grandMA2 → grandMA3
Coming from grandMA2? Concepts mostly carry over, but the names and the details moved. This map points each grandMA2 term at its grandMA3 equivalent and flags where the behavior genuinely differs. Every row shows how well-attested the mapping is.
| grandMA2 | grandMA3 | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| BlindEdit (Blind + hold / BlindEdit keyword) | Preview | community MA2's BlindEdit was a second, always-blinded, isolated programmer used for background updates/copies/merge-stores. MA3 has no separate BlindEdit mode — Preview is its functional successor: it isolates the programmer from live output so you can run through sequences/cues without affecting output. A forum moderator states 'Currently, MA3 Preview is MA2 BlindEdit and nothing more.' · source |
| Blind (Blind keyword / Blind key) | Blind | official Concept carries over almost unchanged: Blind suppresses the live programmer output so you can program without putting content live; it is a toggle on both platforms. In MA2 the Blind key also accessed BlindEdit on a 2-second hold; MA3 separates that into the Preview keyword. |
| Prvw / Preview + PreviewExecutor (preview a playback on encoders) | Preview (Prvw) | official Name and key abbreviation (Prvw) are retained, but the behavior shifted. In MA2, Prvw opened a preview encoder bar and Prvw+executor previewed that executor; PreviewEdit (Prvw Prvw) was its own edit mode. In MA3, Preview is a full isolated environment for sequences/cues (press Prvw + tap a sequence pool object) and absorbs the MA2 BlindEdit role. Double-press Prvw toggles between preview and live. |
| Effects (Effect pool / effect engine: Absolute, Relative, Selective, Template modes) | Phasers (multi-step values on a preset/cue) | community grandMA3 has no standalone effect engine like MA2's effect pool. Dynamics are created as 'phasers' — adding two or more steps to a preset or cue produces a repeating, dynamic output with Width/Transition/Accel/Decel step layers and Speed/Phase/Measure phaser layers. Community sources call phasers 'the effects and chasers of grandMA3.' IMPORTANT: do NOT confuse with the MA3 'Effect' keyword, which is unrelated (it is a custom fixture ID type, not the dynamics engine). · source |
| Effect pool objects (on Save as grandMA3 conversion) | Preset pool 22 (All 2), renamed 'Effects'; effects become Accel/Decel + relative-layer step values | official Official converter behavior: when a MA2 show is saved as grandMA3, effect pool objects are converted into preset pool 22 (which is renamed 'Effects'); MA2 effects are converted into acceleration/deceleration values, and Stomp becomes a hard 0 value with a single step on the relative layer. Only simple predefined effect forms convert. |
| Worlds (World keyword; World 1 = all fixtures + attributes) | Worlds (in the Worlds pool; World 1 = 'Full', locked) | official Direct carry-over concept: worlds limit access to fixtures/attributes, with a locked default world #1 that contains everything (MA2 'World 1 is fixed by default and includes all parameters'; MA3 default world 1 is named 'Full' and is locked). Worlds are confirmed to convert during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export. |
| Filters / Masks (World, Filters, and Masks) | Filters (Filters pool; Input/Output filters, At Filter, sheet masking) | official Filters carry over and are expanded in MA3: they block attributes/layers from being stored or recalled and drive sheet masking. MA3 adds Input vs Output filter assignment on pool objects and a callable At Filter. Filters convert in the official Save-as-grandMA3 export. |
| Groups | Groups (Groups pool inside the Data Pool) | official Direct equivalent; groups convert one-to-one during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export. |
| Presets | Presets (Preset Pools; Input/Output filters, recipes) | official Concept retained; presets with values and timings convert during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export (presets that contain only timings without values do not convert yet). MA3 presets gain recipes and filter assignment. |
| Sequences, Cues, and Cue Timings | Sequences + Cues (Sequences pool; cue sequence sheet) | official Direct carry-over; sequences, cues, and cue timings convert during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export. |
| Macros | Macros (Macros pool inside the Data Pool) | official Macros convert during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export, BUT macro command lines are NOT converted — macro syntax must be verified/rewritten manually in grandMA3 because the keyword/syntax differs between platforms. |
| Layouts (Layout View) | Layouts (Layouts pool / Layout viewer) | official Layouts carry over and convert during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export. |
| Timecodes | Timecodes (Timecodes pool) | official Direct equivalent; timecodes convert during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export. |
| Special Masters (Grand, Rate, Speed, Playback masters) | Masters | official Official converter statement: 'Special Masters are converted into Masters in grandMA3.' MA3 unifies MA2's special-master concept under the general Master keyword/master objects. A precise per-master-type name mapping is not pinned to a single readable source (see gaps). |
| SpeedGroups / EffectSpeedGroup + Rate masters (effect speed control) | SpeedMaster | inference In MA3, phaser playback speed is controlled per-attribute by assigning it to a SpeedMaster, which can then be assigned to executors. This is the MA3 home for MA2's separate effect-speed / rate master plumbing. Marked inference: derived from the MA3 phaser+SpeedMaster docs and the MA2 effect-speed keyword existing, not from a source that states the bridge in one sentence. |
| Object appearances (object colors) | Appearances (Appearance pool) | official Official converter statement: 'Object appearances are converted into the grandMA3 appearance pool.' MA3 formalizes per-object colors/appearances into a dedicated Appearance pool with the Appearance keyword. |
| Info (object Info text) | Note | official Official converter statement: 'Infos in objects are converted to notes in grandMA3.' The MA2 'Info' attached to objects becomes a MA3 'Note'. |
| Barndoor attributes | Shaper attributes | official Official converter statement: 'Barndoor attributes are converted to shaper attributes in grandMA3 for visualization.' The MA2 barndoor attribute name becomes the MA3 shaper attribute. |
| Executors and Pages | Executors + Pages (Pages live inside the Data Pool) | official Executors and pages carry over and convert during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export, but only executors that have sequences or selective effects assigned are converted. In MA3, Pages are organized within the Data Pool alongside other pools. |
| DMX-, MIDI-, and Analog Remotes | Remotes (Remote keyword) | official Remotes convert during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export, but their type and target are NOT converted and must be re-set in MA3. |
| Patch / Setup, DMX Profiles, DMX Universes | Patch + DMX Profiles + DMX Universes | official Core patch data carries over: Patch (Setup), DMX Profiles, and DMX Universes all convert during the official Save-as-grandMA3 export. (Fixture types with more than 8192 channel sets in an attribute lose channel sets beyond the 8192nd.) |
| Channel (Channel key / Channel keyword — conventional dimmer channels) | Fixture (and the Channel keyword as an alias) | inference MA2 strongly distinguishes 'Channel' (conventional/dimmer) from 'Fixture' (multi-attribute). MA3 treats everything as a fixture in the patch and the programmer prompt is [Fixture]; a Channel keyword still exists. Marked inference: the prompt/patch evidence is from MA3 docs and the MA2 Channel-vs-Fixture key doc, but no single source states the bridge sentence verbatim. |
| Tracking / Cue Only (store options) | Tracking + Cue-Only (cue tracking model) | inference Both consoles are tracking consoles; the cue-only concept persists. MA3 documents tracking with dedicated Break / Cue-Only / Shield / Distance behaviors. Marked inference for the direct bridge: built from the MA2 store-options doc and the MA3 cue_tracking docs, not a single migration statement. |
| MATricks (Groups / Wings) — selection subdivision in effects | MAtricks (Grid: Block / Group / Wings / Width; Layers: Phase/Speed/Delay/Fade From/To) | inference The MAtricks name and the selection-subdivision idea carry over and are expanded in MA3: MAtricks divides a selection into sub-selections (Block, Group, Wings, Width) and applies From/To layer values (Phase, Speed, Delay, Fade) that feed phasers. MA2 had MATricksGroups / MATricksWings keywords for related selection math. |
| Clone | Clone | inference Clone keyword/concept (copy programmed data from one fixture/selection to another) exists on both platforms with the same intent. |
| Oops (undo) | Oops | inference Undo keyword/key retains the same name and purpose on both platforms. |
| Highlight / Solo | Highlight / Solo (keywords + masters) | inference Highlight and Solo programming aids carry over with the same names; MA3 also exposes Highlight/Lowlight/Solo as masters. Marked inference for the bridge (shared keyword names across both docs). |
| X-keys (Xkeys: X5, X6, X15, X16) | Quickeys (NOT auto-converted) | inference The official converter explicitly states the MA2 Xkeys X5/X6/X15/X16 are NOT converted to grandMA3. The general MA3 home for user-assignable instant keys is Quickeys, but this replacement is an inference, not stated by MA; treat MA2 X-key macros as needing manual rebuild in MA3. |
| Mode2 / SwitchTograndMA2Software (running MA2 software on MA3 hardware) | SwitchTograndMA2Software keyword (Mode2) | official Not a feature mapping but a real transition bridge: a grandMA3 station can be switched to 'Mode2' to run grandMA2 software via the SwitchTograndMA2Software keyword (shortcut SwgMA2 / Sw). The reverse is SwitchTograndMA3Software. This is also the environment in which the MA2 'Save as grandMA3' converter runs. |
How to read provenance. official = grounded in MA documentation;
community = from the MA forum / trainers;
inference = reasoned by bridging two
separately-documented facts. Always confirm on
help.malighting.com.