Compact NovaStar sending controller for fixed-installation LED displays.
NovaStar · LED display controller (sending controller)
NovaStar MCTRL R5 LED wall controller
The MCTRL R5 is NovaStar's sending controller for fixed-installation displays: it has eight gigabit RJ45 ports and two 10G optical ports, with 6G-SDI, HDMI 1.4 and dual-link DVI connectors on the input side. Load capacity is 3840 × 1080 @ 60 Hz, and any custom resolution can be set within that.
One distinguishing capability of the series is image rotation at any angle, which saves a separate video processor on obliquely mounted or tilted cabinet runs. The limit is 650,000 pixels per port with an 8-bit source, and hot backup redundancy can be set up between the ports.
The controller can be configured with NovaLCT V5.2.0 or later, or SmartLCT V3.4.0 or later; the firmware can also be updated from a USB stick plugged into the front-panel port, without a computer. Up to eight units can be cascaded over the USB IN/OUT port, and can be locked to a common time base with Genlock IN/LOOP.
Where the MCTRL R5 sits in an LED wall system
It sits in the middle of the signal path: media player or video processor → MCTRL R5 → Cat6 or 10G fibre → NovaStar receiving card (A5s Plus, A8s, A10s Pro) → HUB card → module. It only drives NovaStar receiving cards. It connects to the PC over type-B USB or the network port, and NovaLCT lets you choose whether USB or LAN is the primary communication channel — on a large installation the latter is the more convenient. The Genlock input accepts both bi-level and tri-level sync signals.
WHEN IT IS THE RIGHT CHOICE
For fixed-installation projects fitting into an existing NovaStar ecosystem, where you want to keep a single manufacturer's software environment.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
It is worth checking the exact performance limits (max. pixels, port count) in the current manual, as these can differ between model variants.
The MCTRL R5 in practice
The order: load the receiving card parameters from NovaLCT's `Tools > Controller Cabinet Configuration File Import` item, then enter the cabinet rows and columns, and finally allocate the data flow per port. If the screen has already been configured in NovaLCT, the two quick settings in the front-panel menu must not be used afterwards: they overwrite the detailed configuration. The software version is fixed — a NovaLCT below 5.2.0 will not recognise the device — and the firmware update also starts from there, after logging in under `User > Advanced Synchronous System User Login`. The Mapping function only shows the cabinet numbers on the wall if the receiving card supports it too.
Alternatives to the MCTRL R5
If you need a continuous picture larger than 3840 × 1080, the MCTRL4K (8.8 million pixels) or the MX40 Pro is the next step up. If the project also calls for scaling and source switching, a VX400 or VX600 is cheaper than a separate processor plus an R5. If the wall goes in front of a camera, the Brompton Tessera SX40 belongs there. For a rotated image, though, do not buy a separate processor — the R5 can do this on its own.
MCTRL R5 manual and datasheet
The documents live on the manufacturer's own site and open in a new window — so you always get the latest version. We do not copy or translate their contents.
Related LED wall controllers
LED wall controller — but what does it go into?
On its own the NovaStar MCTRL R5 is a component. With us it works inside these displays — design, manufacturing and installation included.
