Last Updated 12 hours ago
Overview
The Aputure MT Pro is a 30 cm RGBWW mini light bar with 36 controllable pixels, an internal battery and built-in LumenRadio CRMX. It is useful for close accents, small practical effects, moving reflections and hiding a short linear source in a set. Its dense pixel layout offers much finer spatial effects than a single-colour pocket panel.
The short body fits behind set dressing and creates compact reflections or visible pixel effects. Its output is best suited to nearby subjects and accents. Use a longer tube or larger source when the shot needs wider coverage or more throw.
Key specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Light engine | RGBWW mini linear LED |
| Pixels | 36 |
| Maximum output / consumption | 7.5 W output / 9 W consumption |
| CCT range | 2000–10000 K |
| Dimming | 0–100% |
| Published colour metrics | CRI ≥95, TLCI ≥98; SSI D56 ≥73, tungsten ≥84 |
| Dimensions | 300 × 40 × 35 mm |
| Weight | 391 g |
| Battery | Internal 3.7 V / 4200 mAh, 15.5 Wh |
| Published battery runtime | Approximately 120 minutes at maximum output |
| Charging | USB-C, 5 V / 2 A; approximately 120 minutes |
| Control | Onboard, Sidus Link, wired DMX/RDM through the specified adapter, built-in CRMX |
| Wired DMX accessory | USB-C to 5-pin XLR input/output adapter, sold separately |
| Cooling | Passive |
| Operating temperature | −10 to 45°C |
| Weather limitation | The MT Pro is not waterproof; do not apply the MC Pro’s IP65 rating |
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- 36 pixels in a 30 cm body allow short moving gradients and animated practicals.
- Built-in CRMX and passive cooling suit hidden fixtures on controlled sets.
- An internal battery, magnets and threaded points offer several placement options.
Limitations
- Its low output and short length favour close subjects and visible effects.
- Wired DMX needs the specified adapter; the bar is not waterproof.
- The rear display is difficult to reach against a surface, and the battery is not a quick-swap pack.
Practical uses
A short pixel bar can add a moving highlight to reflective products, suggest a passing source, animate a visible practical or make a small part of a set change colour independently. Dense pixels help create a smoother visible gradient in a short fixture, especially when the light itself or its reflection appears in frame.
At a distance, light from neighbouring pixels overlaps. Thirty-six controlled zones do not produce thirty-six independent sharply separated pools on a wall. The pattern depends on distance, diffusion, reflection and the selected effect. Test the actual subject rather than judging the result only by looking at the bar’s illuminated face.
| Setup | Working approach |
|---|---|
| Tabletop reflection | Place the bar close to a reflective product for an elongated highlight; animate pixels if movement helps the shot. |
| Concealed close fill | Hide the slim body behind set dressing and use the grid to reduce spill. |
| Visible practical | Set exposure for the glowing face and check clipped pixels through the camera. |
| Passing colour effect | Keep the receiving surface close enough for movement to read; test how neighbouring pixels blend. |
Output and colour
The manufacturer photometric table separates the bare fixture from its 45° light-control grid. The readings below are white-light settings, not the output of every RGB colour or pixel effect. Retaining the modifier and distance is essential when comparing another mini light.
| CCT | Bare at 0.5 m | Bare at 1 m | 45° grid at 1 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2700 K | 526 lux | 143 lux | 128 lux |
| 3200 K | 532 lux | 144 lux | 129 lux |
| 5600 K | 585 lux | 159 lux | 142 lux |
| 6500 K | 614 lux | 167 lux | 149 lux |
Tests and reviews
Erik Naso tested the MT Pro with a Sekonic C-700-U at 1 m. He recorded 181 lux at 3200 K and 200 lux at 5600 K; extended CRI was 91.38 and 94.01 respectively. His results are separate from Aputure’s averaged bare/grid figures.
Power and batteries
Aputure lists a 15.5 Wh internal battery, about two hours at maximum output and a two-hour recharge from 5 V / 2 A USB power. Those figures are useful planning references for a healthy unit. Allow margin for temperature, battery age and the actual lighting program, especially when the fixture becomes inaccessible after set dressing.
The charging socket also participates in the wired-control accessory arrangement, so plan power and data together rather than assuming every USB accessory can be connected at once. Use the documented cable/accessory combination and protect it from strain. The 7.5 W LED output figure is separate from the 9 W maximum consumption rating.
Control, cooling and camera operation
The built-in CRMX receiver allows the MT Pro to join a suitable wireless-DMX workflow. Sidus Link provides a separate Bluetooth/app route. For a hardwired setup, use the specified USB-C to 5-pin XLR input/output adapter; a generic USB charging cable or arbitrary USB-to-DMX interface is not interchangeable.
Pixel grouping, colour parameters and 8/16-bit profiles determine channel use. Select the documented DMX personality before patching and check the controller’s profile against the fixture firmware. A whole-bar colour mode and a mode exposing individual pixels place different demands on addressing and programming.
The light includes system effects and pixel effects, but access and fine control depend on the selected local, app or DMX workflow. Test signal-loss behaviour, addressing and the cue sequence before concealing several bars in a set. Keep a practical means of reaching the controls if the wireless link needs attention.
Modifiers, rigging and the working package
The supplied mini tripod and compatible back clamps or threaded adapters offer different ways to support the bar. Choose a mounting method for the orientation and cable load, and provide appropriate retention for overhead or moving placements. A small mass does not make an unsecured light acceptable above a performer.
The grid reduces off-axis spill and changes the measured output, as the table shows. It does not enlarge the source or turn the bar into a profile light with sharp projected cuts. For a soft facial source, consider a larger emitting area or a close bounce instead of expecting the mini bar to cover a large set.
Aputure’s MT Pro troubleshooting guidance explicitly states that the fixture is not waterproof. A separate protective pouch is an accessory with its own operating considerations. Do not infer an outdoor rating from another product in the Aputure mini-light range.
The MT Pro has two built-in magnets and two 1/4-20 mounting points, with the mini tripod included in the single-light kit. A magnet needs a suitable steel surface and appropriate secondary retention. Keep cable strain off the charging/data port.
Alternatives and related fixtures
| Fixture | Choose it for |
|---|---|
| Aputure MC Pro | A compact lensed panel with IP65 protection rather than a short pixel bar. |
| Aputure INFINIBAR PB3 | A linkable rectangular one-foot bar for connected shapes and arrays. |
| Astera Titan Tube | A much longer source with a different output, mounting and power package. |
What people are saying
Paul Moon: useful behind set dressing, slower local controls
Paul Moon’s FocusPulling review shows an MT Pro concealed by a piano’s music stand to light nearby talent without entering the camera views. He liked the solid body and USB-C power options, but found the control dial and menus slow. Sidus Link made remote adjustments easier.
Graham Sheldon: stronger as part of a small multi-light kit
In his CineD review, Graham Sheldon liked the combination of pixel density, CRMX and output for the size. He wanted a travel case for several units and longer versions. His conclusion favoured multiple MT Pros in a professional kit rather than treating one short bar as general coverage.
Videos
Blackout Lighting Console: MT Pro review
An MT Pro review from a lighting-console workflow.
Mark Arnett: MT Pro versus amaran PT1c
A comparison of the two compact pixel-light options.
Rental and used-fixture checks
Inspect the emitting surface, enclosure, charging/data port, power switch, control wheel and mounting points. Run a uniform white setting to check for obvious pixel or tint inconsistencies, then verify a pixel pattern through the intended control route. Test both charging and realistic battery endurance on a used light.
The MC Pro offers a compact panel format with different optics and protection. A full-size Astera Titan Tube gives a much longer source and a different output/power package. Choose the MT Pro when its short length, close-range output and pixel control are the features the shot needs.
Documentation and specifications
Official MT Pro product information, technical specifications and photometrics, operating manual and weather clarification.
Product photograph: Aputure.
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