Product Spotlight:
MA Lighting grandMA

MA Lighting Technology grandMA lighting console.

Photo: Photo: MA Lighting Technology..

Lighting Product Spotlight Published: 3 november 2004
Ralph-Jörg Wezorke, the Managing Director of MA Lighting International, have taken the time to talk with spotlight.st about their lighting console grandMA family.

How would you describe the grandMA lighting console?
grandMA is not just a lighting console anymore. During its evolution grandMA became a real multi-media console. Moreover the whole grandMA philosophy has developed into a complete, integrated system for the overall professional market. This includes also digital dimming and networking.

Please be more specific. What makes grandMA different from other lighting consoles?
Based on the MA Scancommander which already marked a milestone in its decade, grandMA has been launched five years ago as a full-size hybrid console for controlling both Moving Lights and Dimmers mainly for the concert touring market. During the following years the grandMA evolution started immediately and in close contacts to the market we integrated extensive features-set dedicated to the other fields of the market: theatre, television, architainment, etc. Addressing the needs of the different market segments it became essential not only offering an outstanding control tool, but to offer clever and comprehensive software tools to support this: a 3D visualizer, an offline editor and remote controls. In addition we opened up more and more ‘lighting-worlds’, says the elegant programming, control and visualization of for example LEDs as well as Media Servers.
This overall development shows that grandMA has transformed from just a single product into a whole process. But this process required an expansion of the capacity of the system as well. With software version 5 grandMA became the one and only scalable system in the market, that can stably and reliably control up to 64 DMX universes (via 16 NSPs) – this also in multi-user environments with up to 16 stations and, in real-time with a very fast direct access to the show and a delay-free signal output. There is no waiting for commands to be executed or the need for views to change; even snappy blackouts, synchronous strobe effects and smooth flowing LED walls – at maximum channel count – are now possible in the entertainment industry.

To address the needs of this wide industry and to offer most flexible and economical solutions for both stand-alone control and multi-user systems grandMA comprises now six hardware solutions, all working with the same extensively tested and stable software and one can participate from the user-friendly and fast configuration and set-up of the console as well as show file compatibility within the range. In this range, the grandMA onPC in combination with a Network Signal Processor (NSP) is the most economic unit as well as entry to the grandMA world.

Describe the relationship between the grandMA console and the grandMA offline editor (grandMA onPC), grandMA 3D and grandMA remote
Next to its extensive feature set and networking capabilities grandMA offers comprehensive software tools for standard pc hardware. Those powerful software solutions are fully integrated into the MA network protocol and enable bi-directional data exchange with the console. This means easy set-up and ease of use. And last but not least: those soft-options can be downloaded for free at www.malighting.de.

A labtop with grandMA offline editor (grandMA onPC) with Network Signal Prosecssor (NSP).

Photo: MA Lighting Technology.

How the Network Signal Processor (NSP) works with grandMA
The Network Signal Processor allows for complete integrated grandMA network solutions.

You have mentioned 16,384 parameters. What is the difference between channels and parameters?
It is the ‘new’ way of counting. The grandMA calculates internally all functions (parameters) in 16bit resolution and processes those – depending on the application – as single channel in 8bit resolution (e.g. brightness) or as two DMX channels per function in 16bit resolution (e.g. pan and tilt). A maximum of 16.384 parameters can be distributed in one multi-user-environment, while 32.768 channels (64 DMX lines, 16 NSPs) are required for their processing. Please note that virtual dimmers (e.g. regulation of brightness for LEDs) exist as a parameter but do not have any output as a DMX channel.

Does grandMA work well with DMX controlled video servers?
Due to its flexible and individual configuration and an easy creation of custom fixtures, grandMA is ideal for triggering DMX controlled video servers, as seen in many productions like the Blue Man Group or the last Bon Jovi World Tour ‘Bounce’. But grandMA offers more. The idea of our integrated system is not just to control external devices via DMX but to integrate those tools in our network protocol. The logical step was to present our latest incarnation, grandMA video, at this year’s PLASA. grandMA video is a software-based media server that is fully integrated into the grandMA lighting system. It seamlessly integrates videos, 3D objects and still images into the grandMA lighting show so that all objects can be altered and manipulated live and in real-time in the same intuitive manner as a lighting fixture is controlled from the console. There is even an preview of the media-objects available in your presets at the console. Use it as a digital fixture or as an effect oriented video player. grandMA video is an affordable software-solution that is fully optimized for "off-the-shelf" hardware (PCs and LCD projectors) – but delivers broadcast quality (PAL) or even XGA (1,024 x 768 pixels). And finally, the complete integration into the grandMA network enables straightforward set-up, configuration and use. It is just like plug and play.
With the grandMA multi-media console it is the intention not having many decentralized stations connected via DMX but one comprehensive solution so that the Lighting Designer and Operator remain the captain on the ship.

What do you think is the future for grandMA?
The grandMA product range with its concept of an integrated systems has established new international standards. With the comprehensive network functionality available today one can envision limitless potential for future lighting technology. We are quite ahead and still going strong to design forward-thinking solutions.
Also in future, we want to take increasing user demands into account with our commitment and the power of innovation. grandMA is an open, software-based system and via regular updates grandMA is enhanced with new functions so that the powerful system is constantly increasing.

As an entry to the whole grandMA world, MA has just announced grandMA DVD. A virtual learning course available free of charge. It brings you into grandMA step by step and permits easy programming. In addition, the DVD explains the operating functions and features in detail and includes further information and tools such as network guides, real-life configuration examples and the latest software-versions. grandMA DVD can be ordered free of charge – via our website: www.malighting.de