Harman Martin VC-Dot Series, User Manual

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6 VC-Dots™ user manual
Introduction
Thank you for selecting the Martin VC-Dots™ system. VC-Dots™ pre-cabled chains of compact LED-based
display modules are designed to integrate as pixels in a Martin P3™ video display system or display
DMX-controlled lighting effects. Using Martin VC-Feeder™ devices to relay power and data to VC-Dots™,
the system automatically recognizes either a Martin P3™ or a DMX data signal.
Used with or without a front diffuser, VC-Dots with their integrated hybrid power and data cabling system
can be installed in almost any configuration with 3-dimensional freedom, easy setup and minimal cabling.
The VC-Dots™ system™ features include:
• Choice of 1-, 4- or 9-LED version Dots (different versions can be mixed in one installation)
• High-quality 16-bit per color image processing technology
• Pixel-level brightness and color calibration for optimal image quality
• P3 and DMX/RDM control, with automatic protocol detection
• Intuitive pixel mapping and addressing using Martin P3™ system controller
• Single hybrid power and data cable
• RGB, WW (warm white), MW (medium white) and CW (cool white) versions
• External power and data processor (Martin P3 PowerPort 1500™) and simple cabling system
Martin™ user documentation is supplied with products and available for download from the Martin™
website at http://www.martin.com, where you can also find the latest specifications, firmware updates and
support information for all Martin™ products.
Martin™ welcomes input from users. Comments or suggestions regarding this manual can be e-mailed to
service@martin.dk or posted to: Technical Documentation, Martin Professional A/S, Olof Palmes Allé 18,
DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
Elements in the VC-Dots™ system
For overviews of the VC-Dots™ system used for Martin P3™ video display and DMX-controlled lighting
display, see Figure 2 on page 11 and Figure 3 on page 13. The system consists of:
• Strings of Martin VC-Dot™ LED modules on ribbon cable that carries both data and 15 VDC power. LED
modules are available in versions with one, four or nine LEDs and in RGB three-color as well as WW
(warm white), MW (medium white) and CW (cool white) single-color versions. LED modules are simply
called Dots in this manual.
Strings can be cut and can be extended using the extra ribbon cable and IP65 splice connectors available
from Martin™.
• Martin VC-Feeder™ devices that accept Martin P3™ and DMX data as well as 48 VDC power and send
data and 15 VDC power to VC-Dot strings.
In Martin P3™ video display systems:
• Martin P3 PowerPort 1500™ devices that accept Martin P3™ video data and AC mains power and send
data and 48 VDC power to VC-Feeders in video display systems.
• Martin P3™ system controllers that accept a video source and send Martin P3™ video data to
LED-based display systems.
And in DMX-controlled display systems:
• RDM-compliant DMX controllers (Martin™ can supply various suitable hardware consoles or Windows
PC software applications).
• 48 VDC external Power Supply Units.
• In larger installations, Martin RDM 5.5™ Splitters, optically isolated amplifier-splitters that allow a DMX /
RDM data link to be split into branches.
Martin™ also supplies all the necessary cables and connectors for the VC-Dots™ system.
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