Martin Professional TRACKPOD 1.8 User manual

Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 1
MARTIN TRACKPOD
1.8
Getting Started
Fourth Edition: March 2001
MARTIN TRACKPOD
1.8
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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
Fourth Edition: March 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 1.8 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 1.8 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
MIDI card, connectors or cables
A sighting device such as a video camera, telrad or scope.
A TrackPod PC card for portable computers (sold separately)
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 1.8 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
Processor: Pentium 300
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
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
available and use the card’s dip switches to set that address. Since the
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Page 8 Getting Started
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 1.8 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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Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 11
placed close to each other in some ideal convenient location, even if
they are each controlling fixtures that aim from different sides.
The distance and angle to the stage depends on the venue. For instance, to
track players at a stadium the TrackPod should not be located on the playing
field but rather on a central, very elevated bleacher (or VIP box!). On the other
hand, if you are tracking a small stage you may place the TrackPod on a short
platform or riser on the stage. One important rule: always place the TrackPod
higher than your performers.
The TrackPod connects to the PC ISA card via standard 3-pin cable used
for DMX. The PC is usually placed right next to the main lighting board
so it is easy to see and override what the TrackPods are doing. The
distance between TrackPods and the PC should not exceed 1 Km.
Tip: it is possible to place a TrackPod head on a threaded mount on a
truss. This is useful when there is little space for the tripod. It is worth
noting also that the head’s panning plane does not need to be horizontal
nor the tilt plane vertical. The automatic calibration of the TrackPod
corrects for such situations.
TrackPod controller
Figure 4 shows the features of the TrackPod controller. The controller
allows an operator to perform a very wide variety of functions. Its faders
can be programmed to control any DMX channel for individual or
groups of fixtures, thus allowing manual selection of traditional follow-
spot parameters (e.g. dimmer, iris, or colour) or of new intelligent
lighting parameters (e.g. prism, rotating gobos or automated framing).
The controller allows the operator to load and browse maps, to bump
pages of fader assignments, to see detailed tracking data, to temporarily
blind the pan and tilt functionality and more. The controller is also used
to calibrate the TrackPod and may be used to calibrate the fixtures. Of
course, all or some of the features may be disabled so that the central
lighting board retains full control and override capability.
The setup button in the TrackPod controller is available at all times
(even when the TrackPod software is not running on the PC). The setup
allows you to change the brightness and contrast of the controller
display, to test the faders and buttons and to directly read the pan and tilt
encoder values to make sure they are working properly. 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.
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Page 12 Getting Started
Before you begin
The TrackPod can be powered by either 115 or 230V. Please ensure that
the switch on the back of the controller is set to the appropriate voltage
before connecting it to the mains. Also, make sure that the power is
properly grounded. When you power the TrackPod a welcome message
appears on the display followed by a screen that reports the “TrackPod
number”. The TrackPod number is a unique address that each TrackPod
must have in order to be recognized properly by the computer. Since a
single PC can be hooked up to seven TrackPods in series you can
choose a number from 1 to 7. To do this, press the setup key and choose
the second option: “TrackPod#”. Ensure that each TrackPod that is
connected to the same card has a unique number.
Once the TrackPod(s) are connected to the PC, launch the TrackPod
software. At start-up the software will automatically detect all the
TrackPods that are available. Go to the stage set-up screen. At the
bottom, you will see a field where you can enter the “Head ID number”
for each TrackPod. This number is clearly printed on the pan encoder of
the head. The Head ID number is different for every TrackPod as it
contains essential factory settings specific to the hardware. Fortunately,
you only have to enter this information once for a specific configuration.
Tip: write the head ID number somewhere safe just in case
F1: data display
F2: page notes
F3: map notes
and calib. laser
O K,
forward
Blind fader
Backlit display
Cancel, back
Selection keys
Setup
Numerical
key pad
Clear,
dimmer blind
Status LED
Decimal point
and load pages
FIGURE 4 - The TrackPod controller
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Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 13
TrackPod calibration
The software must know the precise 3D location and orientation of each
TrackPod with respect to the centre of the stage: this is called “calibrat-
ing the TrackPod”. There are two ways of performing the calibration:
automatic and manual.
Automatic calibration
Automatic calibration is the most common method for setting up the
tracking system. This method entails measuring the distances between
five gaffer-tape marks on the stage floor and then pointing the TrackPod
at them to correlate those distances to actual TrackPod readings.
Figure 5 shows the location of the five stage-marks. Mark the centre of
your stage with some gaffer tape. This will be the central reference point
for the tracking system, also called the origin. Make four other marks:
the centre-edge of your stage downstage (close to the public), the centre-
edge of your stage upstage (far from the public) and the centre-edge of
the stage’s right and left wings, as you stand on the stage facing the
public.
Tip: even if your public surrounds the stage or if you do not have a
specific place for the public, you must choose some points that will
define your interactive area and its orientation. These points will serve
as a reference when you are using the TrackPod software to define
regions of your stage. For convenience, if there is no clear stage
orientation, set the “downstage” of the stage to be the side that is
closest to the TrackPod computer so that the orientation of the space
matches the orientation presented in the software’s map editor.
Make sure that:
1. The marks are as far apart from each other as possible in the stage.
2. That marks 1 and 3 form a straight line with the centre mark, —this
will be the orientation of the stage on the TrackPod software. Con-
versely marks 2 and 4 do not need to be in a straight line.
3. That all marks are within range of the TrackPod laser.
4. That all marks are at the same height (you may also have the marks
on an inclined plane, but then the plane becomes your stage floor and
your height references will be perpendicular to that plane).
5. That the marks are not moved during calibration and the TrackPod
tripod is not moved during and after calibration.
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Page 14 Getting Started
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.
Place laser reflectors exactly over the stage marks: this is not essential
but it will help you see the laser. The supplied laser reflectors are “pie
slices” designed to be assembled as cones which provide an almost
perpendicular surface to shine on. Use the sticky tape on the back of the
slices to fold them into a cone. You should make five such cones.
The next procedure will require the use of the laser calibrator.Make
sure to read the “warnings” section of this manual (pages 4-5) before
attempting this step.
Starting on the TrackPod launch pad —the first screen that appears on
the TrackPod display when it is connected to the PC— do the following:
• Press number 2 to select the option “Calibration”.
• Press 1 “Auto TrackPod”
• Press 1 if you have already entered the TrackPod’s Head ID Number
• Press 2 to enter new “Calibration Point distances”
• A screen appears with six number fields that must be filled-in with the
distance between stage marks, in centimetres or inches depending on
the units chosen in the preferences. The distances correspond to stage
1
2
3
4X
Upstage
Downstage
Stage
left
Stage
right
Public
???
?
?
?
FIGURE 5 - Stage terminology and location of stage marks
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Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 15
mark 1 (upstage) to X (centre stage), 1 to 4, 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 2 to 4 and X
to 4. To go to the next or to the previous number field press the
selection arrows that are on the right of the controller display. When
you have filled in all the values press OK to continue.
• Enter a height for the stage marks, if any, and press OK.
• To point at calibration point number 1, press and hold the F3 “Laser”
key to start the laser. When the laser hits the stage mark, release the F3
key: this will turn off the laser, record the stage mark position and
advance to the next screen.
• Repeat the above procedure to point at calibration points 2, 3, 4 and X.
If you make a mistake you can always press the “cancel” button to go
back one screen and repeat the step.
• After recording the last calibration point a screen will tell you if the
calibration was successful and show the 3D coordinates and orienta-
tion of the TrackPod.
• Press any key to go back to the Launch Pad... you are done!
Tip: all TrackPods connected to a PC should be calibrated using the
same stagemarks. To facilitate this, you only need to enter the distances
between the stagemarks once and simply choose the “use existing”
option to recall them in subsequent calibrations.
Manual calibration
Manual calibration should be used only if for some reason automatic
calibration is not possible, for instance, if it is impossible to use the laser
due to stage obstructions. To use this method you must measure the
exact position in centimetres (or inches) of each TrackPod relative to the
origin, which is the centre stage mark.
FIGURE 6 - Convention for measuring X, Y and Z
Stage
Right Stage
Left
-X
Upstage
Downstage
-Y
+X
+Y
Origin
XYZ=0
Height over
the stage +Z
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Page 16 Getting Started
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.
• Y is the stage depth, with positive values towards upstage and negative
values towards downstage.
• Z is the stage height, with positive values above the stage floor.
Once you have measured the location of the TrackPod you must enter its
orientation. Figure 7 shows the conventions for TrackPod orientation.
Positions shown correspond to a zero value and the arrows indicate the
direction of positive movement:
To enter manual calibration data, press option 2 “Manual TrackPod” in
the calibration menu, or you may also enter the data on the PC software
in the “manual calibration” tab in the stage set-up screen.
After TrackPod calibration
Once you have calibrated the TrackPod the software will automatically
create an “interactive area” of a certain width and length (slightly larger
than the area described by the stage marks). This is the area where
tracking will take place. In the stage set-up screen of the software, you
may enter a custom size and position offset for the interactive area.
Once TrackPods have been calibrated they appear on the Map Editor
and real time screen. It is very important that the TrackPods not be
moved from their exact 3D position or orientation once they are cali-
brated. If they are moved, even slightly, it will be necessary to
recalibrate them (but you can use the same stage marks and measure-
ments if they have not changed since the last calibration).
FIGURE 7 - Conventions for measuring the TrackPod orientation
Rotation Tilt Pan
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Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 17
How to connect the TrackPod to
DMX consoles and fixtures
The TrackPod can work as a stand-alone control system or in tandem
with DMX consoles, software controllers, MIDI instruments, and so on.
The TrackPod card features two 5-pin DMX connectors, one for IN and
one for OUT. Normally the TrackPod card is between the main lighting
console and the fixtures.
This is the most common configuration for the system: the TrackPod
intercepts DMX data coming from a console and replaces predetermined
DMX channels with data generated by the TrackPod. For example, the
TrackPod may take control of pan and tilt channels while letting all the
other channels be controlled by the console. In addition, through DMX,
the console may load and unload TrackPod maps to change the behav-
iour of the tracking system, or to override it. This is ideal for perform-
ance situations in which the lighting designer wants to integrate the
TrackPod system into a sophisticated light show, with the DMX console
directing all show control.
Once your lights have been securely fixed in their final positions, your
DMX chain has been set up, and the fixtures have all been addressed
and powered-up, you are ready to define and calibrate all your lights.
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.
FIGURE 8 - Typical set-up
To other lights
not controlled by
the TrackPod(s)
Lighting board TrackPod PC Light 1 Light 2
DMX outs in out
TP
Serial connection to
other TrackPods
(up to 7 per PC)
To other lights in
series controlled
by the board and
the TrackPod(s)
DMX
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Page 18 Getting Started
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” from the “Go to” menu.
To define a light, first click on one of the 128 boxes in the “Available
Lights” zone. You can associate any of these boxes to any light, but it is
advisable, for reference’s sake, to choose adjacent boxes for lights that
are close together on a truss, that have contiguous DMX base channel
assignments, or that are the same fixture model. Once you click on a
box to select it, you may use the controls in the upper right corner to
select a light model, base channel and addressing mode. If you have
several TrackPod cards you must also choose an appropriate DMX link.
Upon defining a fixture, it will appear in the DMX Map bar under the
128 light boxes.
Tip: you may right click boxes to define several boxes at the same time.
You may also press shift and left click to make a contiguous selection.
Groups
You can define up to 16 groups of fixtures in order to be able to call up
several of them at the same time during programming and playback. To
define a group right click on same-model fixtures and then right click on
an empty group box. To clear a group right click on the group box
without any fixtures selected.
Followspot calibration
If the light that you are defining will be used as an automated follow-
spot, you need to do a followspot calibration. The TrackPod needs to
know the exact position and orientation of the light that you want to
convert into a followspot. You may enter this information manually, but
this can be a tedious procedure, particularly if your fixture is difficult to
reach or if you have several fixtures to measure. Consequently, an
automatic calibration routine has been implemented for your conven-
ience.
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Martin TrackPod 1.8 Page 19
Automatic followspot calibration
The automatic calibration method involves pointing the lights to five
marks on the stage floor, called followspot calibration points. The
procedure can be performed directly from the TrackPod controller by
following the instructions in the “auto fixture” section of the “calibra-
tion” menu. However, we recommend that you read the procedure below
to familiarize yourself with how it may be done from the PC.
In the bottom of the lighting set-up screen find a “Followspot Calibra-
tion” zone with four tabs. Step 1 is normally done only once, while steps
2, 3 and 4 should be done for each fixture that you want calibrated.
Step 1
You have two options to define the five followspot calibration points:
i) Use the five stagemarks previously measured for an automatic
TrackPod calibration in the stage set-up (see Figure 5). This is the
fastest and most accurate option. Tip: the option will be greyed-out until
you perform an automatic TrackPod calibration.
ii) Define new followspot calibration points. This option should only be
used if a) you cannot perform an automatic TrackPod calibration and
therefore there are no stagemarks, or b) the lightbeam of a fixture cannot
reach all five stagemarks because of stage props or pan/tilt limits.
To define new followspot calibration points you must mark the stage
floor with a similar numbering than that used for the TrackPod calibra-
tion (see Figure 9). Followspot calibration points 1, X and 3 have to be
in the same line as the stagemarks 1, X and 3 and the origin should be
the same for both sets of points. Points 2 and 4 can be placed more
liberally around the stage, provided they are not too close to other
followspot calibration points.
Now you must tell the system where the new points are and, while you
can enter their location by measuring them manually, it is easier to
“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.
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Page 20 Getting Started
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. By pressing on these buttons the
TrackPod’s graphical pan/tilt controller will let you point the light to the
corresponding calibration point.
ii) Use your DMX board and capture its data. If you have a DMX
console connected to the TrackPod you may find it easier to point the
light at the calibration points by using the console’s trackball, touchpad,
tablet, joystick or sliders rather than using the TrackPod software. Once
pointed, simply capture the appropriate pan and tilt data by pressing the
capture buttons.
Tip: you may record preset focus cues for all your fixtures pointing at
the five calibration points. You may then select all the fixtures (right
clicking or shift+left click for multiple selection) and the software will
allow you to “capture” all data simultaneously and calculate all fixtures
in one single operation.
FIGURE 9 - An example of alternative positions
for followspot calibration points.
1
2
3
4X
Upstage
Downstage
Stage
left
Stage
right
1
2
3
4
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