[Few people are as qualified to write a product review about media servers as Vickie Claiborne. She has been a freelance programmer for a long time, and she has worked on many high-profile productions. In the interest of full disclosure, we should mention that she does conduct training seminars on the Maxedia for Martin. – ed.]
The Martin Maxedia is a powerful DMX512-controllable media server capable of handling a wide variety of digital media, including still images, video clips, 3D graphics, text, audio and more. The flexibility of the Maxedia’s digital video signal means that it will output to most types of display devices, including LED walls and digital projectors.
Hardware
There are three versions of the Maxedia: the Maxedia Pro, the Maxedia Compact and the new Maxedia Broadcast. The Maxedia Pro is a complete touring package that includes a road case, pullout keyboard with trackpad, Maxedia I/O (Input/Output) module and the Maxedia Pro PC. The Compact version is a standalone version that is geared toward permanent installations like clubs and retail environments. The Maxedia Broadcast offers advanced extra power for HD content. All of these systems are PC-based systems running Windows XPe.
The Maxedia Pro system comes outfitted with a Pentium D 945 processor running at 3.4 GHz on an Intel D975XBK main board. It has two gigabytes of RAM and two Maxtor DiamondMax 10 200GB SATA hard drives: one for the system and one swappable drive for media (gives approximately 10 hours of high-quality video). The video card is a PCIe X1950XTX Sapphire, and there is an internal video capture card. A read/write DVD is included, and the system is prewired and rack-mounted in a 19-inch custom 9U rack flightcase with lockable castors.
The I/O module is accessible from the front of the rack and includes: DMX512 in and out, EtherDMX (ArtNet) in and out, Ethernet remote, two USB ports and one IEEE 1394 Firewire for storage media/hardware/network/video; CVBS in, buffered CVBS in and buffered SDI in (optional); VGA, RGB, two DVI outputs, Composite, S-video and a backlit LCD display with menu buttons.
Software
The Maxedia User interface is based on an embedded Windows XPe OS. The video output resolution options include 800 x 600, 1024 x 786 and 1920 x 1080, depending on the attached output device. It supports media content in AVI and MOV formats with DV codec in SD and HD quality, WMV and still image formats, including JPEG, BMP and Flash media. A Media Manager is built into the application to help import custom media. Another nice feature of the Media Manager is that you can export all of your media when saving your show should you want to use the same show on another system. Also built into the Maxedia is the MaxNet network system that enables easy networking of multiple media servers as well as networking with the Maxxyz control system. Networking Maxedia servers also allows for easy synchronization of media content, cues and timecode.
Programming
The Pro Version and the Broadcast Versions have 20 independent 3D engine layers and the Compact version has six. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is one of the strong points of the software. In addition to being optimized for easy programming with a touchscreen, it uses real-world, intuitive images, dynamic text labels and thumbnails. It displays the information clearly without the need for multiple menus. In fact, the Maxedia user interface was designed to reflect the Maxxyz user interface, so programming on the Maxedia looks and feels similar to the Maxxyz, reducing the learning curve between the two products. All the screen layouts are customizable, with up to 16 saved configurations possible at a time.
Software effects include: blending, moves, transitions and wipes; smoke, plasma, particles, ribbons and landscape; shader and shader media; live video cue recording with no limits on effects; keystoning and framing; masking; CMY and RGB pixel mapping (up to 32 universes including any automated fixture with CMY parameters and ArtNet import and refresh. Other features include: DMX viewer for DMX-in value reports; keymapping (cues and transitions assignable to keyboard keys for instant triggering); fixture patching identical to Maxxyz, (the patches can be imported directly from the Maxxyz); and integrated test pattern generator.
Playback
Cues recorded in the Maxedia show can be easily played back via the built-in A/B mixer, and transitions and wipes can be applied easily from the same screen. Crossfade times are also easily edited from the A/B Mixer screen, making cue playback from the Maxedia directly user friendly.
Maxedia ships with five DVDs of stock content; new DVDs are issued periodically. The Maxedia Pro and Broadcast versions support HD playback; the Compact version does not. An additional application, the Content Navigator, ships with every system. It allows you to preview your video clips on any computer, which can be helpful when a Maxedia system isn’t accessible for browsing content or you are offsite.
Summary
Cues are programmed easily via the Graphical User Interface (GUI) using a touchscreen, and playback is user friendly with A/B control, complete with transitions and screen wipes. The GUI is easy to navigate and intuitive.
DMX512 can be used to control global layers or trigger cues directly from a lighting console. DMX512 does not control each individual channel of the Maxedia. This helps keep the number of DMX control channels to a minimum on a lighting console. Plus, building cues can be done quickly and easily via the GUI. It isn’t necessary to spend time doing it from a lighting console.
What it is: Media server with stand-alone programming or DMX512 control.
Who it’s for: Maxedia Pro is designed for the touring market. The Compact version is a more economical and practical choice for permanent installations such as retail environments and clubs, and the Maxedia Broadcast is for more advanced HD applications including TV shows, concert touring shows and theatrical applications, and industrial events.
Pros: Ease of programming, Maxxyz console connectivity, networking capability.
Cons: Content must be preformatted correctly — no built-in formatting application.
Retail Price: Maxedia Broadcast $41,995; Maxedia Pro $29,995; Maxedia Compact $11,495.
