NovaStar MCTRL300 LED Display Controller: Complete Guide

The NovaStar MCTRL300 is an independent LED display controller in NovaStar’s M3 series. Unlike typical sending cards that require a PC, the MCTRL300 is a standalone box that handles video input, processing, and output to LED receiving cards.

It is designed for small to medium LED display projects—such as rental screens, fixed installations, retail signage, or houses of worship—where a simple, reliable, and cost-effective controller is needed. It supports DVI input, audio, dual Ethernet output, cascading, brightness control, and color calibration.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the MCTRL300: its features, technical specifications, working principle, software integration, use cases, pricing, advantages and limitations, and tips for deployment.

Table of Content

The MCTRL300 belongs to NovaStar’s independent controller category (in the M3 line) that integrates sending and control functions into one enclosure.

Key roles and characteristics:

• It accepts video + audio input (through DVI and audio port) and processes the signal internally.
• It outputs control data to LED receiving cards over Ethernet (two RJ45 ports).
• It supports cascading in multi-controller setups (up to 20 units).
• It includes features such as brightness sensor input (for auto brightness), chroma / brightness calibration, hot backup, and LED uniformity tools.
• It’s targeted at users who want to reduce complexity: you don’t need a separate sending card + controller in PC; the MCTRL300 box stands alone.

Because of that, the MCTRL300 is often favored for mid-sized indoor/outdoor LED screens where full video processors may be overkill, but simple LED control is still required.

The NovaStar MCTRL300 is a cost-effective LED display controller widely used for both rental and fixed installations, including event venues, security control centers, and stadiums.

Like any advanced electronic product, its pricing reflects the research, development, and material costs involved. Based on various online platforms, the market price of the MCTRL300 typically ranges between USD 200 and 300, with shipping costs varying by region.

The latest version of the MCTRL300 now supports cascading up to 20 devices simultaneously, making it suitable for LED displays within this scale. For larger setups exceeding this limit, multiple controllers may be required, which could increase the overall investment.

To ensure the best visual performance, it’s essential to use a stable and reliable controller—a critical factor in maintaining consistent playback and reducing long-term maintenance costs.

For an accurate quote, please contact the EagerLED sales team or visit ledcontrollercard.com

to check real-time pricing and stock information for all NovaStar products.

Here are the standout features of the MCTRL300, and how they benefit LED display projects:

4.1 Plug-and-Play / Simplicity

Because the MCTRL300 is a unified control box, you don’t need to install a separate sending card in a PC. You feed your video + audio signal to this box and it handles distribution to the display. This simplifies architecture and reduces points of failure.

4.2 Dual Ethernet Outputs with Hot Backup

With two Gigabit Ethernet ports, the MCTRL300 supports redundancy: if one line or port fails, the other can continue to feed display data, improving reliability. It also enables flexible cable routing for larger screens.

4.3 Cascading / Multi-Controller Synchronization

You can chain up to 20 MCTRL300 units (via UART) for synchronized, larger video wall setups. This lets you scale control across many sections of a large LED wall.

4.4 Brightness Sensor & Auto Adjustment

By connecting a light sensor, the MCTRL300 can automatically adjust screen brightness based on ambient lighting—this helps save energy and maintain visual comfort.

4.5 Pixel-Level Brightness & Chroma Calibration

In coordination with NovaStar’s software (NovaLCT / NovaCLB), the MCTRL300 supports fine calibration of each LED pixel’s brightness and color. This helps ensure uniform display performance across panels.

4.6 Versatile Resolution Support

It supports a variety of common LED resolutions (e.g. 1280×1024, 1600×848, 1920×712, 2048×668) and allows downward compatibility for lower resolutions.

4.7 Compact & Rugged Design

The unit is built into a metal housing with compact form factor—ideal for mounting in LED control racks or behind displays.

4.8 Audio + Video Synchronization

Because audio input is integrated, you can manage synchronized multimedia (video + sound) from a single control box.

4.9 Cost-Effective Balance

As a “mid-tier” controller, it offers many features found in larger controllers without the higher cost, making it appealing for budgets that need reliability without overkill

The NovaStar MCTRL300 is a standalone controller from the Nova M3 LED Display Control System series, designed to support both audio and video input.

Its operating principle involves encoding and processing audio and video data internally, then transmitting the processed signal to the LED display. Through the USB interface, it communicates with the PC for system configuration and automatic brightness adjustment, ensuring optimal screen performance. This also means the MCTRL300 can quickly identify and resolve issues that arise during LED display operation.

When used with NovaLCT-Mars software, along with data transmission, monitoring, and multifunction cards, users can conveniently manage key parameters of the LED display on a PC — achieving seamless and precise playback control.

5.1 NovaStar MCTRL300 Software Setup & Connection — NovaLCT-MARS

NovaLCT-Mars, the configuration software for the Nova M3 series, is used to manage the MCTRL300 LED display controller. The software integrates essential functions such as screen configuration, automatic timing adjustment, cabinet monitoring, and pixel-level fault detection.

Nova offers three main types of control software:

• NovaLCT-Mars–for display configuration and control
• COB calibration system–for COB LED fine-tuning
• Point-by-point calibration system–for precise brightness and color correction

With Nova’s powerful cloud platform, users can remotely control and monitor the LED display anytime, anywhere.

5.2 Connecting MCTRL300 to the Display via NovaLCT-MARS

2）Alternatively, users can manually configure the display if no preset file is available. This includes:

Setting cabinet information

Adjusting performance parameters

Configuring resolution and refresh rate

Setting receiver card hot backup

Saving configurations to FLASH memory

Loading/saving configuration files

• You can also fine-tune brightness, gamma, and current gain through NovaLCT for optimal display quality.

COB LED Calibration System — Operation Overview

（1）Auto Brightness Adjustment

The MCTRL300 automatically adjusts screen brightness using a light sensor that measures surrounding brightness levels.

Setup steps:

1. Right-click on the control panel and select Advanced Settings.
2. Set the detection period and reading time for the light sensor.

If hardware linkage fails, you can enable automatic adjustment manually — the process is nearly identical to the automatic setup method.

（2）Display Control

Select Tools → Display Control from the NovaLCT-Mars main menu to open the Screen Control window, where you can manage display states and performance in real time.

（3）Hardware Information Check

Go to Tool → Hardware Information to open the hardware information page and verify device status.

（4）Multiple Display Management

For projects with multiple LED screens, NovaLCT allows users to group displays for unified control.

Select Tool → Multiple Screen Management to open the Combination Display Configuration window, where you can manage brightness and monitor all connected screens efficiently.

NovaStar MCTRL300 Specifications

NovaStar MCTRL300 Firmware

The NovaLCT software is designed to seamlessly control the NovaStar MCTRL300. It can be downloaded from the official NovaStar website or the EagerLED NovaStar Software page. This powerful tool allows users to configure LED displays, automate brightness adjustments, monitor the status of LED modules, and perform pixel-level inspections for optimal performance.

The NovaStar MCTRL300 supports synchronous control of LED display playback content. Its connection method varies depending on whether a sending card (transmitter card) is used.

When no sending card is present, the computer connects directly to the receiving card via a network cable, allowing data to be transmitted through the receiving card for display control.

Diagram of system architecture

Diagram of system architecture without a sending card

The following is a comparative analysis of the NovaStar MCTRL300 and other NovaStar LED controllers:

The NovaStar MCTRL300 LED controller offers the perfect balance of performance, simplicity, and affordability. Whether you’re setting up a small retail display or a rental stage LED wall, it delivers professional-grade visuals with reliable stability and smooth operation.

Contact us today for the latest pricing, detailed datasheet, and expert support to power your next LED display project.