Unveiled right on time to keep operators busy during the Big Confinement, version 1.1 of the grandMA3 software proves that the Germans, even staying at home, have not been idle lately, indeed. Just 112 days after the official release of version 1.0.0.3, this new version is strongly upgraded with many additional functions, fixes countless bugs.
Even if it does not bear spectacular steps ahead, MA did take the opportunity to rework many parts of his code. A work not necessarily easy to discover at first sight, but which allows to have a very great stability, for both software and graphics, and gives healthy bases for the next evolutions. Among the new features, some have been waiting for since long, while other ones are emerging.
Network
The Network menu is enhanced with Session and Station parameters, and a network update tool, the Network Update.
The new versions for the various devices (consoles, GPU, Nodes and OnPC) are included in the MALighting ZIP files, to be dragged and dropped into the MA update folder. This allows you to update any type of MA product, from any platform.
A new function allows to switch from mode3 to mode2, with the ‘’ SwitchGma2Mode ’’ command. The other way around is impossible, the grandMA2 code system does not allow this implementation
Park/UnPark
The Park and UnPark functions are back, by pressing the Go + and Pause keys twice, much like on the grandMA2. The possibilities of these commands are multiple, working either by projector, or by DMX output, or by attribute category (FeatureGroup).
Layout
New arrangement tools are available, identical to those in the 3D menu.
It is also possible to lock the position of a Layout, or its elements, in order not to accidentally change them.
Cue-Only
The ability to record in Cue-Only is again available, adapted to the Part-Cue browsing structure of the grandMA3
Tracking Distance
Brand new function, the Tracking Distance allows you to lock a value throughout several memories before going back to the previous tracking.
Quite advanced, this setting is a kind of tracking pyramid, which works with a Delta cue or a stop cue, and can even multiply itself.
Screens management
Thanks to this setting, the screens configurations can be adapted to external screens or computer monitors for the OnPC version, and thus recover its screens configuration whatever its screen.
Shortcuts
Long-awaited, keyboard shortcuts are finally making their debut in version 3, thanks to the small ‘ShCuts’ key in the command line.
Interesting bonus: editing these shortcuts is possible and can be found in the Preference & Timing menu.
3D
Small additional option in 3D, with the possibility of hiding and locking certain elements of the patch thanks to the columns ‘’ 3D selectable ’’ and ‘’ 3D Visible ’’.
Outputs configuration
To simplify the reading of DMX output configurations, the ’’Output Configuration’’ menu now has three playback modes, ‘’Condensed’’, ‘’XLR Only’’ and ‘’Full’’. For enhanced clarity, the options are represented by vibrant colors. DMX mode is the one used by default, rather than RDM mode.
Web remote
The configuration of the ’’Web Remote’’ items is improved by a dedicated menu, as well as the possibility of managing the output resolution in order to limit the bandwidth.
Universal Preset
The creation of Universal Preset is now possible thanks to the Preset Pool Preset option.
grandMA3 Extension
For those with grandMA3 fader wings, their connection is via the MA-Net network, and the settings in the ‘’Extension Configuration’’ menu. Note that it is possible to add such an extension per FullSize console, two for the Light and three for the Replay-Unit.
Changes
Quite a lot of changes have occurred, including the famous use of long press on the directory boxes now limited to recording and no longer allowing an “on the fly” update. In addition, in the list of available screen views, a new tab appeared with a classification and sorting of all available views.
Corrections
More than a hundred corrections were made, the complete list is available here on the official MALighting Website
Other expected features, such as the Move In Black or the Time Code Generator, are not yet included, but be assured that they are planned for next version.
MALighting thus participates in the maintenance of the lampies’ high spirits, they thus find what to work on and improve themselves, even during confinement boring times!
