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MA Lighting grandMA Software 5.0 for Downloa
The grandMA console now supports the control for up to 16,384 parameters, each with 8 or 16 bit resolution. As a stand-alone console is still limited to 4096 parameters, the processing of the additional channels and fixtures is facilitated by external Network Signal Processors (NSP). These NSPs provide up to 2048 parameters each and have four DMX output lines. For a full featured grandMA installation with all 16,384 parameters in 16 bit, a total of 64 DMX universes can be provided. This would require 16 NSPs which will do the processing of these parameters as well as the DMX output.
In addition to the well known grandMA offline-editor, the new grandMA onPC software to be used on desktop PCs or notebook computers has been developed. As such, grandMA onPC is optimized for fastest handling, direct access to all grandMA functions and optimized for the use of touch screen based Tablet PCs. Together with one or two Network Signal Processors it controls up to 4096 parameters live and without a ‘real’ console. grandMA onPC as well as grandMA offline-editor may now be used as an ideal backup-system for smaller installations or a fully PC-based show controller.
The offline-editor and grandMA onPC are provided as free download from the website www.malighting.de as before.
Any number of channels or fixtures may now be arranged on screen in the new matrix-style Layout View. Up to 64 views with variable fixture arrangements are available,each showing intensity and colou of the related fixtures. The layout view is ideal for direct and fast selection in squares, lines or freehand shapes and can lso show real output values.
With the new bitmap engine, any black and white or coloured bitmap file may now be imported into the grandMA and displayed as dimmer or color mixing values on a selected number of fixtures. These effects allow scaling, positioning, rotation and tiling of the imported image and are directly linked to one of the layout views. Text entries can be converted directly into bitmaps within the console and stored on a bitmap effect. These are ideal for LED fixtures or larger arrays of lamps or fixtures.
Instead of colour and intensity any other parameters of these fixtures might be controlled by any of two selected presets linked to dark and light values of the loaded bitmap image. This is a unique effect which helps to create movements of any parameter linked to actual bitmaps which have never been seen on stage before.
The completely new organized backup menu now offers a FTP File Server as archive target option as well. Single show files or the complete content of the console's local hard disk may now be copied to a remote PC server in one go. This server can be shared by other consoles or offline/onPC applications. The quick backup or autosave function may be diverted to the file server.
For merging single shows into one or loading parts of existing other shows into the actual one the new Partial Show Read command was introduced. Partial show read creates a new show setup by merging a number of selected channels or fixtures from a source showfile and then loading selected groups, cues, presets, effects and many more show related items. Shows may now be stored on a different stand-alone console to be merged later to one global show for playback.
The existing effects system has been expanded by the new Modulator Effects which are based on single channels' or fixtures' parameters. Modulators are stored and edited just like values in the channel, fixture and tracking sheet and can be stored in cues. Running modulator effects can now be changed or edited on a channel, fixture or parameter base easily without the need to start or stop the complete effect. The existing effects from former shows are still available and might be converted into modulators if desired. The existing link from cues directly to the "old" effects is no longer available.
The Remote Software Update via the network for consoles has be improved by including all Network Signal Processors. Also, the grandMA offline and onPC now offer this feature and can therefore be used for updating consoles and NSPs directly without the need of installation disks.
7th April 2004
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