Strand MX48

[lightingman]

Hi everybody,

 

What a great web site, it's very usefull !

First, I ask you to be indulgent on my english because it's not my mother tong.

 

I'm a theatre volunteer worker and I sometimes use the famous strand MX48. Great consol !

But, in order to learn more on this consol and be more efficient when using it, I'd like to get many information on it.

 

My first question is about the memory card, I have read the MX48 manual but I still don't understand what king of memory do I need. Is it this king of car ?

http://warriorlan.free.fr/wp-content/uploads/disquette.jpg

 

Then I've heard that when strandlighting send the MX48, there was a software on a memory card, what was the functions of this software ? Where can I find it ?

I see on the strand archive web site that there is a software to display information on a computer but it's not an emulator.

 

That's enough for the moment.

So thank you very much for your help !!

[vinntec]

My first question is about the memory card, I have read the MX48 manual but I still don't understand what king of memory do I need. Is it this king of car ?

http://warriorlan.free.fr/wp-content/uploads/disquette.jpg

Lightingman - a quick look on the Strand Archive says:

Library A 64kB memory card can store the entire Mantrix MX memory, or selectively record scenes, effects, patch tables and setup data.

 

So I would say is probably a proprietary Strand Card which would be hard to get hold of now - but you still see MX desks around so someone else might know the details. I assume the desk has its own internal memory separate from this, so the card would only be used for backup and archiving a (most likely single) show and for installing new software when it was a current system.

PV

[lightingman]

Thank you very for your answer. Yes, the desk has its own internal memory but I'm not alone to use the MX48 but the other users delete the memory so I'd like to save on a separate device (the memory card...) my work.

 

Do you have an idea where I can find the software that was sold with the MX48 ? I guess it's little different from the emulator we can download.

 

Thank you.

[rossmck]

From memory, and it's been a while since I used an MX, the 'monitor' required a serial terminal as unlike the GSX/LBX of the same era the MX had an RS232 output for display, not a VGA port... there was software which allowed you to use the monitor of a standard computer connected to this port but any terminal emulator will do the same (you'll also need a USB to Serial adaptor for more modern computers as the RS232 port is a lot less ubiquitous than it once was!)

 

There is, to the best of my knowledge, no off-line editor / emulator for the MX as there is for the GSX/LBX desks.

[DrV]

The terminal emulator program is called MXTERM. I have a copy of it here and I assume I got it from the Strand Archive. It is (I think) a VT100 terminal emulator, in other words it uses the cursor addressing escape codes as used on the VT100. If you can't find it on the web site send me a PM and I'll mail you the zip file which contains the program and all the instructions for use in a PDF. The zip is only 529kb.

 

The memory card is, I believe, a half size version of the Melcard used by Zero88 on the Sirius 24/48. As these are as available as hen's teeth I'm afraid that's not much help!

 

Dave

[lightingman]

Hi everybody,

 

I sincerly thank you for your help !

For the memory card, I will extend my research in order to look for something that could be used by the MX48.

Bye.

[DrV]

Hi everybody,

 

I sincerly thank you for your help !

For the memory card, I will extend my research in order to look for something that could be used by the MX48.

Bye.

They do come up on ebay from time to time.

 

Dave

[Richard Bunting]

Hi everybody,

 

I sincerly thank you for your help !

For the memory card, I will extend my research in order to look for something that could be used by the MX48.

Bye.

 

Hi lightingman,

we may have stock of these cards, used for another manufacturer's lighting console. I need to check and will PM you with what I find.

 

BW

Richard

[Kazeja]

The memory card for the MX is Strand part number 66114 and claims to be 64KB. I have used cards from Z88 in the past with success on an MX. It's a thin piece of plastic (85x53x4mm). There is a slot one end into which is inserted a BR2325 button cell battery. On the opposite end are the holes that marry up with the connector on the MX console.

The programme software is held in a couple of Eproms. Latest known release is 2.3. The software version briefly appears on the LCD screen at power up.

The external monitor needs to be an RS232 terminal or a PC running "MXTERM". There is no Monitor output to the printer/terminal port on consoles running "A" version software. Version "B" may work but will need to verify. To get the best out of the console, suggest updateing to the lattest version of software.

 

K

[Richard Bunting]

The memory card for the MX is Strand part number 66114 and claims to be 64KB. I have used cards from Z88 in the past with success on an MX. It's a thin piece of plastic (85x53x4mm). There is a slot one end into which is inserted a BR2325 button cell battery. On the opposite end are the holes that marry up with the connector on the MX console.

The programme software is held in a couple of Eproms. Latest known release is 2.3. The software version briefly appears on the LCD screen at power up.

The external monitor needs to be an RS232 terminal or a PC running "MXTERM". There is no Monitor output to the printer/terminal port on consoles running "A" version software. Version "B" may work but will need to verify. To get the best out of the console, suggest updateing to the lattest version of software.

 

K

 

Hi Andy,

we have stock of a 128K SRAM card, do you happen to know if the MX card slot was ever set up to take this size of card?

 

BW

Richard

 

PS - are you going to the Strand re-union on the 13th?

[c.cam108]

The memory card for the MX is Strand part number 66114 and claims to be 64KB. I have used cards from Z88 in the past with success on an MX. It's a thin piece of plastic (85x53x4mm). There is a slot one end into which is inserted a BR2325 button cell battery. On the opposite end are the holes that marry up with the connector on the MX console.

The programme software is held in a couple of Eproms. Latest known release is 2.3. The software version briefly appears on the LCD screen at power up.

The external monitor needs to be an RS232 terminal or a PC running "MXTERM". There is no Monitor output to the printer/terminal port on consoles running "A" version software. Version "B" may work but will need to verify. To get the best out of the console, suggest updateing to the lattest version of software.

 

K

Are software updates available? I don't know what version our MX24 is running, but there are some software bugs with the terminal output. Will anyone still do the EPROMs?

 

Colin C

[Kazeja]

Yes, Whitelight can still supply the eproms and also service your MX if required.

 

K

 

A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on.

 

 

Hi Andy,

we have stock of a 128K SRAM card, do you happen to know if the MX card slot was ever set up to take this size of card?

 

BW

Richard

 

PS - are you going to the Strand re-union on the 13th?

 

Re 128K, I've no idea. It's a case of suck it and see.

 

Re Strand reunion, unfortunatly, prior unavoidable engagement.

 

K

[lightingman]

Thank you very much for your help.

 

I can't attend the mx meeting because I live in France...

 

For the memory card, is it this one ?

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/676638-pc...-bn-064hsr.html

 

Bye.

[Kazeja]

The card looks very similar to the one I have.

 

Have you tried contacting the Strand distributers in France?

 

http://www.strandlighting.com/index.php?sr...location=Europe

 

I knew Philippe and Bob when I was at Strand and they are good and should be able to help you.

 

 

K

 

The link may not work but if you go to the Strand website and look under sales and select France, you will get the French contact details.

K

[lightingman]

Hi everybody,

 

First, I want to apology for the delay but I was really busy.

 

Thank you very much for your help for the memory card, I will contact the french MX supplier.

 

Now, I'd like to know how to play back a registered scene (with time transition between 2 scenes). I know how to record a scene and play back it with B sliders. But I don’t clearly understand the manual.

 

Can somebody describle me clearly how to do this ?

 

Thanks a lot.