MA Lighting Releases grandMA2 Software 3.6.1.1

Get your download ready, MA Lighting recently released another update, version 3.6.1.1.  The main focus of this release, Getting more things working in Mode2 for the grandMA3 hardware.  Especially for the compact and compact XT models of grandMA3.  MA was also able to kill a couple more bugs too. 

NOW…

Before you take 3.6.1.1 live, play with it, read the release notes.  Make sure what you need to do works properly before even considering taking this latest version to the real world.  Of, if you are like some people, jump head first and go for it. Def check out the release notes and happy downloading.

For us US based people, ACT Lighting has not OFFICIALLY released it yet. Just something to keep in the back of your head.

To download 3.6.1.1 and to READ THE RELEASE NOTES, visit www.malighting.com.

MA Lighting Releases grandMA2 Console Software 2.5.3 [6.6]

MA Lighting announced the release of version 2.5.3 [6.6[ of the grandMA 2 console software. Important note: Since the release of version 2.3 and the introduction of divorced values and effect values, older show files may not be 100% compatible with the new version of the software.

Main Features of 2.5.3 [6.6]:

• Sheet Masks
• The sheet masking has been revised and extended. The Feature Mask from previous versions has been improved and can be found by setting the right hand side of the new sheet mask options to: Show if in Saved Attributes, then pressing the ‘Define Mask’ button to choose what features or attributes to display.
• Filter
• Store filter, At filter, Circular Copy filter and link defined filter have been merged together to one attribute filter and can be stored and recalled by the filter pool. The filter pool is a global pool used by all users.
• There are a ton of new features with regards to filters
• grandMA Show Converter
• Users can convert grandMA series 1 show files to grandMA series 2
• grandMA Show Converter will convert only show data.
• There are some other limitations when converting show files.
• Fixed Bugs and improved Functionality
• There are three pages of bug fixes

In addition upgrades to the series 2 consoles, MA has also updated features for the MA VPU, grandMA 3d and grandMA series 1 consoles. You can read all of the release notes and download the software update from MA’s website, www.malighting.com. As with all software updates from MA, this is a free download.

MA Lighting Release grandMA2 Software Version 2.4.1[6.6]

MA Lighting has announced the release of version 2.4.1 [6.6], just a few short weeks after announcing the release of 2.4.0 at PLASA.  Looking over the change log, it looks like a bunch of bugs were fixed.  No new software functions were added to this release.

There is an important notice for grandMA2 consoles out, more from MA Lighting:

We are sorry to inform you that due to an issue with the initial BIOS, we ask grandMA2 owners of the following consoles to get in touch with their distributor or MA directly.

• gMA2 full-size S/N 240 -325
• gMA2 light S/N 555 – 793
• gMA2 ultra-light S/N 250 – 369

If you are in the states, contact A.C.T. Lighting for more information if your desk falls into those serial numbers. You can visit MA Lighting’s support page to download version 2.4.1 [6.6] for your desk.

 

MA Lighting Releases grandMA Software 2.2.0 [6.6]

MA Lighting just announced the release of their latest software update for the grandMA2 control surface.  The update is intended for the the entire range of MA Lighting products, the grandMA 2 desk, grandMA 3D and MA VPU hardware devices.

Some of the new features:

• New help functions.
• Backup menu, load only “userprofiles”
• Better work flow when using “at filter”
• DMX Tester has a new “unpark” button

There are a ton of updates and bug fixes in the software update.  Read all of the changes in the Release Notes.  You can download version 2.2.0 [6.6] of the software update from MA Lighting’s website www.malighting.com.

MA Lighting Releases v2.1.0 [6.6] of grandMA2 Software

It’s the Holiday Season and MA Lighting has a special present for you, a software update to your grandMA 2 desk!  MA Lighting just announced the release of version 2.1.0 [6.6] of the desk software for the grandMA2, grandMA series 1 desk, grandMA 3D and the MA VPU.

One of the main features of the new desk software is the implementation of the brand new grandMA2 Remote App for your iOS devices. MA Lighting recently released their latest version of the iOS app for the new grandMA2 software and in 2.1.0, it is full implemented!

Some of the other features that version 2.1.0 [6.6] brings:

• Partial show read
• DMX Tester
• Full configuration for MA VPU
• RDM first implementation
• Art-Net in / Pathport implemented

You can read more about the changes and updates in the software by reading over the release notes.  To download and install the new software, visit www.malighting.com.

Tuesday Twitter Trivia – grandMA’s Nice Side

This weeks Tuesday Twitter Trivia question comes from my interview with Brian Dowd and Joe Cabera from ACT Lighting about the grandMA2.  We talked about some of the differences between the grandMA and the grandMA2.  Some pretty impressive stuff if you ask me.

If you have downloaded and listened to the third episode of the iSquint Podcast, then you should have the answer already as it was mentioned in the interview.

So, this weeks Tuesday Twitter Trivia Question is:

What console key on the grandMA2 has been removed and replaced to make the console more polite?

Easy enough if you listened to the interview.  As normal, please respond with your answer via a Direct Massage through twitter @iSquint. This weeks winner gets an iSquint Prize Pack.

iSquint Podcast: Episode 3 – Squintin’ at the grandMA2

In this, the third episode of the iSquint Podcast, I got a chance to sit down with Brian Dowd and Joe Cabera from ACT Lighting to talk about the grandMA2 lighting desk. Joe and Brian were kind enough to take time out of their very busy trade show duties to sit down and explain to me some of the differences between the grandMA and the grandMA2 hardware and software.

Cat West and Joe Cabera released a preview of the interview that we did on their website called ConsoleCocktails.com titled Squintin’ at the grandMA2. You can check out the video at their site as well as ACT Lighting’s Blog. And no, Joe did not lose his legs during the interview!

Don’t forget, you can subscribe to the iSquint podcast through iTunes.

Side Note: I have heard from some readers that there is a little game that they like to play with the iSquint Podcast. The third episode unintentionally continues to provide that level of entertainment.  Let’s just say, the grandMA2 is impressive. ;)

[podcast]http://isquint.net/wp-content/uploads/podcast/iSquint.net_Podcast-Episode_3.mp3[/podcast]

ConsoleCocktails Releases Cocktail #3 – Squintin’ at the grandMA2

During LDI 2009, I got a chance to visit one of the busiest rooms during the week long conference and show at the Orlando Convention Center, The grandMA2 Demo and Training room. I sat down and did an interview with Joe Joe Cabrera ][ and Brian Dowd from ACT Lighting for a future episode of the iSquint Podcast. While I was recording just the audio, Cat recorded the interview with her video camera and produced the next episode of the ConsoleCocktails.com, Squintin’ at the grandMA2.

This is just a preview of our complete interview that will be available on the next episode of the iSquint Podcast coming out later this month. I want to thank Joe, Brian and Cat for taking time out of the crazy busy schedule at LDI to talk with me and go over the grandMA2.

Up Close and Personal with the grandMA2 with Series 2 Software

We had a chance to get a close up view of the grandMA2 full size running series 2 software the other day.  The grandMA2 consoles have already begun to ship.  But series 2 software is still in the works.  While it is very close to being released, the new software is hoping to be released later this year or early next year.

We had a chance to sit down and take a look at the new desk with a version of the new software. There are some pretty sexy new things on the grandMA2 such as the multi-touch display for mixing and shaping a fixture, the ability to run series 1 or series 2 software and of course, the 30 motorized faders. Our favorite change on the console is the enter button.  While the button still operates as normal, the label has changed from Enter to Please, so the syntax is even closer to English or what what you might hear over the headset, “Give me Channel 1 at 50 Please”. That is German engineering for you!

Here are just a couple of photos and a quick video that we put together on the grandMA2 Full Size with Series 2 software.

[nggallery id=15]

MIA: grandMA2 With Series 2 Software

For to long we have been waiting for news on the release of the grandMA2.  Well, that has come and gone.  The grandMA2 may be out and in the wild, it is lacking one important thing, Series 2 software that the console was designed for! The grandMA2 hardware may be out on tours and in some production houses right now, most likely all of them are running series 1 software as the grandMA2 hardware can switch between series 1 and series 2.

We hear that there are versions of series 2 software running around and is VERY close to release, but it is not production ready. We have heard that current version of the Series 2 software are very close to being complete, the software is just to “safe” for live production use yet.

We give props to MA Lighting for not releasing series 2 software wen it is not ready.  While we would have loved to see the new software sooner, we would rather have software that works correctly the first time and not need constant updating with fixes and patches from software that is just not ready.

Look for more information about the grandMA2 and series 2 software in the near future!