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MAC Aura XIP User Manual
mixing, Aura CTC, Aura Green-Magenta shift, fading between Aura DMX and P3 video control and the 
Aura virtual color wheel. It also offers 16-bit control of Aura dimming.
• Extended mode includes all the functionality of Basic Mode but adds 8-bit RGB color mixing control of 
each individual Beam pixel.
• Ludicrous mode includes all the functionality of Extended Mode but adds 8-bit RGB color mixing control 
of each individual Aura filament.
To set the fixture’s DMX mode:
1. Press ENTER to enter the main menu.
2. Scroll to CONTROL MODE, then press ENTER. Scroll to select COMPACT, BASIC, EXTENDED, or 
LUDICROUS, then press ENTER to save.
3. Press MENU to exit.
P3 video
The MAC Aura XIP accepts video data using Martin’s proprietary P3 video protocol that has been a 
well-established standard in the industry for over 10 years. It lets you send a video signal from a media 
server or other video source to P3-compliant creative LED fixtures and moving heads over Ethernet cable 
using Martin’s reliable P3 data protocol.
The intuitive graphic user interface in Martin P3 controllers lets you visualize and set up a custom 
installation that can contain a huge number of fixtures in any kind of physical arrangement within a few 
minutes. Device identification is automatic. You can arrange devices on the monitor using drag-and-drop. 
Latency from video input to output on fixtures is extremely low, while there is no latency between fixtures as 
they are fully synchronized via the P3 protocol. If you use P3 you do not need to worry about IP addresses, 
as P3 does not use IP addresses or IP communication.
The P3 protocol will supply both DMX data and video pixel data to fixtures over a network cable. On the 
MAC Aura XIP you can use the video pixel data to control the intensity and/or the color of the fixture’s Beam 
pixels, Aura filaments or both with real-time control using the P3 Mix DMX channels.
RDM
The MAC Aura XIP can communicate over standard DMX cable and over Art-Net and sACN Ethernet links 
using RDM (Remote Device Management) in accordance with ESTA’s American National Standard 
E1.20-2006.
RDM is a bi-directional communications protocol for use in DMX512 control systems, it is the open standard 
for DMX512 device configuration and status monitoring.
The RDM protocol allows data packets to be inserted into a DMX512 data stream without affecting existing 
non-RDM equipment. It allows a console or dedicated RDM controller to send commands to and receive 
messages from specific fixtures.
Note that a firmware update can sometimes expand a fixture’s RDM functionality. If this happens, the 
firmware release notes will give details.
RDM ID
Each fixture has a factory-set RDM UID (unique identification number) that makes it addressable and 
identifiable in RDM systems. The number can be found in the control panel INFORMATION menu under 
RDM UID.
Martin Companion and RDM
The Martin Companion Windows application (downloadable free of charge from the Martin website at 
www.martin.com) gives access to all the fixture’s RDM parameters. It supports the fixture’s standard and 
manufacturer-specific PIDs. It gives full control of all fixture settings remotely, eliminating the need to 
physically climb to the fixture in a rig, for example.
Martin Companion can also update multiple RDM parameters at once, using the built-in Settings Template 
system.