High Resolution, Low Profile — Aputure’s 36-Pixel Mini Tube Light Arrives
The Pixel Perfect MT Pro Ships Starting August 4th
The MT Pro is the latest member to join Aputure’s large family of lights, which includes fixtures in all shapes and sizes. The MT Pro is the first linear or tube-style LED light under the Aputure brand and comes fully loaded with an impressive feature set including full-color control, LumenRadio CRMX, and most importantly, an ultra-high pixel density of 36 light engines packed into a mini 1-foot design with razor-thin bezels.
This brand new Mini LED is perfect for various use cases, including as an in-camera practical, on-camera fill light, eye light, hidden accent, close-up and practical light, as well as product cinematography, with its ability to achieve smooth, linear reflections.
The MT Pro is officially available for purchase and shipping today, August 4th, 2022, introducing the first new Mini LED since the debut of the MC during NAB 2019. With all of the technology in the MT Pro at their fingertips, filmmakers can use the versatile fixture to unleash new creative possibilities without skipping a beat.
The Journey
Earlier this year, Aputure introduced the amaran T2c and T4c tubes. Under the amaran brand, the tubes were designed with both content creators and indie filmmakers in mind, focusing on a lightweight, intuitive design with plenty of mounting options, swappable battery power, and of course, Sidus Link app control.
For the MT Pro, two years of development in design, technology, and production resulted in a light that exists on a smaller scale, with a big skillset. The impetus for Aputure’s first mini LED for professionals was born from a lot of feedback from cinematographers, lighting technicians, and creators of all levels on both the LED tube lights as well as the Aputure MC.
Four notes became abundantly clear. While there were many tube lights on the market, and the MC was a favorite of many filmmakers, finding its way onto nearly every production, there were a few ways that Aputure could still bring something new to the table.
First of all, for professional filmmakers, DMX, especially wireless CRMX, was a necessity. While Sidus Link featured an intuitive interface and compatibility with all of their other Aputure and amaran lights, the MC lacked the ability to sync into the existing CRMX workflows on set, which was particularly important when tens or even hundreds of lights were involved.
Secondly, for a linear Aputure light, the ability to control individual light engines would enhance the creative possibilities of these filmmakers. Filmmakers noted that they wanted not only smooth pixel chases, but also a smooth overall surface and reflection that reduces the chances of seeing individual LED artifacts in camera.
Third, lighting technicians and cinematographers wanted something compact and portable that could be more easily hidden than the larger or longer lights that were already prolific on the market. While larger lights have their merits, something smaller would be extremely useful in a variety of situations.
Lastly, this fixture would, of course, have to produce high-quality color, including pristine skin tones and high spectral reproduction.
Those four requirements built the foundation for the MT Pro, Aputure’s 1-foot-long linear light featuring 36 RGBWW light engines and LumenRadio CRMX — a multi-tool that has a place in every lighting kit to unlock new creativity.
Pixel Control
The MT Pro’s signature technological feat is its pixel density and speed. With 36 pixels in a 1-foot frame, the MT Pro is able to produce incredibly smooth pixel chases and effects while transitioning between pixels at high speeds, up to 640cm/s (more than 21 times the length of the MT Pro). With 36 light engines, each one is approximately 0.8cm (.3 inches apart), resulting in ultra-fine gradients. In addition to incredibly smooth effects and gradients, the densely packed chipset creates an incredibly even output, minimizing any artifacts and the ability to discern individual pixels in camera, and most importantly, in reflections.
In order to take advantage of the multiple light engines, Aputure programmed the MT Pro with more than the 9 System FX typically found in other small form factor Aputure lights (MC & Accent B7c) including Fireworks, Fire, Paparazzi, Faulty Bulb, TV, Pulsing, Cop Car, Lightning, and Party Lights.
The MT Pro also features the official introduction of 7 built-in Pixel FX. These 7 Pixel FX include Color Fade, Color Cycle, One Pixel Chase, Two Pixel Chase, Three Pixel Chase, Rainbow, and Pixel Fire. Pixel Fire produces a higher degree of cinematic realism than the standard System Fire effect because it adjusts the intensity of multiple light engines separately from each other to create more fluctuations in the shadows.
Additionally, filmmakers will now have the ability to independently control each of the 36 lighting engines through LumenRadio CRMX or DMX. For filmmakers who are more comfortable with Sidus Link, Pixel FX support will be available via the Sidus Link app at the end of August in a future firmware update.
Quality Color Science
As a modern full-color Aputure fixture, the MT Pro continues to use the RGBWW technology found in the Nova P600c, LS 600c Pro, and Accent B7c, promising the high-quality color standards that Aputure is known for.
This LED chipset gives the MT Pro a tunable CCT range of 2,000K to 10,000K and over 90% coverage of the BT.2020 Color Space. The RGB diodes in the MT Pro’s color engines allow it to natively track the Planckian curve more accurately and grant users the ability to further adjust the green-magenta tint throughout the CCT range. The resulting output produces average CRI and TLCI readings of 95 & 98, respectively.
But CRI hasn’t been the best indicator of color performance for a while now. Taking a look at the MT Pro’s spectral power distribution, we can see that the MT Pro is capable of producing an SSI (Tungsten) of 84 and an SSI (D56) of 73, alongside the other Aputure and amaran lights that filmmakers have come to trust as their tried and true workhorses.
xy and TM-30 Charts are also available below.
Interface
Users of the Nova P600c and LS 600c Pro will find the color modes available in the MT Pro very familiar, including CCT+G/M, Advanced HSI, RGB, and xy:
- CCT+G/M: Users can adjust the color temperature of the MT Pro between 2,000K to 10,000K with the addition of plus/minus green controls.
- Advanced HSI: Like with the Nova P600c and LS 600c Pro, in addition to control over Hue, Saturation, and Intensity, users can adjust the white point (CCT) that they are desaturating toward, between 2,000K to 10,000K.
- RGB: Users can individually adjust the combination of Red, Green, and Blue emitters to create up to 1 billion permutations with the inclusion 0.1% intensity control.
- xy: The ability to pinpoint an exact color according to the CIE 1931 color chart is currently available when controlling the MT Pro via Sidus Link. A firmware update that supports an XY DMX profile will be available in the near future.
In line with its minimalist design, Aputure focused on a simplified OLED interface for the MT Pro including a clickable scroll wheel, “menu” and “back” buttons for navigation.
This simple user interface allows users to quickly set their parameters and add the MT Pro to their scene within seconds, without any preparation.
DMX Connectivity
In addition to an intuitive user interface, it was important to industry professionals, cinematographers, lighting designers, and lighting technicians alike, that this type of fixture is able to integrate into existing DMX workflows.
To maintain its compact size, the MT Pro goes fully wireless with the inclusion of LumenRadio’s TimoTwo chipset for CRMX control — bringing the industry standard for wireless control to this Aputure Mini LED.
Alongside the MT Pro, Aputure is also introducing a USB-C to 5-Pin XLR DMX In & Out Adapter that also features a USB-C input for power passthrough to the MT Pro. This adapter allows users to connect wired DMX to the fixture for more stable control and long-term operational success. No mention of a release date has been made for the adapter at this point.
Users can select between 19 DMX profiles, including 8-bit whole light and Light Engine/Pixel alternatives.
Profiles that include (Px) represent how many individual “pixels” are controllable in that profile, grouping and dividing the pixels from the max total of 36. For example, with the “Light Engine CCT&RGB (P9)” profile the MT Pro’s 36 pixels are divided into 9 groups of 4 pixels, and each of those 9 groups is individually adjustable.
Here are the available DMX Profiles at the time of posting:
- CCT&RGB 8-Bit
- CCT 8-Bit
- CCT&HSI 8-Bit
- RGB 8-Bit
- HSI 8-Bit
- System FX 8-Bit
- Pixel FX 8-Bit
- Light Engine CCT&RGB (P4)
- Light Engine CCT&RGB (P6)
- Light Engine CCT&RGB (P9)
- Light Engine CCT&RGB (P12)
- Light Engine CCT&RGB (P18)
- Light Engine CCT&RGB (P36)
- Light Engine HSI (P4)
- Light Engine HSI (P6)
- Light Engine HSI (P9)
- Light Engine HSI (P12)
- Light Engine HSI (P18)
- Light Engine HSI (P36)
Sidus Link
The MT Pro joins other modern Aputure and amaran products, such as the MC and the Accent B7c, to take advantage of Sidus Link and SidusPro® FX, which allows users to unlock advanced, professional lighting features at the comfort of their smartphone or tablet. SidusPro® FX includes Manual FX, System FX, Picker FX, Magic Program, and Music FX features.
Manual FX has 30 different parameters for filmmakers to program their own unique lighting effects entirely from scratch, allowing users to manipulate each lighting scene according to their needs. Users can also toggle through 9 different built-in lighting effects in System FX. With Picker FX, users can capture a real-world lighting pattern on their camera and transmit it onto the MT Pro. The Magic Program feature allows users to create unique chase sequences and nuanced effects across up to 25 lights. Furthermore, Music FX analyzes an audio clip and translates it to sync with the lighting.
Versatility and Internal Battery Power
Within the MT Pro’s unassuming frame, Aputure’s goal was to create a small yet mighty tube light that still packs a powerful punch. With a total output power of 7.5W and a maximum theoretical power draw of up to 9W, the MT Pro has a baseline daylight (5600K) illuminance of 585+ lux at 0.5 meters with no optical accessories. When used with the included collapsible 45° light control grid, the MT Pro is capable of emitting 523+ lux at 0.5 meters.
Using an internal 15.5Wh battery, the MT Pro can operate for up to 120 minutes at its maximum output, and can easily be recharged using the included USB-C charging cable. With a roughly 2-hour recharge time using a 5V/2A USB charge, having multiple MT Pros ensure that one is always finished charging and at the ready as soon as another’s battery is about to run flat.
Construction of the MT Pro
Even with its large capacity internal battery, the MT Pro remains extremely lightweight, measuring in at only 391g or 0.86lbs. Combined with its 1-foot length and overall slim profile, the MT Pro can be hidden nearly anywhere.
To accentuate its minimalist design that can invisibly blend into most filming environments, the MT Pro is bookended by two ultra-thin bezels. Each bezel is only 3mm thick, equating to 1% of the total length of the MT Pro. This means that the light-emitting aperture of the MT Pro comprises 98% of its length, prioritizing even light output and minimizing any unwanted distractions.
The MT Pro’s built-in neodymium magnets and two 1/4–20 inch screw mounts allow the compact mini tube light to be mounted virtually anywhere. This makes the MT Pro particularly ideal as an in-camera practical that blends right into a scene, a fill light mounted right out of frame with a friction arm or mini tripod, or an accent tucked away in impossibly tight spaces, especially when paired with wireless control methods like CRMX or Sidus Link.
Ready to Go Out of the Box
Aputure designed the MT Pro to be easily integrated into users’ everyday lighting toolkit. Each MT Pro comes with an EVA-padded carrying case, complete with versatile accessories to complete your lighting set up.
The MT Pro includes a mini tripod with a 1/4–20in ball head for quick and easy tabletop setups or a sturdy grip. For users who require additional focus and control over their subject, the MT Pro also includes a collapsible 45° light control grid. The MT Pro is an all-in-one solution that speeds up your workflow out of the box and leads to you nailing the shot.
Lights in Action
With such a compact and mini design, the MT Pro is meticulously built to be suitable for a myriad of users and use cases — ranging from an in-camera practical lighting to product cinematography:
- In-camera practical lighting: With its internal battery, wireless connectivity, easy mounting (both magnets and 1/4–20in screws), and pixel controls, the MT Pro shines as in-camera practical. It provides the flexibility of being placed anywhere and controlled completely wireless.
- On-camera fill light: Weighing in at less than 1 pound, the MT Pro lives comfortably on top of any camera and can easily be mounted using its 1/4–20in screw thread. Its wide aperture provides a naturally soft, wrapping fill light and can be easily controlled using the OLED interface located on the rear.
- Eye light: Whether mounted on-camera or handheld off-camera, the MT Pro works well as an eye light with its intuitive controls and wide aperture.
- Product cinematography: The MT Pro excels in its use for product cinematography. With its linear shape and even output from the combination of its high pixel density and diffusion, it is ideal for working with products with which the perfect reflection is imperative. Additionally, it is compatible with a range of medium and smaller products, as its ultra-fine pixel controls allow for precision effects, even on a small scale.
- Close-up and practical lighting: Its comfortable form factor, built-in battery, and wide color and CCT coverage allow the MT Pro to easily extend the light from existing practicals and motivated sources to enhance the depth within a scene.
Conclusion
The MT Pro is the latest Mini light from Aputure and represents the future growth of Aputure’s technology. Aputure has always enhanced the creative possibilities of filmmakers and creators through its ever-growing ecosystem of lights, and the MT Pro is no exception.
By integrating RGBWW color control, high-density pixel mapping, Sidus Link, and LumenRadio CRMX into this low-profile fixture, Aputure aims to fill a gap left by large format lights to unlock new, creative possibilities for all creatives of all types. Whether it’s a new venture into image-based lighting, unlocking new effects for music videos, enhancing product cinematography, or creating new light paintings, the MT Pro allows its users to do it all.
Pricing and Availability
Below are the prices in USD. Please refer to your authorized regional Aputure dealer for prices in other currencies.
The MT Pro is available for purchase through Aputure’s online store and your local dealer. Visit here to learn more about the new fixture.
