New console introduced by MA Lighting: grandMA3
At the recent Prolight + Sound 2018 fair, MA Lighting's grandMA3 console took centre stage, causing a great stir in the industry. The advanced lighting control system, unveiled by Daniel Kannenberg, showcased a range of features that set new industry standards for live event lighting control.
Key Features of the grandMA3 Console
The grandMA3 console boasts a host of impressive features, including:
- Real-time control of up to 250,000 parameters per session when connected to grandMA3 processing units, enabling extremely complex and detailed lighting designs.
- Multiple DMX connections: 6 DMX outputs and 1 DMX input, allowing extensive hardware interfacing.
- A highly tactile and visual interface with 3 internal foldable multi-touch screens, plus additional letterbox and command multi-touch screens, supporting intuitive control and feedback.
- A rich array of physical controls: up to 71 rotatable RGB backlit encoders, 30 motorized and backlit 60 mm faders, 120 independent playbacks, and 16 assignable x-keys for customizable commands.
- Integrated features for usability and reliability, such as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), integrated keyboard drawer, and individually backlit, dimmable, and silent buttons.
- Support for extensive connectivity with multiple USB ports, etherCON connectors, MIDI, timecode inputs, and more, enabling integration into complex production setups.
- Robust build with portability considerations, including foldable screens and a dust cover.
Industry Impact of the grandMA3 Console
The grandMA3 represents a significant evolution in lighting consoles, offering unprecedented parameter control and user interface advances that support the increasingly sophisticated demands of modern live productions, from concerts and theatre to broadcast and architectural lighting. At its 2018 unveiling, it reinforced MA Lighting’s reputation as a leader in lighting technology innovation, influencing both the design philosophy of competing consoles and the workflows of lighting designers worldwide.
The grandMA3 Console at Prolight + Sound 2018
The grandMA3 console was a major attraction at the Prolight + Sound 2018 fair, with countless regular presentations held by the MA Lighting Team at their booth in the Lightpower Village. The event, a great success for MA Lighting, saw significant interest in the grandMA3 console among clients and potential customers.
With its massive processing power, flexible hardware interfaces, and advanced user experience elements, the grandMA3 console enables complex productions to be executed more efficiently and creatively than before. It is clear that this innovative console will continue to shape the future of live event lighting.
[1] MA Lighting. (2018). grandMA3 console. [Online]. Available: https://www.malighting.com/products/grandma3-console [Accessed 15 April 2021].
[2] MA Lighting. (2018). grandMA3 console: Features. [Online]. Available: https://www.malighting.com/products/grandma3-console/features [Accessed 15 April 2021].
[3] MA Lighting. (2018). grandMA3 console: Hardware. [Online]. Available: https://www.malighting.com/products/grandma3-console/hardware [Accessed 15 April 2021].
- The grandMA3 console, showcased at Prolight + Sound 2018, exemplifies the fusion of technology in the form of multiple DMX connections and tactile interfaces with gadgets such as foldable multi-touch screens and motorized faders, revolutionizing the industry's approach to live event lighting control.
- With its advanced features like real-time control of up to 250,000 parameters and intuitive user interface, the grandMA3 console is a testament to the evolving landscape of technology and gadgets, catering to the increasing complexity of modern live productions.
