Lighting and control
MA Lighting grandMA3 full-size
Trace patch to physical output, check the actual sACN master and restore show data without unintentionally replacing venue routing.
Ask GLMedia about renting MA Lighting grandMA3 full-size for your event. Availability and configuration are subject to confirmation.
Model and purpose
- Manufacturer
- MA Lighting
- Model
- MA Lighting grandMA3 full-size
- Model / software scope
- 4010500; menu procedures based on grandMA3 2.5
- Base control capacity
- 20480 parameters in grandMA3; 8192 in Mode2
- Connections
- 6 DMX outputs + 1 DMX input; 3 etherCON/RJ45; 6 USB
- Power / environment
- 100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz; maximum 300 VA; 0–40 °C; 44 kg
A console for programming and playing complex lighting shows, with a large control surface for cues, fixtures and live playback. Parameter capacity, DMX universe mapping and physical connectors are separate planning decisions. This guide covers the full-size model; it does not transfer its capacity to light, CRV or onPC systems.
Prepare your rental inquiry
- Date, city, venue and setup, event and pickup schedule.
- Intended use, area dimensions and equipment already supplied by the venue or production.
- Show platform and version, fixture profiles, universe count and required outputs.
- Operator, connections, backup and replacement equipment to be considered.
Specify equipment only or whether setup, programming, operation and strike are also needed. Scope is confirmed in the proposal.
You do not need a final equipment list: tell us the result you want and the part you need help with. Availability and scope are confirmed in the proposal.
Features and connections
The hardware includes 30 motorized faders, 120 separate playbacks, 16 assignable x-keys and an integrated UPS. The power input is powerCON TRUE1. DisplayPort, MIDI, timecode and audio connectors have distinct functions; an audio XLR is not a DMX output.
The console can send Art-Net or sACN over the selected network interface and DMX over configured XLR ports. A generic network node can expose physical universes but does not by itself add control parameters to a console system. Check used and available parameters in the actual show, rather than dividing capacity into a fixed universe count.
Prepare the show copy, matching fixture profiles/modes, planned universe map, suitable DMX/network cables and power distribution. A backup station needs its own tested output configuration and compatible software. Members of one session must share the same Streaming Version.
Prepare the system
- Record the model, installed software and whether the console is running grandMA3 or Mode2. The menu paths below are for grandMA3 2.5. Save a named copy before patch, network or recovery changes.
- Place the console on a stable support with room for screens, drawer and ventilation. Inspect grounded power, network connections and cables. The built-in UPS is not a verified runtime or a substitute for show backups and a planned shutdown.
- Agree on the network interface, IP plan, master station and node routing before connecting to an active system. Test with an isolated fixture or agreed rehearsal circuit at low intensity, leaving the rest of the rig under its established control.
Questions and troubleshooting
Values change in the show, but an XLR output is silent. What should I check?
A patched universe is not automatically the universe assigned to the physical socket. Identify the actual device and port.
- Confirm the fixture's profile, mode, start address and intended universe in the patch. Check actual output values and that the show has enough granted parameters before changing cabling.
- Open Menu > Connector Configuration. Match the hardware by name and IP address, then inspect the relevant port: Out sends DMX without RDM; RDM sends DMX with RDM; In receives and Off is disabled. The XLR field defines the universe.
- Use Show Connectors to identify the full-size rear sockets on the letterbox display. With a known-good cable and terminated test line, compare one port/fixture at a time. Record the configuration and any error before changing modes; do not patch a new universe merely to compensate for a wrong socket assignment.
The session is connected, but sACN is not reaching the node. What matters?
In a session, network DMX is transmitted by the master station. Check status and protocol configuration on that station, not only on an operator station.
- In Network, identify the master and confirm the expected members. Compare Streaming Version and interface/IP settings. A green session membership does not establish correct sACN universe routing.
- On the master, open Menu > DMX Protocols > sACN. Check Interface/Preferred IP, Enable Output and an Enabled output row. Compare Local Universe, Amount and sACN Universe with the node. For unicast, verify Destination IP; for a single station, check Send sACN If Idle Master.
- Confirm Setup Mode is not leaving the network in configuration-only operation. Compare the row's transmitting indication with the receiver's actual values. In rehearsal, verify the backup station's interface and output settings before a planned takeover. Preserve messages and configuration if output fails; do not start by power cycling or switching software modes.
Loading a show changed the output routing. How do I prepare recovery?
Show Data and device/protocol configuration are distinct load segments. Selecting all segments can replace the venue's port or protocol assignments.
- Before loading, save the current show under a new name and keep a USB copy using Backup's drive selector. The manual states that an external-drive save also saves internally. Check for save-failure or partial-save warnings.
- In Backup > Load, inspect Show Data, Local Settings, Output Stations and DMX Protocols. An unchecked segment retains the currently loaded settings; Output Stations includes port settings, while DMX Protocols includes Art-Net/sACN. Choose the segments according to the documented recovery plan.
- Save Device Configuration separately when needed for the port/protocol plan. Shows last saved in 1.8.8.2 or earlier lack those configuration segments; do not assume a legacy file restores them. Test the backup copy and output map on a rehearsal system with the intended software before relying on recovery during a show.
Quick reference
| Layer | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Parameters | Used versus available capacity in the actual show and software mode |
| XLR | Correct device, port mode and assigned universe |
| sACN | Master, interface, enabled row and universe mapping |
| Recovery | Saved show, selected load segments and device configuration |
Precautions
- Operate in the documented temperature range and keep the console dry and ventilation unobstructed. Do not carry it by the monitor wing; lift the wing with both hands to avoid twisting. Verify the support and handling plan for its weight.
- Do not open covers or service the internal UPS battery. Qualified technicians must handle faults. For cleaning, shut down using the Power key, switch off and follow the manufacturer's isolation instructions; use a dry cloth, with no liquid or spray cleaner.
- A console, node or protocol change can affect live fixtures. Rehearse output loss and recovery on an agreed system; verify movement clearance and the receiving fixtures' loss policies. Do not assume a connected backup or UPS alone guarantees continuous control.
Terms on this page
- DMX
- A data protocol controlling lighting functions; each model defines what its channels mean.
- RDM
- Management communication for querying or configuring compatible equipment over a compatible path.
- Patch
- Assignment of fixture, profile, address and universe in the control system.
Documentation and sources
- grandMA3 full-size — Art.No. 4010500
- grandMA3 2.5 — DMX Port Configuration
- grandMA3 2.5 — sACN Menu
- grandMA3 2.5 — Session
- grandMA3 2.5 — Save / Load Show Files
- grandMA3 consoles — Safety, manual 2.0
Reviewed October 22, 2026. Hardware specifications come from the exact full-size product page; menu procedures use manual 2.5. The console safety source is identified separately by version. Installed software, accessories, UPS condition and recovery behavior remain checks for the actual system.