German lighting control console manufacturer; grandMA3 controls up to 250,000 DMX parameters across 64 universes, standard in 80% of European film productions.
Technical Details
The grandMA series forms the core of the product portfolio: The grandMA3 full-size processes up to 250,000 DMX parameters across 64 DMX universes at a refresh rate of 44 Hz. The console features 90 motorized faders, 88 executor buttons, and two 15.6-inch touchscreens with 1920×1080 pixels. The internal processor runs on a Linux operating system and has 32 GB of RAM. Smaller variants like the grandMA3 compact (20 faders) or grandMA3 light (12 faders) cater to different production scales.
History & Development
Michael Adenau founded MA Lighting in 1983, initially focusing on theater technology. In 1989, the first digital lighting console, "Scancommander," was released, followed by the first grandMA generation in 1995. The grandMA2 (2008) established itself as an industry standard due to its networking capabilities and backup systems. In 2019, the grandMA3 series was launched with improved processor performance and expanded effect engines. Today, over 80% of all European film productions utilize MA systems.
Practical Application in Film
On "Blade Runner 2049" (2017), DoP Roger Deakins controlled complex LED installations for the futuristic city scenes using grandMA2 consoles. "1917" (2019) employed MA systems for precise synchronization of 400+ LED panels during continuous camera movements. Typical workflow: The Gaffer pre-programs lighting scenes (cues), while live control during shooting is managed via executor buttons or timecode synchronization. Advantage: Reproducible lighting and quick adjustments between takes. Disadvantage: High acquisition costs and a steep learning curve for operators.
Comparison & Alternatives
MA Lighting primarily competes with ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls) and their Eos family, as well as Chamsys MagicQ systems. While ETC traditionally focuses on theater applications, MA concentrates on mobile productions and network integration. Smaller productions often use Chamsys (more affordable) or software-based solutions like Lightkey. MA systems justify their cost for 100+ controlled fixtures or complex moving light setups. For simple film sets, DMX interfaces with appropriate software are often sufficient.