telescopic
handle bar
Controller Tripod
FIGURE 2
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Page 10 Getting Started
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. Like-
wise, a location at the same height as the stage would not be suitable
because the operator would not be able to gage the depth of the stage.
There is quite a bit more flexibility in positioning TrackPods than, for
example, conventional followspots. It is perfectly possible to have the
TrackPod operator be on a side truss and have most automated
followspots shining from the proscenium. It is likewise possible (and
desirable!) to have a TrackPod aim frontally but controlling several side
and back followspots on the performer. In short, the TrackPod does not
need to be placed colinear with the fixtures that it is controlling. This
means that if you have several TrackPods in a show they can all be
Region where the TrackPod
would ideally be located
75˚
25˚
Stage
FIGURE 3 - Location of the TrackPod in the venue
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