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Author Topic: Martin m-touch or m-play for busking?  (Read 4912 times)

Dave Garoutte

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Martin m-touch or m-play for busking?
« on: October 05, 2017, 02:43:29 PM »

The title kind of says it.
I run simple lighting setups while doing sound.
Looking to quickly adjust multiple fixtures and have some pre-made looks.
There aren't any reasonably priced moving fader boards, so this seemed like a good option.
It's hard to tell from the interwebs which one would be better, or actually if they would work for what I want to do. 
The M-PC software is definitely complicated and overkill for my needs, but I'll figure it out.
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TJ (Tom) Cornish

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Re: Martin m-touch or m-play for busking?
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2017, 04:27:51 PM »

The title kind of says it.
I run simple lighting setups while doing sound.
Looking to quickly adjust multiple fixtures and have some pre-made looks.
There aren't any reasonably priced moving fader boards, so this seemed like a good option.
It's hard to tell from the interwebs which one would be better, or actually if they would work for what I want to do. 
The M-PC software is definitely complicated and overkill for my needs, but I'll figure it out.
I have both.  Get the M-Touch first; get the M-Play only if you need more faders and buttons.

Lighting desks fall into two categories - really simple ones that don't do what you want them to do, and complicated software that is really powerful but has a steep learning curve.  M-PC and anything else worth using unfortunately fall into the latter category.  The upside of M-PC/M-Touch is that there is nothing else even remotely close to that price range.  Make sure you use it with a touchscreen computer - it's no fun with a mouse.
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Dave Garoutte

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Re: Martin m-touch or m-play for busking?
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2017, 05:21:25 PM »

Cool.
That was my impression from looking at stuff (virtually).
The Martin website shows the M-touch being driven by a windows tablet.
That's the route I'm headed, I think.
I'm looking at sub $500 for both (the wonders of ebay).  The software is free.
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Inventor.  And now, Streaming Video!

Graham Spice

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Re: Martin m-touch or m-play for busking?
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2017, 12:19:45 PM »

Dave- there is a very active Martin M-Series User Group on Facebook. I'd definitely ask there about the model of tablet that you're looking at before purchasing.



Cool.
That was my impression from looking at stuff (virtually).
The Martin website shows the M-touch being driven by a windows tablet.
That's the route I'm headed, I think.
I'm looking at sub $500 for both (the wonders of ebay).  The software is free.
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Dave Garoutte

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Re: Martin m-touch or m-play for busking?
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2017, 07:57:52 PM »

Well I did my show last night.
It actually went off pretty well, although the band was way too loud.
I hate mixing to the drummer.

I did a crash course on the M-PC software tutorials, and it took a while to get the work flow; very frustrating.
One complaint about the tutorials is none of the ones I saw told you how to delete or fix a mistake.
I finally figured out that the command structure is basically Reverse-Polish.
I still have a loooong way to go to get everything out of it.

That said, the combo of the M-PC software and the M-touch control surface worked pretty well.
I was able to generate various looks and fixture combinations and preset locations for my mover to use as a spot light.
I got compliments, so I consider is a success.

Setup was M-PC on a laptop serving the M-touch.  (Eventually, I'll use a windows tablet instead of the laptop, for a very portable system.)
All Chauvet:
4 Colorado Solo 1 (Key)
2 Colorado Solo 2 (Key)
2 Freedom Par Hex 4 (Drum uplights)
1 Intimidator spot LED 350 (Spotlight)
1 Scorpion Storm FX RGB (Dancefloor)

I basically built a layer for each type of fixture and had 6-8 looks for each and a blackout.
Petty effective and easy to operate.

Sorry, No pix.
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Events.  Stage, PA, Lighting and Backline rentals.
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Graham Spice

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Re: Martin m-touch or m-play for busking?
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2017, 12:12:50 AM »

That's really cool, Dave. I'm interested in your setup and urge you to take some pics at the next gig! You have some nice fixtures...do you have a hazer or fog machine?

I know what you mean about mixing to a drummer...that's often the gig in small rooms...fighting stage volume just to get the vocals audible. I know the drill well. :(

In particular, I'm interested to see how the Swarm integrates into your band lighting rig. I'm considering getting one or two of the Swarm 5 FX fixtures and would like to see how you're using it for your dancefloor.

When you say you build a layer for each type of fixture, do you mean that you had a fader setup on the M-touch for each type of fixture that controlled the group's intensity? That's generally how I've been setting up my M-Touch— like a "level control" of various groups of lights on stage.

Here's an idea from David Henry of LearnStageLighting.com for how to  setup the faders on an M-Touch for busking that I've had success using. I can definitely recommend his subscription site as a great resource for getting in deep with M-PC and general lighting concepts in general:
  • Front Wash Intensity
  • Side Wash Intensity
  • Rear Wash Intensity
  • Rear Spots Intensity
  • Intensity Chase Step
  • Intensity Chase Sine
  • All Lights Open and Strobing
  • Stage Bally
  • House Bally
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Dave Garoutte

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Re: Martin m-touch or m-play for busking?
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2017, 01:55:42 PM »

Hi Graham,

Oops, I meant 'Bank' not 'Layer'.
I literally only had a couple of days to learn the M-PC software and the M-Touch well enough to do the show.
I got enough from the tutorials to make things work, including the ones by LearnStageLighting.
Learning and understanding presets and chases are next.
The fact that things were lighted and I had some control, I consider a success.
I was also able to temporarily control a the mover in edit mode directly from the laptop.

BTW, the Scorpion Storm I use is a laser.  The Swarm is an effects light.
I'm a Chauvet dealer if you're looking for good pricing.
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Nothing can be made idiot-proof; only idiot resistant.

Events.  Stage, PA, Lighting and Backline rentals.
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Inventor.  And now, Streaming Video!

ProSoundWeb Community

Re: Martin m-touch or m-play for busking?
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2017, 01:55:42 PM »


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