Dynamic Perception MX2 User manual

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MX2 Motion Controller User Guide
The MX2 Motion Controller is designed to control up to two DC motor axes, while synchronizing
motion with direct camera control. This user guide covers all usage of the MX2, from basic to
advanced.
Choose one of the sections below to begin reading about the MX2. If you wish to print a copy of this
user guide, choosing the print page option here will provide a printable version of the entire guide.
FCC Compliance
FCC Compliance
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
—Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
—Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
—Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
—Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Getting Started with the MX2
In this section of the guide, we will introduce the basic concepts and familiarize ourselves with the
MX2 controls.
Interacting with the Controller
The MX2 is designed to be extremely simple to use, and to let you quickly input the most important
parameters during a shoot. This document describes the means of interacting with the controller
through the user interface, and how to use the main control screen.
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Buttons
There are five pushbuttons, four arranged in a cross-pattern, and one to the lower left. The four
buttons together are [Left], [Right], [Up] and [Down] while the button to the lower left is the [Enter]
button.
Enter:
Brings up the main menu, or selects a menu item.
If item is another menu, that menu will be opened, otherwise the value selected will
be shown for editing, or executed depending on the currently selected item.
Saves the current value being edited
Exits manual motor control
Up:
Selects the menu item directly above
Increases the value of the currently selected item
Increases motor speed (manual motor control)
Down:
Selects the menu item directly below
Decreases the value of the currently selected item
Decreases motor speed (manual motor control)
Left:
Moves input selection left (main screen only)
Moves current motor left (manual motor control)
Right:
Moves input selection right (main screen only)
Cancels value input (when changing the value of a selected item)
Moves current motor right (manual motor control)
Menus and Editing Values
When on the Main Screen, pressing the Enter button will draw the main menu. Pressing [Enter] on
any menu item will either draw the sub-menu selected or, if the item selected is an input, it will be
displayed for editing. When a value for editing is displayed, you may use [Up] and [Down] to alter
the value. If you wish to save the value, simply press [Enter] again. To exit the editor without
saving, press the [Right] button and the original value will be restored. The [Right] button also
functions as the “back” button, allowing one to go back one level from any menu, or return to the
Main Screen from the top-level menu.
For some values that you can edit, a limited selection of choices such as ‘Up/Down’, ‘On/Off’,
‘Left/Right’ may be displayed. Pressing either [Up] or [Down] in the edit screen will alternate
between the available values. For some values, you may be allowed to enter more or less than the
value accepts — when saving in these cases the value will be set at its minimum or maximum, and
will reflect this when next displayed.
To increase or decrease a number, you can simply hold [Up] or [Down] to continue to increase or
decrease the value for as long as you hold it down. The longer the button is held, the faster it
increases or decreases a value. In this manner, you may easily enter large numbers.
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Saving Input Values Permanently
When editing certain values (such as RPM for a motor axis, interval time, etc.) they are automatically
saved to permanent memory for you. In this way, you will not have to make the same changes
between re-start. The values which are saved permanently are indicated in their appropriate
documentation. To wipe out permanent memory, and reset to default values, choose the ‘Reset
Mem’ option in the Main Settings menu.
Please note that direction and speed of a given axis are designed to be changed regularly, and are
not saved to permanent memory.
The Main Screen
The Main Screen provides an overview of the current status and also allows for quick modification of
key operating parameters. This screen has the following layout:
-----------------
On 3s [15]
R30.50% L0.00%
-----------------
On the first line we have the current status (On or Off), the intervalometer timing (3s), and a count of
shots fired since turned on ([15]). The second line displays the direction and speed for each motor,
with motor 1 on the left, and motor 2 on the right.
Pressing [Right] will advance through the values that can be changed directly from the main screen:
status, timing, direction and speed of each motor. When a particular value is displayed with a
flashing cursor on it, you can change the value using [Up] and [Down].
Notes:
You may change any value when the shoot is running — it will take effect immediately.
Motor speed can be displayed in either percentage (%), inches-per-minute (i), or
cm-per-minute (c) this is configurable in the Settings menu.
Pressing [Left] will back up one setting on the screen
Pressing [Enter] at any time when on the main screen will bring up the Main Menu, even if
program is running
Choosing the Speed Display
With the MX2 controller, you can either display and input speeds in percentages of maximum
(relative) or inches per minute (absolute).
The speed display setting is global, and impacts all axes. You may not configure one for relative and
one for absolute speed display.
If you modify the speed for a given axis while the program is running, it will immediately take effect.
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Displaying in Relative Speeds (Percentage)
When displaying in relative speeds, the main screen will show a floating-point number and the
symbol ‘%’ on the speed value for the given motor. You may modify this value to any value between
0 and 100% as allowed by the motion control mode you are in by highlighting it using the [Right]
button on the main screen and then using [Up] and [Down] to change the value.
To set the MX2 to display relative speeds:
1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Settingsand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Motor Disp. and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] and choose PCT
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Displaying in Absolute Speeds (inches or cm)
When displaying in absolute speeds, the main screen will show a floating-point number and the
symbol ‘i’ (or ‘c’ if in metric mode) next to the the speed value for the given motor. You may modify
this value to any value as allowed by the motion control mode you are in by highlighting it using
the [Right] button on the main screen and then using [Up] and [Down] to change the value.
To set the MX2 to display absolute speeds:
1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Settingsand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Motor Disp. and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] and choose IPM
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Displaying in Metric Values
The MX2 can shows absolute distances and speeds in centimeters. When you enable the metric
mode parameter, all distance values stored in permanent memory are converted from inches to
centimeters, and the display will show a ‘c’ on the main screen instead of ‘i’ for absolute speeds.
You should always re-start the MX2 after enabling the metric mode parameter.
To set the MX2 to display metric values:
1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Settingsand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Metric Disp. and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] and choose On
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
6. Power off the MX2 and power back on
Controlling the LCD Display
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The MX2 controller comes with the ability to control the LCD display to reduce power consumption or
light pollution onto your shots at night. The standard LCD for the MX2 is a 16×2 character black on
green LCD display. This LCD can easily be read during bright daylight without the backlight on and
at night with very little backlight.
Adjusting the BackLight Brightness
The backlight brightness can be dimmed by the MX2 firmware, but only when in interleaved motion
mode. If you have turned on continuous motion mode, and run an axis below the defined slow speed
threshold, the backlight dimmer will not work until the MX2 is re-started. When you have engaged in
continuous motion at a speed under the slow speed threshold, the LCD will either be fully on or fully
off depending on your LCD backlight settings.
You can set a value between 0 and 255 for the backlight level. If you enter a value larger than 255,
it will automatically be limited to 255.
Like most values in the MX2 controller, the backlight level value is retained after power-off.
Actions:
1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Settingsand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Backlight and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] to adjust the backlight level value
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Turning the LCD BackLight Off Automatically
You may wish to have the backlight on while entering values, but then to turn off automatically a few
seconds later to reduce the power drain on your batteries. You can configure the MX2 to turn off the
backlight after a number of seconds of inactivity by adjusting the auto dim parameter. The backlight
will turn back on the next time a button is pressed.
Enter the auto dim parameter value in seconds of inactivity before the backlight turns off, set it to
zero if you wish to disable automatic dimming of the LCD backlight.
Like most values in the MX2 controller, the auto dim value is retained after power-off.
Actions:
1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Settingsand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select AutoDim and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] to adjust the auto dim value
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Disabling the Entire LCD Automatically
To save as much power as possible, the MX2 can completely disable the LCD, turning off the text in
addition to the backlight. To enable this feature, enable the blank lcd parameter in addition to
setting an auto dim time. When blank lcd is enabled, the LCD is turned off entirely after the number
of seconds specified in the auto dim parameter value pass with no input via the buttons.
After the LCD has been blanked, the first button you press will simply re-enable the LCD to allow you
to verify where you were on the screen before submitting a button press and taking an unknown
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action.
Like most values in the MX2 controller, the blank lcd value is retained after power-off.
Actions:
1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Settingsand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Blank LCD and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] to select on or off
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Configuring Camera Control
The MX2 controller provides direct control of a camera through a cable connected to the remote
release port of your camera. On most cameras, there are two primary functions provided: Control
Shutter and Control Auto Focus. Here we’ll describe how to set up the MX2 to handle different
shooting requirements.
Remember that for the camera to be controlled by the MX2, the camera must be connected through
its remote shutter port to the MX2 Camera port using an appropriate cable. For some cameras, it
may be required to put the camera in Remote Control mode to recognize the signals from the
remote shutter port.
All parameters indicated below are saved when the power is removed from the MX2, and only need
to be modified when you want to change them.
Setting the Exposure Interval
The exposure interval is the time between each exposure. This value is displayed on the Main
Screen, and may be set in tenths of seconds (e.g. 0.2″, 1.1″, and so forth). It can be edited directly
on the main screen, or through the Camera Menu.
Note that the exposure interval is the time between triggering each exposure, and not necessarily
the time between completing one exposure and starting the next. The different camera delays you
configure, for focus tapping, exposure delay, etc. will impact your actual exposure interval time,
should they be longer than the interval when summed. In the case where your parameters have
caused the interval time to be exceeded, the main screen will always display the actual interval
time, and not the time you configured. It will not be possible to reduce the interval without first
decreasing one of the other camera delays you have configured.
If you change the exposure interval while the program is running, it will take effect on the next
exposure cycle.
Like most values in the MX2 controller, the Exposure Interval value is retained after power-off.
Setting the Exposure Interval via the Main Screen:
1. [Right] or [Left] to select the displayed interval time
2. [Up] or [Down] to modify the value
Setting the Exposure Interval via the Camera Menu:
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1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to selectCameraand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Interval and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] to alter the value
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Controlling Exposure Time with the MX2
The MX2 controller is capable of doing bulb exposure control. The shutter line will be kept engaged
for as long as the exposure time parameter is configured for. The exposure time is entered in
milliseconds, and may be set for as low as your camera will recognize, or up to about 50 days.
Remember that there are one thousand milliseconds in a second, so if you want a one second
exposure, it would be entered as 1000.
Please note that different cameras have different exposure time requirements for bulb mode, both
minimum and maximum time. If you need a controlled exposure for a shorter period of time than
your camera will allow in bulb mode, you must use the camera to control the exposure in using its
manual mode. You may need to experiment to discover the correct minimums and maximums for
your particular camera.
Actions:
1. Set camera to bulb (B) mode
2. [Enter] to enter the main menu
3. [Down] to select Cameraand press [Enter]
4. [Down] to select Exp. Time and press [Enter]
5. [Up] or [Down] to alter the value
6. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
7. [Down] to select Exp. Delay and press [Enter]
8. [Up] or [Down] to set the value to 0
9. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Controlling Exposure Time on the Camera
For most cases, you’ll find it best to control the exposure on the camera, using manual, or some
other mode to dial in the appropriate exposure time. Under certain conditions it will be important to
tell the MX2 the actual exposure time you’ve dialed in on the camera, so that it does not attempt to
trigger an exposure at the wrong time. The amount of time to wait after triggering an exposure is
configured via the exposure delay value. This value is input in milliseconds, so one second would be
entered as 1000.
To disable any delay after triggering an exposure, set the exposure delay value to zero.
For continuous motion control, it is generally not necessary to set an exact exposure delay in the
MX2 unless it exceeds your configured interval time. However, for interleaved, or shoot-move-shoot,
motion control, it is essential to dial in the correct exposure time to prevent motor movement during
the exposure. In many cases, it is advantageous to exceed the actual exposure time configured on
the camera in the exposure delay parameter.
Additionally, you should configure the exposure time to its minimal value to prevent unnecessary
delays. Each camera may have a different minimum exposure time required to honor the request to
trip the shutter. For many cameras 100mS is a safe bet.
Exposure time must always be greater than zero to trigger the camera.
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1. Set camera to manual (M) mode
2. Dial in the correct exposure on the camera
3. [Enter] to enter the main menu
4. [Down] to select Cameraand press [Enter]
5. [Down] to select Exp. Time and press [Enter]
6. [Up] or [Down] to set the value to the minimum time for your camera
7. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
8. [Down] to select Exp. Delay and press [Enter]
9. [Up] or [Down] to set the value
10. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Limiting the Number of Frames Taken
The MX2 can automatically stop running when a certain number of frames have been exposed.
Simply set the max shots parameter for the camera.
Note that when ramping/feathering moves, setting the max shots parameter tells the MX2 when to
start ramping down.
Like most values in the MX2 controller, the Max Shots value is retained after power-off.
Actions:
1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Cameraand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Max Shots and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] to alter the value
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Auto-Focus, Waking the Camera from Sleep, and Shooting in
Live View
For certain conditions, the focus control line can be used to control other aspects of the camera:
Trip auto-focus before firing
On long interval times, put the camera into auto-sleep mode and use the focus line to wake it
up before firing
For some live-view cameras, the camera may not respond to the first time the exposure is
tripped unless the focus line is tripped first
The focus tap parameter allows you to define how long the focus line should be triggered before the
exposure line is triggered. This time is input in milliseconds, and there will always be an additional
1/10th second (100mS) delay after disengaging the focus line before the exposure line will engage to
prevent a bouncing effect being perceived by the camera.
It is important to set this value to the right amount required for your particular camera
configuration. Some cameras focus slower than others, or require more time to wake up than
others, and will require that the focus tap value be much higher. Experiment with your camera and
shooting conditions to determine which works best for you.
To disable the focus tap functionality, set the time to zero (0) milliseconds.
Like most values in the MX2 controller, the Focus Tap Time value is retained after power-off.
Actions:
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1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Cameraand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Focus Tap and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] to alter the value
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Cameras that Require Focus with Shutter (many Nikons)
The MX2 is capable of controlling cameras that require that the focus line be triggered along with the
shutter line to trigger an exposure. Many Nikon cameras require this, and some Canon users also
report that their cameras respond more reliably when the two lines are triggered together. The
shutter-focus parameter allows you to control this behavior.
Actions:
1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Cameraand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Shutter+Focus and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] to set the value to on or off
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Basic Use
In this section of the user guide, we cover common topics for using the MX2 Motion Controller in the
studio and in the field.
Choosing Your Motion Mode
The two basic motion control modes for the MX2 controller are Continuous Motion and Interleaved.
(Also known as Shoot-Move-Shoot.) In Continuous Motion mode, the motor moves irrespective of
the camera being fired, and generally at a consistent speed. In Interleaved mode, the motor only
moves between exposures. These two motion control modes can result in different aesthetics in
your output video, and each are best geared to a specific type of shooting. The following table will
help to summarize the best way to choose between the two motion types based on the parameters
of your shot, or the effect you wish to achieve:
Description Continuous Interleaved Notes
Moderate Speed, Short
Exposure X Can add a small amount of motion blur, and is
easier to set up
Long Exposure X If camera controls
exposure, dial-in post
exp. delay in MX2
Very Slow Speeds X Used Fixed SMS to
achieve motion over
hours or days
Static Subjects, Medium
Exposure X Adds nice motion blur to otherwise static subjects
Static Subjects Sharp,
Moving Subjects Blurred X Set longest exposure time achievable
Star Scenes X X If moving with stars,
cont. can help prevent
streaking, but will reduce
foreground focus on very
long exposures
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Critical Focus, Macro, or
Long Lens X Prevent movement when exposing
Now, many photographers will use a particular mode more often than another, as a matter of taste
or artistic intent. While the table above attempts to serve as a guide to when to choose between the
modes, your workflow or shooting style may call for a specified mode that is in contradiction with the
table. Every one is unique, and their style is their own — you should practice with each mode and
understand which is right for you.
You may only choose one motion type at a time, it is not possible to run one axis in continuous
motion and another in interleaved.
Using Continuous Motion
The default behavior of the MX2 controller is to operate in continuous motion mode. For the highest
end of the speed range, the control acts as a basic Pulse Width Modulation driver, varying the speed
of the motor by changing the frequency at which voltage is applied to it. However, once the speed
falls below the configured slow speed floor, a special “pulsing” mode kicks in. In pulsing mode, the
motor is run at full speed for a brief period of time, usually on the order of milliseconds, and then
shut down for a period of time. This causes the motor to operate at full torque at absolute minimum
speeds. While the motor is only moving part of the time, the measured average speed over a period
of time should largely approximate the inches per minute (or percentage of speed) specified.
In all continuous motion modes, you are able to choose from any one of 255 different speeds, from
completely stopped to moving at full speed. As each change to the speed is a 1/255th speed
change, speeds will appear to make larger jumps when being entered on the main screen than you
might expect.
At the very slowest speeds, it is generally preferable to move to interleaved mode, because the
added vibration of the long pulses on the motor.
To enable Continuous Motion mode:
1. [Enter] to enter the main menu
2. [Down] to select Settingsand press [Enter]
3. [Down] to select Motor Sl.Mod. and press [Enter]
4. [Up] or [Down] and choose pulse
5. [Enter] to save or [Right] to abort
Using Interleaved Motion
There are two types of interleaved motion control available on the MX2: Calculated and Fixed.
Calculated Interleave Mode
In calculated mode, you input the distance moved in actual speed (inches or cm per minute), and the
distance moved between each shot is determined based off of the exposure interval you input. For
example, if you input 1 inch per minute as your speed, and your interval is set to 1 second, the axis
would move 1/60th of an inch between each shot. This mode is used when you want to easily
determine how fast you want to move from one point to another on the axis, and generally requires
little forethought to set up a shot.
You may input values from 1/100th of an inch (or cm if in metric mode) to the maximum distance the
motor can move in one minute.
To enable Calculated Interleave Mode:
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