Signal distribution made easier

MA Lighting has released two tools for signal distribution said to make daily life easier for grandMA3 users.

The grandMA3 I/O Node and grandMA3 I/O Node DIN-Rail can be used for receiving and sending external signals. They come in the same housing as a grandMA3 2/4 Port Node DIN-Rail and are also available as PoE versions. The displays show the status of all input and output signals. Once the units receive MIDI, Timecode or DC Remote signals, these are available immediately throughout the grandMA3 lighting control system and can be used in any grandMA3 onPC or console. The same applies for transmitting MIDI or Timecode signals. Both units can be used to connect locally with external signals to integrate them into the MA-Net3 workflow.

grandMA3 viz-key is described by MA Lighting as the easiest way to cross-connect between any scale of grandMA3 lighting control system and compatible 3rd-party visualisers. Users can connect the grandMA3 viz-key with the visualisation computer and it will enable all necessary parameters for visualisation. All compatible 3rd-party manufacturers are MA-Net3 members on the network and can visualise all granted parameters instantly. grandMA3 viz-key also enables all non-granted parameters for visualisation.

The manufacturer has also unveiled grandMA3 software version 1.4. This release rolls out enhancements that reportedly improve the basic workflow, as well as new features that “enrich the overall lighting control experience”. Additionally, it introduces the new concepts of Recipes and MAgic (MA grid interpolation concept). The MAtricks have been expanded from a Selection Tool to a full three-dimensional manipulation tool for Phase, Speed, Fade, Delay and several Invert Value and Invert Encoder functionality. The streamlined UI – known as Phaser Editor – is now available straight from the Encoder bar and hosts a step editor. The Programmer and Cue-Parts can host Recipes for pre-arranging events, changing ingredients and re-cooking single parts or the whole event. Along with an optimised 3D window, there are different selection modes to copy any selection straight into the grid view. The colour picker improvements for additive colour mixing also allow generic use of GDTF colour information to match colours of different fixture types.