How to Set Up Novastar NovaLCT: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

NovaLCT is the free configuration and control software from Novastar — it's the main tool you'll use every time you set up or manage an LED screen using Novastar hardware. This guide walks you through the complete process from installation to a working, calibrated screen.

Before you start, make sure you have: your Novastar sending device (connected to your PC via HDMI/DisplayPort and to your LED screen via Cat6 Ethernet), your LED cabinets powered up, and your cabinet configuration file (.rcfgx) from your LED screen supplier.

Step 1: Download and Install NovaLCT

1. Go to www.novastar.tech and navigate to Support → Downloads → Software
2. Download the latest version of NovaLCT (always use the most recent version)
3. Right-click the installer and choose "Run as administrator"
4. Follow the installation wizard — accept all defaults
5. Restart your PC when prompted
6. On first launch, NovaLCT automatically scans for connected Novastar hardware

Step 2: Connect Your Hardware

NovaLCT communicates with your sending device via a USB cable (for most MCTRL units) or via Ethernet (for VX series units). This is separate from the video signal connection and the data cables going to the LED cabinets.

1. Connect a USB cable from your PC to the sending device's USB port (or connect via Ethernet for VX units)
2. Ensure the sending device is powered on — the status LEDs on the front panel should illuminate
3. Open NovaLCT — the left panel (Device List) should show your sending card model within a few seconds
4. If the device doesn't appear, check the USB cable, try a different USB port, and verify Novastar drivers are installed

Step 3: The Screen Configuration Wizard

The Screen Configuration Wizard is the heart of NovaLCT. It's where you tell the software exactly how many cabinets you have, what type they are, and how they're wired. Run this wizard every time you set up a new screen configuration.

Open the Wizard

1. Click "Screen Configuration" in the NovaLCT toolbar
2. Select your sending card from the hardware connection list on the left
3. Click "Next" to begin the wizard

Load the Cabinet Configuration File

A cabinet configuration file (.rcfgx or .cfg) contains all the technical parameters for your specific cabinet model — pixel count, scan type, data arrangement, and colour settings. Using the correct file is critical. The wrong file will produce a garbled or incomplete image.

1. In the wizard, click "Load Cabinet File"
2. Browse to the .rcfgx file provided by your LED cabinet supplier
3. If you don't have this file, contact your supplier immediately — this is standard documentation that should be provided with every order
4. Once loaded, the cabinet specifications (pixel count, dimensions) will populate automatically

Set Your Screen Resolution

1. Enter the number of cabinets wide (columns) in your screen
2. Enter the number of cabinets tall (rows)
3. NovaLCT calculates the total pixel resolution automatically — verify this matches your planned screen size
4. Double-check against your pre-installation pixel count calculation before proceeding

Step 4: Cabinet Mapping

Cabinet mapping tells NovaLCT exactly where each cabinet sits physically in your screen and in what order the data cable runs through them. This step is where most first-time setups go wrong, so read it carefully.

The mapping in NovaLCT must exactly match your physical wiring. If cabinet 1 in software is assigned to the top-left corner, then the cable coming from Novastar Output 1 must physically arrive at the top-left cabinet of your screen. Any mismatch causes sections of the image to appear in the wrong position.

1. In the wizard, select "Cabinet Layout" or "Mapping"
2. Set the data flow direction to match your physical wiring (e.g., left-to-right for straight routing, or S-curve for snake routing)
3. Cabinet 1 must be assigned to whichever cabinet your first data cable physically arrives at
4. Drag and rearrange cabinets on the grid if your screen is a non-standard shape
5. Review the layout once more before clicking Next

Step 5: Send Configuration to Hardware

1. Click "Send to Hardware" or "Apply"
2. Wait 30–60 seconds for the configuration to upload to all receiving cards
3. The screen should now display the image from your PC
4. Load a test image or play a video — use a full-screen colour bars image to check all sections are displaying correctly
5. Look for dark cabinets, colour anomalies, offset images, or flickering

Step 6: Adjust Brightness

LED screens at full brightness can be uncomfortable indoors and cause washed-out images in darker venues. Set brightness to match your environment:

Step 7: Save Your Configuration

This step is skipped by nearly every first-time user and then regretted on the next show. Saving your configuration means you can restore a perfect setup in under two minutes if hardware is ever reset or replaced.

1. Go to File → Save Screen Config (or use the save icon in the toolbar)
2. Name the file descriptively — include the screen name, date, and pixel count (e.g., MainStage_P4_6x4_1536x1024_Jul24.scfg)
3. Save a copy to a USB drive and store it with the sending device
4. To reload later: File → Open Screen Config → select your file → Send to Hardware

Common NovaLCT Setup Errors and Fixes