Novastar MCTRL660

NovaStar MCTRL660 — the economical version of the MCTRL660 PRO

The MCTRL660 is NovaStar's four-port sending controller, fitted with a front LCD and a jog dial — which lets brightness be set and status checked without a PC. It accepts 1920 × 1200 at 60 Hz, offers DVI and HDMI loop-out for cascading, and cascades up to 20 units.

Specifications

Load: 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz — a 10 or 12-bit source halves the capacity
Outputs: 4 x Gigabit Ethernet, 650,000 px/port, port redundancy
Inputs: 1 x SL-DVI, 1 x HDMI 1.3, 1 x audio
Loop-out: 1 x HDMI 1.3 + 1 x SL-DVI for cascading
Front panel: LCD, jog dial, back key
Cascade: up to 20 units, 2 x UART ports
Format: 483.0 x 258.1 x 55.3 mm, 3.6 kg
Power: AC 100–240 V, 16 W

NovaStar MCTRL660 — technical analysis

The difference to know against the MCTRL660 PRO is Genlock: it is on the PRO version, not this one. On a broadcast or multi-screen project synchronised to an external reference, that settles it. For fixed installation, conference rooms or digital signage, the standard 660 does exactly the same job for less.

Two points specific to this reference. First the front LCD: on a rack in the control room, being able to lower brightness or read port status without a laptop is real operational comfort, and it explains its 3.6 kg. Second the 10 and 12-bit behaviour, which the datasheet documents explicitly: moving from an 8-bit to a 10-bit source halves the load capacity. On a tightly sized wall, that is a classic design error.

• Fixed installation and digital signage — 1080p source, contained budget.
• Conference rooms and auditoriums — front-panel adjustment without a PC.
• Rental and events — a front panel that helps on fast rigs.
• Multi-screen cascading — up to 20 units with video relay.
• Alternative to the 660 PRO — when Genlock is not required.

• No Genlock — that is the MCTRL660 PRO function: on a broadcast job, take the PRO.
• 10 and 12-bit — load capacity is halved: recalculate the wall before validating the source.
• Front panel — brightness setting and diagnostics without a PC, a real operational gain.
• Video loop-out — DVI and HDMI to cascade without an external distributor.
• Weight — 3.6 kg, the heaviest of NovaStar 1080p controllers: plan the rack mounting.