Hi guys, I'm a newbie here and had a couple questions.
I'm looking to possibly purchase a couple higher end scanners. I was looking at the Martin MX10 Extreme or Technobeams. I have read different stuff on the web and it seemes like everyone points to the technobeams. I have read a lot on the web, and am leaning towards the technobeam side a little. I know a lot of you guys know your stuff, that is why I am here, any help is very much appreciated.
First, what do you guys recommend between the two? Or if you have any other recommendations, please let me know. They both seem like nice Scanners, and relatively powerful. Both 250 bulbs, and I believe at 4000 lumens for each fixture. The LED scanners so far just don't seem to be powerful enough. A lot of the cheaper brands seem to be using around a 50 watt led which doesn't seem to cut it in larger rooms.
A big plus with the technobeams is that I see they have built in movement macros, where the 10s only have prism macros and gobo macros. Movement macros are a big plus for me, I used to have SCX 700s and really liked the movement macro feature. Saves me a lot of time. I am a mobile DJ, weddings, dances, etc... I would be programming the lights, but I will not be using any crazy controller like a grandma or anything. I have a Freekie, which I want to upgrade from, but that is another story. If I get technobeams, I have to upgrade. I actually see they have a controller just for the technobeams, is it any good? I have never used it, but I'm guessing then it doesn't do anything for all the other DMX fixtures other than the Technobeam.
But one of my biggest concerns is : The technobeam is not made anymore. I have read that these are built very well, but a lot of the time when looking to purchase, no one puts the hours of use down on the units. When I sell any of my fixtures, if it has an hour counter on it, I always put down the hours. I just figure the buyer will want to know how much the unit has been used??? Is this anything to worry about when purchasing used if I can't get the hours? For example, I am talking with someone right now about MX 10 Extremes with 3500 hours on them. Is this a high number for this kind of fixture, what is a high number to start worrying about when purchasing used equipment? I know a lot has to do with how they have been cared for, but lets just say a general number of hours. I don't know, all my fixtures are relatively new with well under 1000 hours. But I do like the technobeams and I'm guessing a lot of them will have well over 1000 hours on them. What is it to look for when buying these?
One more question I have, and I have looked for an answer but kind really find it? What are the approx year the technobeams were made? I think the later years have an iris? In your eyes, are the technobeams or MX 10s obsolete? Worth the money, or will these still compete with the new?
Thanks for any info.
Adam
I'm looking to possibly purchase a couple higher end scanners. I was looking at the Martin MX10 Extreme or Technobeams. I have read different stuff on the web and it seemes like everyone points to the technobeams. I have read a lot on the web, and am leaning towards the technobeam side a little. I know a lot of you guys know your stuff, that is why I am here, any help is very much appreciated.
First, what do you guys recommend between the two? Or if you have any other recommendations, please let me know. They both seem like nice Scanners, and relatively powerful. Both 250 bulbs, and I believe at 4000 lumens for each fixture. The LED scanners so far just don't seem to be powerful enough. A lot of the cheaper brands seem to be using around a 50 watt led which doesn't seem to cut it in larger rooms.
A big plus with the technobeams is that I see they have built in movement macros, where the 10s only have prism macros and gobo macros. Movement macros are a big plus for me, I used to have SCX 700s and really liked the movement macro feature. Saves me a lot of time. I am a mobile DJ, weddings, dances, etc... I would be programming the lights, but I will not be using any crazy controller like a grandma or anything. I have a Freekie, which I want to upgrade from, but that is another story. If I get technobeams, I have to upgrade. I actually see they have a controller just for the technobeams, is it any good? I have never used it, but I'm guessing then it doesn't do anything for all the other DMX fixtures other than the Technobeam.
But one of my biggest concerns is : The technobeam is not made anymore. I have read that these are built very well, but a lot of the time when looking to purchase, no one puts the hours of use down on the units. When I sell any of my fixtures, if it has an hour counter on it, I always put down the hours. I just figure the buyer will want to know how much the unit has been used??? Is this anything to worry about when purchasing used if I can't get the hours? For example, I am talking with someone right now about MX 10 Extremes with 3500 hours on them. Is this a high number for this kind of fixture, what is a high number to start worrying about when purchasing used equipment? I know a lot has to do with how they have been cared for, but lets just say a general number of hours. I don't know, all my fixtures are relatively new with well under 1000 hours. But I do like the technobeams and I'm guessing a lot of them will have well over 1000 hours on them. What is it to look for when buying these?
One more question I have, and I have looked for an answer but kind really find it? What are the approx year the technobeams were made? I think the later years have an iris? In your eyes, are the technobeams or MX 10s obsolete? Worth the money, or will these still compete with the new?
Thanks for any info.
Adam