Lighting and control
Martin MAC Aura XB
MAC Aura XB setup: 14/25-channel DMX modes, independent Aura control, shutter checks and RGBW color mode conditions.
Ask GLMedia about renting Martin MAC Aura XB for your event. Availability and configuration are subject to confirmation.
Model and scope
- Manufacturer
- Martin / HARMAN
- Model
- MAC Aura XB
- Type
- LED moving-head wash with a separate Aura background effect
- Control
- DMX512-A / RDM; STD 14 channels, EXT 25 channels
- Power
- 100–240 V AC nominal, 50/60 Hz; maximum 400 W
- Use environment
- IP20; indoors; ambient 5–40 °C
The Beam produces the main wash. The Aura illuminates the front of the head as a separate visual effect. Use the fixture for stage washes and contrasting Beam/Aura looks; independent Aura control requires EXT mode. This guide covers MAC Aura XB, with no assumption that another MAC Aura model uses the same controls.
Prepare your rental inquiry
- Date, city, venue and setup, event and pickup schedule.
- Intended use, area dimensions and equipment already supplied by the venue or production.
- Desired effect, positions, throw, area and stage restrictions.
- Control profile, mounting accessories and camera coordination where needed.
Specify equipment only or whether setup, programming, operation and strike are also needed. Scope is confirmed in the proposal.
You do not need a final equipment list: tell us the result you want and the part you need help with. Availability and scope are confirmed in the proposal.
Features and connections
The Beam uses 19 × 15 W RGBW LEDs; the Aura uses 30 × 0.3 W RGB LEDs. Motorized zoom, 540° pan and 232° tilt are documented; pan and tilt have 16-bit control.
Data enters and leaves through 5-pin XLR DMX connectors. AC input and throughput use powerCON TRUE1. DMX and power throughput are different circuits: identify each connector before connecting it.
COLOR MODE is separate from CONTROL MODE. RGB and EXTENDED color modes manage white automatically; the independent Beam white channel is available in RAW only. RAW limits output to the standard MAC Aura level.
Basic preparation
- Read the fixture label and record the installed version from INFO. Check that it is MAC Aura XB and record any optical accessories. Have a qualified technician secure it to a suitable surface or rigging structure before applying power; keep its complete movement path clear.
- Check supply voltage, protective earth and cable condition. Use protected, accessible power distribution and suitable TRUE1 cables. Supply constant mains power; the manual prohibits feeding this fixture from an external dimmer.
- Record CONTROL MODE, DMX ADDRESS and the matching console profile. Reserve all 14 or 25 channels without overlap. The highest start address is 499 in STD or 488 in EXT (calculated from a 512-channel universe).
- Connect a proper DMX cable to DMX IN and terminate the final fixture with 120 Ω. Begin at low intensity with a safe aim, open shutter and a static color. Confirm received values in DMX LIVE before adding movement or effects.
Questions and troubleshooting
The head moves, but there is no Beam light. What should I check first?
Movement alone does not prove that the shutter, dimmer and color channels are correct. Use the actual received values, with the fixture aimed away from eyes and at least 1 m from the illuminated surface.
- Record any display message first. If a TMP CUT OFF message is present, stop the light test and check ambient temperature, clear airflow and external obstructions. Persistent thermal, fan or sensor errors require service; do not repeatedly reset to force output.
- Compare CONTROL MODE and DMX ADDRESS with the console patch. In DMX LIVE check relative channel 1 (Beam shutter) and channel 2 (Beam dimmer). For a steady test, use shutter value 22, which is within the documented 20–24 open range, and a low nonzero dimmer.
- With the matching profile, set channel 9 to 0 for RGB mixing, channel 14 to 0 to disable CTC, and select a static RGB color. Keep channel 8 at 0 during this test: it also carries settings and reset commands.
- If received values do not match the console, isolate one fixture on a known-good DMX cable and check the source/universe routing. A slowly flashing display, after a period without button presses, indicates no valid DMX. If values match but output remains absent, keep the readings and error text for support.
Why does the Aura follow the Beam, stay dark or disappear at narrow zoom?
In STD the Aura follows the Beam. EXT provides separate Aura channels and the FX section. The manual also documents automatic Aura dimming over the final part of the zoom travel: normal output at 90% zoom decreases to zero at maximum narrow zoom.
- Read CONTROL MODE on the fixture. If independent control is required, change to EXT only during rehearsal, update the console to the 25-channel profile and verify that the larger footprint does not overlap another fixture.
- For a basic independent test, set FX1 select (15) and FX2 select (17) to 10 (Idle). Set Aura shutter (20) to 22, color wheel (22) to 0, a static color on RGB (23–25), and a low nonzero Aura dimmer (21). Numbers are relative to the fixture start address.
- Keep Aura values constant and move zoom (3) away from its narrow end. If the Aura returns, compare the behavior with the documented zoom dimming before assuming an LED failure. Channel 3 runs from wide at 0 to narrow at 255.
- Check received values in DMX LIVE and ensure the console is controlling the correct Aura part. Record the mode, zoom and active FX if the symptom persists; some effects deliberately synchronize or modify Beam and Aura.
Why does the white channel do nothing, or why will RGB not change the color?
Two separate settings can explain this. Beam white (13) works only in COLOR MODE RAW, and the virtual color wheel takes priority over RGBW mixing. Switching color mode can also change output and fixture matching.
- Read COLOR MODE. In RGB or EXTENDED, test a white mix with RGB together; do not expect channel 13 to act independently. Use RAW only if its independent white control and standard-MAC-Aura output limit suit the intended look.
- For direct mixing, set Beam color wheel (9) to 0–9; in EXT use Aura color wheel (22) at 0–9 too. Begin at 0. A selected color preset or wheel effect can override the RGB values.
- Set Beam CTC (14) to 0 for the comparison. Its 0–19 range disables correction; 20–255 adjusts from 10000 to 2500 K. Correction is most visible on white and less visible on saturated colors.
- Keep overall intensity on the dedicated dimmer rather than scaling each color channel. Compare mode, CTC and wheel values across fixtures before judging a color mismatch. Record readings and refer persistent calibration errors to Martin service.
DMX reference
| Relative channels | Function | Check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 / 2 / 3 | Beam shutter / dimmer / zoom | Shutter 22 = steady open; zoom 0 wide, 255 narrow |
| 8 / 9 / 13 / 14 | Settings / Beam color wheel / white / CTC | Settings 0; wheel 0 for mixing; white requires RAW; CTC 0 disables |
| 15–19 (EXT) | FX section | FX select 15 and 17: 10 = Idle |
| 20 / 21 / 22 / 23–25 (EXT) | Aura shutter / dimmer / wheel / RGB | Shutter 22; wheel 0 for RGB; dimmer above 0 |
Model-specific precautions
- Indoor IP20 fixture: protect it from rain and moisture. Maintain at least 0.2 m to combustible materials and 1 m to illuminated surfaces. Keep airflow unobstructed; the published ambient range is 5–40 °C.
- The Rev. C manual classifies the LED source as Risk Group 2. Do not view it with optical instruments. Keep the front glass away from sunlight and other intense light sources. Allow at least 10 minutes of cooling before handling.
- Secure the fixture before powering it. For base rigging, the manual specifies a minimum grade 8.8 steel M12 bolt with 20–30 mm penetration, suitable load-rated hardware and secondary safety attachment at a designated base point. When the yoke is not hanging vertically down, use a fully enclosing half-coupler. The installer must verify the complete mounting method and load against the manual and local requirements. Rev. C requires the supporting structure and hardware to hold at least 10 times the supported load, and the secondary attachment to bear a static load of 10 times the fixture and installed accessories.
- Do not assume the TRUE1 output permits an unrestricted power chain. Rev. C specifies a total of at most 3 MAC Aura XB units at 100–120 V / 60 Hz, or 8 at 200–240 V / 50 Hz, using the specified minimum 14 AWG / 1.5 mm², 16 A-rated cables and suitable connectors. Only MAC Aura XB units may be connected to MAINS OUT. The lowest circuit, cable or connector rating remains a limit; other supply combinations require confirmation.
Terms on this page
- DMX
- A data protocol controlling lighting functions; each model defines what its channels mean.
- RDM
- Management communication for querying or configuring compatible equipment over a compatible path.
- Patch
- Assignment of fixture, profile, address and universe in the control system.
- Shutter
- A fixture function opening or closing light output; distinct from the camera shutter.
Documentation and sources
- Martin MAC Aura XB — official product page and gallery
- MAC Aura XB — English User Manual, Rev. C
- Official general image — external link
Reviewed October 22, 2026. The official product page and English User Manual Rev. C (P/N 35000280) are the sources for the specifications and manufacturer precautions. The steps above are proposed practical checks; they have not been tested on a GLMedia fixture.
The general image is linked from Martin’s model-specific gallery. For connector identification, see Figure 1 on page 7 of the manual.
What to confirm for the actual fixture
Confirm the installed firmware, exact console profile, label ratings and fitted accessories before use. The product page and Rev. C manual differ on weight, zoom figures and center spacing; this guide does not use those figures to size a rig or guarantee coverage. Obtain current model-specific confirmation for those calculations. Camera behavior requires a test with the actual camera, shutter and dimmer settings.