{"id":14392,"date":"2024-09-30T07:10:37","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T17:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pro.harman.com\/insights\/?p=14392"},"modified":"2025-10-20T09:43:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T19:43:22","slug":"martin-mac-aura-xip-uncompromising-lighting-performance-smart-weatherproof-versatility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pro.harman.com\/insights\/martin\/martin-mac-aura-xip-uncompromising-lighting-performance-smart-weatherproof-versatility\/","title":{"rendered":"Martin MAC Aura XIP: Uncompromising Lighting Performance + Smart Weatherproof Versatility"},"content":{"rendered":"

When designing for stage and entertainment lighting, designers are often looking for fixtures that can serve many roles. Martin’s<\/a> MAC Aura XIP<\/a> Wash Light was built to accomplish a range of goals and features stellar wash quality, an aura filament effect, a narrow beam, and superior light engine control. For rental customers, it packages a lightweight design and paradigm-shifting Martin XIP<\/a> smart weatherproofing technology that enables it to be used in many more outdoor applications than typical fixtures in its class.<\/p>\n

We got a chance to sit down with Robin Patrick, one of Martin\u2019s top Product and Applications Specialists to gain some of her deep insight supporting LDs and customers in selecting the right products for their projects. Martin’s Creative LED, Lighting, and Control Global Product Line Manager, Wouter Verlinden, also contributed significantly to this discussion.<\/p>\n

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When the MAC Aura XIP won LSI’s 2023 PLASA Show Award for Innovation<\/a>, judges remarked, “This product brings a different, considered approach to IP rating to the table without compromise on weight or output…\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n

Robin, how did you get started in lighting and what do you love most about your work?<\/strong>
\nBefore coming to Martin, I had the opportunity to learn and work in a variety of lighting roles, including as a programmer, a production electrician, and a concert lighting director. What I most love about my job today is connecting with our customers, learning about their needs, and identifying products that are appropriate to each situation.<\/p>\n

Another part of my job that I love is getting to meet the next generation of young lighting professionals. And though there is still work to be done, the younger side of the lighting industry is a more diverse and equitable place than it was when I began my career. I appreciate HARMAN\u2019s commitment to ensuring a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment, and that extends to how we treat our customers.<\/p>\n

What drove the creation of one of Martin’s most progressive fixtures – the MAC Aura XIP?<\/strong>
\nThis question would be best answered by Wouter Verlinden, my friend, colleague, and our MAC Aura XIP product manager: \u201cThanks Robin. Many people love the Martin MAC Aura XB<\/a>. Its size, weight, light output, and optical performance are just the perfect mix for a wide variety of applications. And we kept hearing that customers wanted an “outdoor-capable” variant of this versatile workhorse. <\/em><\/p>\n

But we didn\u2019t want to just make an \u201coutdoor-specific\u201d version as we knew an “outdoor-only” fixture would not offer great return on investment for our rental customers. So we started the development of our XIP weatherproofing technology, offering an outdoor-capable fixture, but without the usual compromises in size, weight, efficiency, looks and price. This gave us an \u201coutdoor-capable\u201d evolution of the MAC Aura XB, which still works great in any demanding indoor application as well.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Explore the MAC Aura XIP: Watch the Product Overview<\/h3>\n

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Robin, what typically triggers the transition from MAC Aura XB to the MAC Aura XIP?<\/strong>
\nThe beam quality is better, the built-in FX macros are fun, and it has additional features like the Tint channel that allows fine-tuning of the white towards magenta or towards green; something that is useful to have when programming in environments with cameras such as on film sets and at broadcast studios. Plus, it is designed to withstand the outdoors. As someone who used to frequently hang MAC Aura XB fixtures outdoors in Seattle, the MAC Aura XIP is an even better fixture choice.<\/p>\n

What use cases immediately stand out for MAC Aura XIP?<\/strong>
\nAt a Los Angeles Botanical Garden, for a seasonal event, they temporarily installed lighting throughout the garden. An LD friend said they used the MAC Aura XIP as their primary wash and it was a great choice. The MAC Aura XIP is perfect for systems that need to prioritize versatility and reliability as well as withstand the outdoors.<\/p>\n

They are ideal for music festivals, repertory theatres, and similar stages where the same lighting system needs to be used by multiple designers to achieve a variety of looks for different productions. They are also a great investment for lighting vendors renting to customers for different production environments. And with XIP technology, those environments can include the outdoors, where other fixtures may not be the most reliable choice.<\/p>\n

Can you describe XIP technology in a way that’s easy to understand?
\n<\/strong>XIP-enabled fixtures are ideal for temporary outdoor applications. They will perform perfectly in rainy, snowy, dusty, or other conditions, without the increased weight, size, lower output, and increased cost of fully-sealed enclosures.<\/p>\n

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Check out<\/a> this in-depth exploration of XIP technology to ensure outdoor lighting weatherproofing without sacrificing weight, performance, or maintenance.<\/p><\/div>\n

When describing XIP, I ask customers to picture a rainy day at a music festival, which is a popular application. We focus on three simple goals that XIP accomplishes to protect the fixture:<\/p>\n

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  1. To direct the flow of water on the surface of the fixture<\/li>\n
  2. To maintain airflow within the fixture to prevent condensation<\/li>\n
  3. To prevent water from getting inside the fixture<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I often accompany this explanation by using an analogy of a car and how its design keeps important technological components from being damaged by water, including how the vehicle\u2019s shape directs the flow of water, how airflow inside the car prevents condensation, and how seals around the edges of the car\u2019s doors prevent water from getting inside.<\/p>\n

    What applications and weather is MAC Aura XIP best suited for?<\/strong>
    \nKey lighting and stage area washes are popular applications. It can also create dramatic side lighting and with its expansive zoom range and multitude of beam and aura FX, it is an impressive and versatile fixture.<\/p>\n

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    Discover<\/a> the science behind XIP technology as well as gain access to a variety of case studies, videos and other resources sharing how to get the most out of the technology.<\/p><\/div>\n

    It is designed to handle all kinds of weather and to support outdoor events where fixtures are exposed to the elements, on a downstage truss for example, need to withstand weather conditions. As a touring LD, I can personally speak to the disappointment of arriving at a festival the day after a rainstorm to find that many fixtures hung outside of the stage proscenium, had been damaged by the rain – if only we had had the MAC Aura XIP!<\/p>\n

    What led to the development of MAC Aura XIP\u2019s aura filament effect and how can it best be utilized?<\/strong>
    \nI’ve asked Wouter to again share his thoughts from a product management perspective: \u201cSure Robin. Some of our optical engineers were helping the automotive part of our business and worked a lot with light-guides. This led to the idea of integrating light-guides into our MAC moving heads, which then evolved into the aura filament effect. We were very keen on tuning the effect in such a way that it can both have a very distinct look, with the filaments very visible, but also hide the filaments and offer a more generic \u201cilluminated lens\u201d look.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

    What kinds of possibilities does MAC Aura XIP\u2019s beam and aura pixel control offer?<\/strong>
    \nA lot! I had the opportunity to program the MAC Aura XIPs in our LDI 2022 booth and I got to explore the MAC Aura XIP\u2019s beam and aura effects. When I added P3 control to the mix, it pushed my creativity up another notch. Because P3 can be used to drive the beam pixels or aura filaments independently, I could use P3 for one part of the fixture, while using DMX to drive the other. When combining P3 control and DMX control, the design possibilities are seemingly endless.<\/p>\n

    What’s the best utilization of MAC Aura XIP’s built-in FX macros?<\/strong>
    \nBuilt-in FX macros add another layer of dynamic lighting to all types of shows. Because they can be controlled independently, customers who are programming for a concert may start by selecting a pattern they like, and then adjust the rate to match the faster and slower moments of a song.<\/p>\n

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    Watch<\/a> several top lighting designers share their thoughts on the MAC Aura XIP and XIP weatherproofing technology after putting it through its paces at the MDL Beast Soundstorm Festival.<\/p><\/div>\n

    For our corporate clients, they typically use the FX macros for hype moments like the presenter\u2019s entrance before a keynote speech, and then they use the MAC Aura XIP for a stage wash. The capability to perform double duty as an effects light and a wash light is what makes it such a desirable fixture.<\/p>\n

    Thanks for sharing your MAC Aura XIP insights with us today Robin.
    \n<\/strong>In wrapping up, can you share a personally memorable experience with the MAC Aura XIP?<\/strong>
    \nIt was my pleasure. I had a chance to attend The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles last year. It was a great show but what was especially cool to see was how well the MAC Aura XIP was being utilized by the LD team.<\/p>\n

    They were using it all around in so many ways \u2013 upstage, overhead, and from side-stage. It was also nice to see video-content-driven effects added to classically-programmed intensity effects and color chases. I was truly proud to be part of the Martin team and to see how our fixtures, in particular the MAC Aura XIP, are being used to support LDs in designing captivating lighting experiences.<\/p>\n

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    EXPLORE FURTHER<\/strong><\/p>\n