Lighting and control
Martin MAC Viper XIP
Match MAC Viper XIP mode to firmware, inspect DMX LIVE and check networking, cooling and outdoor operating conditions.
Model and purpose
- Manufacturer
- Martin
- Model
- Martin MAC Viper XIP
- Power
- 100–240 VAC; 50/60 Hz
- Maximum consumption
- 1040 W
- Protection
- IP54; conditional temporary outdoor use
LED moving head with CMY mixing, framing, gobos, frost and zoom for stage lighting, projection and effects. Viper XIP has its own profile functions; confirm mode and firmware before reusing programming from another Viper variant.
Prepare your inquiry
- Date, city, venue and setup, event and pickup schedule.
- Intended use, area dimensions and equipment already supplied by the venue or production.
- Desired effect, positions, throw, area and stage restrictions.
- Control profile, mounting accessories and camera coordination where needed.
Specify whether you need equipment only or also setup, programming, operation and strike.
You do not need a final equipment list: tell us the result you want and the part you need help with. Availability and scope are confirmed in the proposal.
Features and connections
Receives DMX/RDM through 5-pin XLR and Art-Net, sACN or Martin P3 through etherCON, with automatic protocol detection. Wireless control requires a compatible UCM and its configuration.
Ethernet operates at 10/100 Mbit/s. Use shielded Cat 5e or better cable as specified in the manual and a port that negotiates that speed; a port fixed to Gigabit only will not work.
Prepare the system
- Qualified personnel must validate structure, clamps, Omega brackets and secondary retention. Release tilt lock and clear the movement area before applying power; the fixture starts as soon as power arrives.
- Under DMX SETUP > CONTROL MODE, select personality before DMX ADDRESS. Match the footprint to the console. Compact is documented from 1.4.0; verify actual firmware since the notes mark that release as unpublished and list 1.4.1.
- For networking, match IP, mask and universe. Overflow into another universe is documented from 1.2.x via Art-Net, sACN or P3; do not assume it on an XLR link.
Presentation and logo: prepare two separate jobs
For a presentation, prepare a stable face-light zone. For a logo, define surface, size, legibility and display time. Having gobos and framing shutters does not confirm that brand artwork is installed or that one Viper XIP can light two places simultaneously.
- Propose an open-white speaker state and a separate projection state. Record position, zoom, focus, framing and level for each. Review transitions from the planned cameras with the intended screen content.
- Before ordering or fitting a custom gobo, confirm fixture revision, documented gobo and holder compatibility, and who performs the qualified installation. Obtain artwork approval and production timing; do not use dimensions from another Viper.
- If branding must remain visible during the speech, compare a dedicated logo source with fixed face lighting. For changing text or animation, evaluate video projection or a screen with the relevant team.
GLMedia can evaluate the package, cue preparation and operation, or a simpler alternative. Send the date, venue, draft artwork, photos and approximate distances. The proposal separates supply, gobo, mounting and programming; availability, compatibility and results require package review and testing.
Questions and troubleshooting
Does incoming control operate the wrong functions?
Compare mode and received values before changing calibrations.
- Open DMX LIVE > SOURCE to identify the actual source; compare received values with a static console scene.
- Match Compact, Basic, Extended or Ludicrous at both ends. Compact removes P3 Mix and FX; Ludicrous adds control of 6 LED segments.
- When combining P3 and DMX, check P3 Mix for the selected mode. Avoid treating video mixing as an automatic indication of a dimmer fault.
Does output drop when quieter operation is selected?
Cooling and Studio Mode affect available intensity.
- Record fan mode, Studio Mode, temperature and airflow. Compare fixtures under equivalent conditions.
- Quiet modes may limit output; never force fans or bypass thermal protection to match brightness.
- If Studio Mode 2 fails through Control/Settings, check firmware: 1.4.1 notes document a fix. Prepare backups and review before any update.
What needs checking after rain or before packing?
Protection depends on orientation, connections and drying procedure.
- Under SERVICE > OUTDOOR, inspect WET STATE and orientation; avoid CONNECTORS UP in wet conditions.
- Use the manual’s drying function before casing, keeping the movement area clear because positions change. Never power a damaged fixture or one showing water ingress.
- If SAFE PARKING was used, the manual requires STOP ACTIONS or another outdoor action to resume operation. Waking from hibernation performs a full reset: allow space and time.
How should we assess it for quiet theater, speeches or recording?
We can compare acceptable noise with the useful light the scene needs. Cooling settings and Studio Mode affect output; absolute silence is not offered.
- State distances to audience and microphones, quiet moments, environment and planned levels. Test a representative duration with ventilation clear and the camera where relevant; do not compare only initial startup.
- We can assess the Viper XIP configuration, another viable position or a light source better suited to the task. Tell us what your production supplies and whether you need equipment, installation, fixture profile and patch adaptation, scene programming, rehearsal with audio or operation; GLMedia can assess and quote these scopes separately. Model, availability, quantity, accessories and operating settings are confirmed in the proposal and relevant rehearsal, without defeating thermal protection to compensate for brightness.
Can we coordinate its colors with video content?
We can assess P3 to use video data for intensity and color. This needs a compatible P3 chain and a mode providing the required functions; Compact does not include P3 Mix.
- Send video source, controllers, software versions and system diagram. Rehearse visual mapping and control roles between video and console; sharing an Ethernet cable does not establish compatibility.
- We can compare coordinated DMX cues with P3 integration where it benefits the design. For a legible image or text, assess a screen or dedicated projection; content, control, network, programming and operation must be defined in the proposal.
Can we light the performer without spilling onto the screen or scenery?
We can assess beam shaping with its four framing blades. The usable edge depends on placement, zoom and focus; eliminating all spill or covering every route with one setting is not guaranteed.
- Send a photo or sketch showing the screen, scenery, heights, possible fixture positions and performer travel; approximate measurements are welcome. Identify areas that must remain dark, scene changes and any filming. Check the fixture profile and Framing Mode against the unit; rehearse each position and transition with actual screen content and camera.
- We can compare framing prepared for each zone, other permitted positions or steady light separated from effects. For a fixed task, we can also assess a suitable stationary profile fixture, with optics and compatibility to confirm. Quantity, installation, programming and operation are quoted for the project; check performer light, shadows and spill during movement before approving the design.
Quick reference
| Mode | Channels | Last start without overflow |
|---|---|---|
| Compact | 48 | 465 |
| Basic | 54 | 459 |
| Extended | 64 | 449 |
| Ludicrous | 70 | 443 |
Precautions
- At 100–120 V, do not power another Viper XIP from THRU. Distribution capacity depends on voltage and combined loads; check the entire circuit against the manual.
- Temporary outdoor use only with specified TOP connectors and caps. No immersion, pressure jets or aggressive salt or chlorine environments. Observe −10 to 40 °C and stop if ice is forming.
- Maintain 3.25 m to illuminated surfaces, 0.5 m ventilation clearance and 0.2 m to combustibles. Do not expose people within 4.5 m or plan prolonged staring into the beam within 56 m. Keep sunlight and other powerful light out of the lens even when off.
Terms on this page
- DMX
- A data protocol controlling lighting functions; each model defines what its channels mean.
- RDM
- Management communication for querying or configuring compatible equipment over a compatible path.
- Personality
- A control mode defining the channels and functions used by a fixture.
Documentation and sources
- Martin — MAC Viper XIP
- Official User + Safety Manual G; firmware 1.4.x
- Official firmware 1.4.1 release notes
User and Safety Manual, revision G, for firmware 1.4.x; firmware 1.4.1 release notes.
Guides to plan your system
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