• grandMA3 User Manual
    • About the manual
    • Device Overview
      • grandMA3 consoles
        • grandMA3 full-size
        • grandMA3 full-size CRV
        • grandMA3 light
        • grandMA3 light CRV
        • grandMA3 compact XT
        • grandMA3 compact
      • grandMA3 extension
      • grandMA3 replay unit
      • grandMA3 processing units
      • grandMA3 Nodes
      • grandMA3 Nodes DIN-Rail
      • grandMA3 I/O Node
      • grandMA3 I/O Node DIN-Rail
      • grandMA3 onPC command wing XT
      • grandMA3 onPC command wing
      • grandMA3 onPC fader wing
      • grandMA3 onPC rack-unit
      • Screen allocation
      • Keyboard shortcuts
      • Keys
        • . [Dot]
        • <<< [GoFastBackward] | Black
        • >>> [GoFastForward] | Flash
        • - [Minus]
        • + [Plus]
        • / [Slash] | * [Asterisk/Multiply]
        • At
        • Assign
        • Align
        • Blind
        • Clear
        • Channel
        • Copy
        • Ctrl
        • Cue
        • Down
        • Delete
        • Esc
        • Edit
        • Freeze
        • Full
        • Fixture
        • Group
        • Goto
        • Go+ [large]
        • Go- [large]
        • Go+ | Temp
        • Go- | Top
        • Help
        • Highlt [Highlight]
        • If
        • Learn | Rate1
        • List
        • MA
        • Menu
        • Move
        • Next
        • Numeric keys | arrows
        • Oops
        • On
        • Off
        • Pause [large]
        • Pause | Fix
        • Page+
        • Page-
        • Please
        • Power
        • Preset
        • Prvw [Preview]
        • Prev [Previous]
        • Select
        • SelFix [SelectFixture]
        • Sequ [Sequence]
        • Set
        • Solo
        • Stomp
        • Store
        • Thru
        • Time
        • Up
        • Update
        • U1
        • U2
        • X1 | Clone
        • X2 | Link
        • X3 | Grid
        • X4 | Layout
        • X5 | Step
        • X6 | TC
        • X7 | View
        • X8 | DMX
        • X9
        • X10
        • X11
        • X12
        • X13 | Phaser
        • X14 | Macro
        • X15 | Page
        • X16 | Exec
        • Xkeys
      • Control elements
        • Command area
        • Master area
        • Custom area
        • Dual encoders
        • Level wheel
        • Grand master
        • Executor elements
      • Connector pin assignment
    • System Overview
      • Standalone device
      • Locally networked devices
      • World server
      • Parameters
        • Calculate parameters
        • Expand the amount of parameters
    • First Steps
      • Unpack the device
      • Check scope of delivery
      • Position the device
      • Connect power
      • Connect desk light
      • Connect external screens
      • Connect USB devices
      • Connect DMX
      • Connect Audio In
      • Connect MIDI
      • Connect LTC
      • Connect Ethernet
      • Connect DC Remote In
      • Connect grandMA3 extension
      • Connect grandMA3 fader wing
      • Turn on the device the first time
    • grandMA3 onPC
      • System requirements grandMA3 onPC
      • Windows installation
      • Optimize Windows
      • macOS installation
      • Optimize macOS
      • onPC Terminal App
      • onPC settings
    • Show File Handling
    • Workspace
      • User interface
        • Configuration of displays
        • Desk lock
        • User-defined area
        • Command line
        • Control bar
        • View bar
        • Tables in general
        • Trackpad window
      • Gestures
      • Command area
      • Master controls
      • Playback controls
      • Displays in grandMA3 onPC
      • Encoder bar
        • Feature group control bar
        • Encoder toolbar
      • Calculator
      • Playback bar
      • Command wing bar
      • Colors
        • System
        • Markers
        • Color theme
    • Command Syntax and Keywords
      • General syntax rules
      • General keywords
        • ; [Semicolon]
        • / [Slash]
        • . [Dot]
        • .. [DotDot]
        • = [Equal]
        • <<< [GoFastBackward]
        • >>> [GoFastForward]
        • - [Minus]
        • * [Asterisk]
        • % [Percent]
        • + [Plus]
        • Absolute
        • Acceleration
        • Action
        • ActivationGroup
        • Agenda
        • Align
        • AlignTransition
        • Appearance
        • Assign
        • At
        • Attribute
        • AutoCreate
        • Black
        • Blind
        • Block
        • BPM
        • Call
        • Camera
        • Capture
        • Certificate
        • ChangeDestination
        • Channel
        • ChannelSet
        • Chat
        • Cleanup
        • Clear
        • ClearActive
        • ClearAll
        • ClearSelection
        • Clone
        • CmdDelay
        • Collect
        • Collection
        • ColorTheme
        • Configuration
        • Console
        • Cook
        • Copy
        • Cue
        • CueAbs
        • CueDelay
        • CueFade
        • CueInDelay
        • CueInFade
        • CueOutDelay
        • CueOutFade
        • CueRel
        • CueUpdate
        • CurrentUser
        • CurrentUserProfile
        • Cut
        • DataPool
        • Deceleration
        • Decimal8
        • Decimal16
        • Decimal24
        • Default
        • Delay
        • Delete
        • DeleteOtherVersions
        • DelGlobalVar
        • DelUserVar
        • Dismiss
        • Display
        • DMXLayer
        • DMXAddress
        • DMXReadout
        • DMXUniverse
        • Down
        • DumpLog
        • Drive
        • Echo
        • Edit
        • EditSetting
        • Eject
        • Effect
        • EndIf
        • Exchange
        • Executor
        • Export
        • Extract
        • Extension
        • Fade
        • Fader
        • FaderHighlight
        • FaderLowlight
        • FaderMaster
        • FaderRate
        • FaderSolo
        • FaderSpeed
        • FaderTemp
        • FaderTime
        • FaderX
        • FaderXA
        • FaderXB
        • FeatureGroup
        • Filter
        • Fix
        • FixtureClass
        • FixtureLayer
        • Fixture
        • FixtureType
        • Flip
        • Flash
        • Fog
        • Font
        • Freeze
        • Full
        • Gel
        • GetGlobalVar
        • GetUserVar
        • Universal
        • Go+
        • GoStep
        • Go-
        • Goto
        • Grid
        • Group
        • HardwareKey
        • Help
        • Helplua
        • Hex8
        • Hex16
        • Hex24
        • Highlight
        • Houselights
        • Hz
        • If
        • IfActive
        • IfOutput
        • IfProg
        • Image
        • Import
        • Index
        • Insert
        • Integrate
        • Interface
        • Invert
        • Invite
        • IP
        • JoinSession
        • Key
        • Keyboard
        • KeyboardShortcuts
        • Knockin
        • Knockout
        • Label
        • Language
        • Layout
        • LearnRate
        • LearnSpeed
        • LeaveSession
        • Library
        • List
        • ListOwner
        • ListRef
        • Load
        • Loaded
        • LoadShow
        • Lock
        • Login
        • Logout
        • Lowlight
        • Lua
        • LuaFile
        • Macro
        • MArker
        • Master
        • MAtricks
        • Measure
        • Media
        • MemInfo
        • Menu
        • Mesh3DS
        • MessageCenter
        • Monitor
        • Move
        • MyRunningMacro
        • MyRunningSequence
        • NewShow
        • NextY
        • NextZ
        • Next
        • Node
        • NonDim
        • Normal
        • Off
        • Offset
        • On
        • OnPC
        • OSC
        • Oops
        • OutputLayer
        • Page
        • Part
        • Park
        • Paste
        • Patch
        • Pause
        • Percent
        • PercentFine
        • Phase
        • Physical
        • Plugin
        • Preset
        • PresetUpdate
        • Press
        • Preview
        • PreviousY
        • PreviousZ
        • Previous
        • Programmer
        • Property
        • PU
        • Pyro
        • Rate1
        • Readout
        • Reboot
        • Recast
        • Relation
        • Relative
        • Release
        • ReloadPlugins
        • ReloadUI
        • Remote
        • RemoteHID
        • RemoteCommand
        • Remove
        • Reset
        • Restart
        • Root
        • RTChannel
        • RunningMacro
        • RunningSequence
        • RunningTimecode
        • SaveShow
        • ScreenConfig
        • ScreenContent
        • Scribble
        • Seconds
        • Select
        • Selection
        • SelFix
        • Sequence
        • SendMIDI
        • SendOSC
        • Set
        • SetGlobalVar
        • SetUserVar
        • Shuffle
        • Shutdown
        • SnapDelay
        • SoftwareImport
        • SoftwareUpdate
        • SoundChannel
        • Solo
        • SpecialExecutor
        • Speed
        • Speed1
        • Stage
        • Station
        • Step
        • Stomp
        • SwitchGma2Mode
        • Store
        • Temp
        • Texture
        • Thru
        • Time
        • Timecode
        • TimecodeSlot
        • Toggle
        • TopUp
        • Top
        • Transition
        • Type
        • UIChannel
        • UiGridSelection
        • Unblock
        • Unlock
        • Unpark
        • Unpress
        • Up
        • Update
        • UpdateContent
        • User1
        • User2
        • User
        • UserProfile
        • Video
        • Version
        • View
        • ViewButton
        • Width
        • World
        • Xkeys
        • Zero
      • Option keywords
        • /Active
        • /ActiveForSelected
        • /AddNewContent
        • /All
        • /CreateSecondCue
        • /Merge
        • /NoConfirm
        • /OriginalContentOnly
        • /Overwrite
        • /Remove
        • /Screen
      • Extended command line syntax options
    • Windows, Views, and Menus
      • Add window
      • Rearrange
      • Store and recall views
      • Remove windows from a screen
      • Window settings
      • Menus
      • Change menu locations
      • Pool windows
        • Create pool object
        • Label pool objects
        • Move pool objects
        • Insert pool objects
        • Copy pool objects
        • Lock and unlock pool objects
        • Delete pool objects
    • Networking
      • Interfaces and IP
      • Session
        • Create a session
        • Join a session
        • Leave a session
        • Invite to a session
        • Dismiss from session
        • Create a custom key
      • Web remote
      • SFTP connection
    • DMX In and Out
      • DMX port configuration
      • Ethernet DMX
        • Art-Net menu
        • sACN menu
        • Transmit DMX using Art-Net
    • Single User and Multi User Systems
      • Create User
      • User settings
    • Patch and Fixture Setup
      • What are fixtures
      • Add fixtures to the show
      • MVR
      • Live patch
      • DMX sheet
      • DMX universes
      • Remove fixtures from the show
      • Position fixtures in the 3D space
      • 3D
      • Camera Pool
      • Stages
      • Classes and Layers
      • Attribute definitions
        • Activation group
        • Feature group
        • Deactivation group
      • Parameter list
      • DMX curves
    • Operate Fixtures
      • Select Fixtures
      • What is the programmer
      • Fixture sheet
      • Encoder resolution
      • Using the color picker
      • Selection bar
      • Align
      • Selection Grid
      • Smart view
    • Scribbles
      • Create scribbles
      • Edit scribbles
      • Assign scribbles
      • Delete scribbles
    • Images
      • Screenshots
    • Video
    • Appearances
      • Create appearances
      • Use appearances
      • Delete appearances
    • Groups
      • Create groups
      • Edit groups
      • Delete groups
      • Group masters
    • Presets
      • Preset pools
      • Create new presets
      • Recipe presets
      • Use preset
      • Edit or Update presets
    • Worlds and Filters
      • At filter
      • Create a world
      • Create a filter
      • Use a world or filter
      • Delete a world
      • Delete a filter
    • MAtricks and Shuffle
      • Blocks
      • Groups
      • Wings
      • Widths
      • Shuffle
    • Cues and Sequences
      • What is tracking
      • Look at cues and sequences
      • Content sheet
      • Sequence settings
      • Store cues
      • Update cues
      • Copy cues
      • Cue recipes
      • Store settings and preferences
      • Play back cues
      • Move in black
      • Cue timing
      • Renumber cues
      • Delete cues
    • Executors
      • Assign object to an executor
      • Executor configurations
      • Running playbacks
      • Special executors
    • Masters
      • Selected masters
      • Grand masters
        • Time Control
      • Speed masters
      • Playback masters
    • Recipes
    • Phasers
      • Phaser editor
      • Create sinus dimmer phaser
      • Create circle phaser
      • Create circle phaser around position
      • Create color rainbow phaser
    • XYZ
      • Activating XYZ for fixture types
      • MArker fixture
    • Macros
      • Create macros
      • Edit macros
      • Assign macros to keys and buttons
      • Examples
    • Agenda
      • View modes
      • Create an agenda entry
      • Edit an agenda entry
      • Agenda toolbar
    • Timecode
      • What are timecode slots
      • Timecode settings
      • Track groups
      • Time ranges and events
      • Toggle view mode
      • Record a timecode show
      • Record an external timecode show
      • Edit a timecode show
    • Layouts
      • Create a layout
      • Edit layout
      • Layout view settings
      • Edit layout view
      • Edit layout elements
      • Layout encoder bar
    • Plugins
      • What is Lua?
      • Lua functions
        • Object-Free API
          • BuildDetails
          • Cmd
          • CmdIndirect
          • CmdIndirectWait
          • CmdObj
          • Confirm
          • DataPool
          • DefaultDisplayPositions
          • Echo
          • ErrPrintf
          • ErrEcho
          • Export
          • GetPath
          • GetShowFileStatus
          • GetSubfixture
          • GetSubfixtureCount
          • HookObjectChange
          • HostOS
          • HostSubType
          • HostType
          • Import
          • MasterPool
          • MessageBox
          • ObjectList
          • Patch
          • PopupInput
          • Printf
          • ProgrammerPart
          • ProgressBar
          • Pult
          • SelectedSequence
          • Selection
          • SelectionCount
          • SelectionFirst
          • SelectionNext
          • SerialNumber
          • ShowData
          • ShowSettings
          • TextInput
          • Timer
          • UserVariables
          • Version
        • Object API
          • Children
          • Dump
          • Export
          • HasActivePlayback
          • Import
          • ToAddr
    • Data Pools
    • System
      • Date and time
      • Clock
      • Desk lights
      • System information
      • System monitor
      • Info Window
    • Sound
      • Sound Window
    • Remote In and Out
      • DC remotes
      • MIDI remotes
      • DMX remotes
      • OSC
      • PSN
    • RDM
    • Control other MA Devices
      • grandMA3 Nodes
      • MA Network Switch
      • RemoteHID
    • Update the Software
      • Update grandMA3 consoles
      • Update grandMA3 Nodes
      • Update grandMA3 onPC windows hardware
      • Update grandMA3 viz-key
      • Network update
      • Delete update files
      • Troubleshooting
    • Fixture Types
      • Import fixture types
        • Import GDTF
      • Build fixture types
        • Insert fixture types
        • Insert DMX modes
        • Insert geometries
        • Insert models
        • Link models to geometries
        • Link DMX modes to geometries
      • Export fixture types
        • Export GDTF
    • File Management
      • Import / Export Menu
      • Folder Structure
    • Shut down the System
    • Troubleshooting
      • Clean start
  • grandMA3 Quick Start Guide
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual consoles
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual processing units
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual Nodes
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual Nodes DIN-Rail
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing XT
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC command wing
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC fader wing
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual onPC rack-unit
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual viz-key
  • grandMA3 Quick Manual I/O Nodes
  • Release Notes
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Version 1.7

About The Manual

Founded on the legacy of the previous grandMA consoles, the grandMA3 represents a radical re-think of what’s possible from a lighting control platform. The elegant new system-architecture incorporates new fixture, feature and effects handling at its very heart.
 
The system features ground-breaking concepts from top industry visionaries, presented within a refined user interface, and is designed to make practical tasks more intuitive.
 
The physical design detail of the grandMA3 range is extraordinary and focused on delivering the best possible user experience, now and into the future.

The grandMA3 software is being developed by

MA Lighting Technology GmbH
Dachdeckerstraße 16
97297 Waldbüttelbrunn, Germany

The help pages consist of a collection of topics to help the user understand the software.

These help pages are included in every software installer package and are automatically loaded into the software (exception: Nodes and Processing Units).

 

Access the help pages

There are different ways to access the help:

  1. To access and read the help pages, press Help + Please. The help pop-up opens on the main screen:
     
    Help pop-up

     
  2. To open the help pop-up, tapquestion_markin the control bar andquestion_markagain.
  3. To open the help window, tap the Help view button in the view bar.
Empty screen of a new show

For more information about the vertical bars, see the topics Workspace, User Interface, Control Bar, and View Bar.

 

  1. To open another help window, open the Add Window, tap the More tab, then tap Help. For more information, see the Add Windows topic.

 

Help window

 

  1. To jump directly into a special help topic, use the context-sensitive help:
  • Press and hold Help and tap the desired user interface element (UI element) to open the corresponding help topic.
  • Tap question_mark in the control bar and tap a UI element to open the corresponding help topic.

 

 

  1. To access the help pages via the command line, use one of these options:
  • Press Help
  • Type Help
  • Type the shortcut H

 

  • Press Please or click the command line with the mouse to confirm.

 

Hint:
To display all keywords in the command line history, type the command Help + Enter (keyboard) in the command line.
Keyword list in the command line history

For more information, see the Help keyword topic.

 

  1. To open a keyword topic immediately via the command line, use one of these options:
  • Press Help and type the desired keyword.
  • Type Help and type the desired keyword.

    The desired help pages opens.

 

Navigation in the Help

Buttons in the Title Bar

Tap the buttons with the plus or minus signs to increase or decrease the size of the content displayed within the help window.

Press the button with the left arrow to reverse through the history of previously viewed help topics. Press the button with the right arrow to advance through the history of previously viewed help topics.

 

Search Field

To find topics containing a specific search term, enter the term into the search field in the upper-right corner and press Please.

The Help window displays the search results with the search term highlighted.

Highlighted search results

To search for a specific product or search term, leave away the brand name or the series name (e.g. grandMA3).

 

Table of Contents

 

The left side of the Help window displays available topics in a tree structure. Tap the triangle next to any topic to reveal or hide any associated sub-topics. Tap the name of any topic to display its contents in the main area of the window.

The root topics in the tree structure are divided into the different products within the family. These main sections include:

Important:
The complete grandMA3 documentation consists of the grandMA3 User Manual and the respective grandMA3 Quick Manual with technical specifications, safety instructions, and declaration of conformity.

 

 

Display of Content

Display Definition
At Keys found on the control surface of the hardware are displayed in a white font on a dark gray background.
Dimmer Buttons found on the screen are displayed in a white font on a light gray background.
  1. Open...
  2. Select...
Step-by-step instructions are displayed in a numeric list.
  • Tap
One-step instructions are displayed with the help of bullet points.
Menu - Settings - User Configuration - User Profiles Navigation to specific menus in the console is displayed in bold.
Assign [Object] (At) [Object] The description of the syntax is underlined and displayed in bold.
User name[Fixture]> Enter commands in the command line
OK:System response shown in the Command Line History

 

The following symbols display possible danger, useful hints, and information.

For information on safety,  harmonized standards, and conformity see grandMA3 Quick Manual Consoles

Warning:
The warning sign displays possible injury and hazard.  
Restriction:
The restriction sign displays known limitations of functions. 
Important:
The important sign displays essential information for the usage of the console.
Hint:
The hint sign displays tips useful for the usage of the console.

 

 

Help on the Web

Please note that the help topics included in the software represent the status and volume of the help pages at the date of release.

The help system is constantly being updated and extended.

The most up-to-date and complete version of the manual is directly published on the following website:

https://www.malighting.com/training-support/online-manuals

Make sure that you regularly visit the online help to read the latest version of the help pages.

Online manuals

The Online Manuals section is divided into different product families:

  • grandMA3 series
  • grandMA2 series
  • dot2 series
  • MA Network Switch

 

PDF Files

Click the "Open topic as PDF" button in the upper-right corner of any topic viewed on the web to download the contents of that topic as a PDF file for offline viewing.

To download a single PDF of the entire manual:

  1. Navigate to the Downloads section of the MA Lighting website: https://www.malighting.com/downloads
  2. Click the desired product family from the list on the left side.
  3. Click Offline User Manuals + QuickMAnual.
  4. Click the desired manual to download.

 

Search Field

To find topics containing a specific search term, enter the term into the search field in the upper-right corner and press Enter.

The Help window displays the search results with the search term highlighted.

The search function is language-based. If the search term cannot be found, check your language selection.

Example:

Search for the term démarrage in the Quick Manual for the grandMA3 consoles.

The search does not find the term in the English database:

Change the language setting from English to French and search again:

The search result is now correct:

 

Support

Contact us for any questions about your MA product.

MA Lighting and its extensive distributor network offer unparalleled technical support. Call on our expertise for help with any problem, no matter if it is about the operation, software features, software installations, or troubleshooting.

Help Pages

The help pages are included in every software installer package and are automatically loaded into the software. To access and read the help pages, press Help + Please. The help pop-up opens on the main screen.

To jump directly into a special help topic, use the context-sensitive help:

  • Press and hold Help and tap the desired user interface element (UI element) to open the corresponding help topic.
  • Tap question_mark in the control bar and tap a UI element to open the corresponding help topic.

Online Manuals

All MA product-related manuals are available as online versions. Just select your MA product and click on the respective link. All further documents can be found in our download area. Go to https://www.malighting.com/training-support/online-manuals.

Video Tutorials

Get tips and tricks from our MA experts on your MA product.

MA offers a whole range of videos on how to use your MA product in the best possible way. Just select your series and click on the links to watch the videos on our YouTube channel. Go to https://www.malighting.com/training-support/video-tutorials.

Community

Share your knowledge and get help from other MA users.

A community can be stronger and better than the individual. Be part of the MA community! Go to https://www.malighting.com/training-support/community.

Fixture Shares

In our MA Fixture Share you will find a comprehensive database of different fixture types for grandMA3, grandMA2, and dot2. You can also find the grandMA2 GDTF Converter there. Simply upload the GDTF file and it will be converted into a grandMA2 Fixture Profile.

The GTDF Share contains a comprehensive library of all available GDTF files with all relevant modes and firmware versions. Like the MA Fixture Share, this database is continuously updated.

For more information see: https://www.malighting.com/training-support/fixture-shares

Local Support

If you have a question regarding your MA Lighting product, please first of all contact your local MA product specialists.

Central Support

If you are in need of further assistance or manufacturer support, please fill out an email request on www.malighting.com in Training and Support. Your request will automatically be sent to support@malighting.com (in English or German). This email service is monitored during MA Lighting's regular business hours in Germany from 8.30 am until 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

Emergency Hotline

In any case of a show critical emergency please contact the MA Lighting support hotline.

Phone +49 5251 68 88 65 99

Please note that this 24/7 hotline is strictly for emergency cases.

Intellectual Property

MA Lighting Technology has registered multiple patents, trademarks, design patents, and utility models for its products.
We will take legal action against the violation of this intellectual property.

For more information see: https://www.malighting.com/intellectual-property


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