MA2 showfile programming - Q&A in the chat

[@kainpwnsu]

I'm of the "very, very small minority of people who are just interested in programming." I have found stage lighting fascinating all my life, but never pursued it. I am a computer programmer, and find the macro chaining interesting. THANK YOU for your awesome videos!

[@DawnHub666]

This is amazing - Very involved - Well over my head - Im glad we have guys like u - Making the rave a full experience -

[@rodrigoalves7327]

Shut up when saying this isn't interesting... I have been searching for a youtube channel like yours for months..

[@saunderslx]

me too.

[@rev_dude]

Watching this while rewriting my schools show file(again). We are on eos but I have been able to implement some of your techniques. Thanks for all the ideas!

[@jamiegibsonlx]

Rev_dude I’m doing the Same 😂😂

[@mrblacknl]

at 1.35.38 you are talking about why you have to use the 1 in front of 1073.1: I think its set up like "Console.effect.effectline ", so it works also in multi-console / user configurations

[@christianjackson]

makes sense!

[@lukelissenberg]

It's funny how I used to think working with audio/DAWs was complicated.. thanks for the upload.

[@nadnerb2178]

Thank you so much! I have learned so much just from watching this video, both about Lighting Design, console set up and also a crash course on the MA as I've never used it.

[@SpaceMountainLarry]

Holy smokes! I'm glad I'm a sound guy, this lighting stuff is way over my head xD

[@joemassey1148]

Israel David Lesl

[@johnmcquay82]

I wouldn't know where to start with an MA. I'm getting back into lighting again after not working a lighting desk since '98. DMX was around at that time, but wasn't accessible (affordable) for my School; everything we had was based on 0-10V with dimmer packs...our control desk could do scene queues and fade groups, but that was it. I'm learning again with low cost fixtures, QLC+ with and an External MIDI controller, that in itself is challenging enough....

[@adamsober5390]

SpaceMountainLarry I’m a sound engineer and I lighting programmer. And I’m only 14

[@nicedevices]

@@adamsober5390 Im roughly 9 years old and i build my own moving heads.

[@adamsober5390]

Markus Näslund sound interesting. Send me some videos of them, [e-mail]

[@pastamane]

Props to you. Absolutely admire your work

[@EthanBenjamin]

Anyone trying to figure out how to create the FX Size fader,this is how you do it: First type into the command line 'Stomp Group X" X being the group of lights you want to control then store that as a cue on a temp fader,make sure to store this on an exec page you won't be using for example 100. You then patch a generic dimmer with invert dmx and use this to setup a remote input for the executor you have used then store this at full to another executor on the page you want and thats it. Feel free to ask questions.

[@janhengst5511]

Hey, i got a question according to this FX-Size-fader. How do i have to assign my "Stomp fader" so that it's not been overwritten every time i select another effect? For example: I've selected Beam Circle, faded it out with "my stomp fader", want to select another moving effect for the beams written in another cue. Everytime i select the new effect, it overwrites my stomp and starts at max effect size. How can i give the Stomp fader priority over the selected effects, so that i can bring them up after they've been selected? I hope you can help me! Greetings vom Germany! Jan

[@janhengst5511]

Ah never mind, i've seen you video on how to do it!

[@EthanBenjamin]

Jan hengst hey Man,hope you got it done,make sure both faders (master and DMX remote) are set to super prio

[@chiccolightsmatala5556]

Not trying to be mean here but it wld be nice if ETHAN Benjamin u do a whole tutorial about this.u really go into detail and u nail everything down.christian teachings need u when ur already a Harry potter or a superman.thnx

[@tuckersound]

Thank you again for posting. I really appreciate the time/effort you spent making this video happen

[@4lp4z3ro]

im here for the info

[@xxminecraftxx16]

love your lighting videos and I am always excited for the next upload. please make a detailed video of how to make your colour picker. I love the design and would to like to have it in my show file thanks

[@NhbJunction]

Hey Christian! I was wondering if you could give us a hint on how you made the FX size faders for movement?

[@adrielcaceres2579]

Lo pudiste resolver? me pregunto lo mismo?

[@nealtver]

Hi, Christian! please write the syntax of your “load cue” macro for all the positions. and one more question: if macros with color changes go to programmer? thanks

[@MagicGirlsOnly]

Props on the A-10 model on your amazon wishlist. If I wasn't a broke student, I would buy that for you. Warthog is king!

[@DawnHub666]

1 question - how does the light rig bpm sync to the sound system ?

[@josh512x]

DawntreaderUK He taps it. it's a tap to beat

[@heythatsuzz]

This is so useful! So cool watching how you work man! Thank you!

[@LuvingToryChristman]

Oh, I feel less alone now. You're a wizzard, Harry!

[@ericchan5379]

How can make a layout view like you have all the RGB can select. Is that all are macro with colour picture?

[@jrnjrn8371]

great work! Thank you for sharing your amazing work and insight

[@nealtver]

1:56:40 : what cue contents in effect generator fader 1.9?is it also triggering macro?

[@leifhellberg]

There´s an option to ignore dimmer output i layout view. Yellow ball/Layout Data/Symbol Features

[@dj_legenddrop9518]

Hey Christian! really learned a lot from this video. i started working for a production company a few months ago and have been doing lighting for them ever since. i see i still have a lot to learn but i hope to one day have a show file that works for me just as yours does for you. do you think you could maybe do some tutorials on MA2 Syntax and command line for macros? i would really appreciate it so i could start to learn how to make things like a color pallet and those effect size faders! thanks!

[@jamestucker3661]

Any chance you could toss up a link to your keyboard with the satisfying key click sound. I googled “cherry mx blue”. Also - thank you for your time streaming programming session.

[@waldekmar7149]

how to make ExecButtons Wings, Group, Blocks? So that these buttons work only after lifting the fader (Effect Gen)

[@brandoncarey1476]

Got here late but, never the less. Super stoked!

[@bezumny]

Hello, Very interesting macro of changer colour . Where is I can learn about how ot do and another interesting macro? I am using hog, but sometimes work on ma2 without any macro .thanx

[@WilliamJones-nl5ns]

This has been really useful for me during my studies

[@panpot6087]

I didn't think MA would be so different from Road Hog

[@stevegiovanazzi619]

hi Christian, how are you ? thanks for your tutorials, you help me a lot to make my show file, with amazing feature, there is one thing i didn't figure out, how is the sintax for assing the phase in the effect?, i'm able to put a single value, but i can't put like "0 thru -360" is 4 days im check your video and check all the material there is online, i read many time the manual but i didn't find it. if you can help me will be amazing... thank you man for all the support you give us with your knowledge

[@jonaskromer3458]

Just found it on actlightning. This is the command: Assign $XXXXX /Phase=0..-360 this will put your phase to 0 thru -360

[@gsuberland]

Really interesting. Regarding the off-colour lights you mentioned, is there any way in the application to reconfigure displayed colour balance to compensate for that problem?

[@nbgydf]

Curious how you're doing the FX size faders. I know that you can use a temp fader with a stomp effect (like you said in the video), but that reverses the fader. Any hints on how you're doing it? Is it based off copying a base effect to a target effect? (kinda like your color FX generator?)

[@newbies]

if u found the ans let me know :.was wondering is there way to set low and high value on fader temp. so basically as i move fader low rolls negative and high value positive up..

[@nbgydf]

Well I made it work with copying effects to a target (that was recorded to a temp fader)

[@samuellafond6086]

you can use a custom path in your cue to invert value but when you turn your fader down your cue stop so does stomp ... i need to find a way to get my cue still on at 0 so stomp stay active

[@EthanBenjamin]

First type into the command line 'Stomp Group X" X being the group of lights you want to control then store that as a cue on a temp fader,make sure to store this on an exec page you won't be using for example 100. You then patch a generic dimmer with invert dmx and use this to setup a remote input for the executor you have used then store this at full to another executor on the page you want and thats it. Feel free to ask questions.

[@zachwilkerson4409]

I'm really interested in lighting programming (me)

[@alexe2265]

In your opinion what are the best rendering options for MA3D to get best quality strobe effects in big showfiles?

[@rvbmusicproductions2372]

Hi christian , I have a artnet to 3 dmx interface . Is there a way to get at least one free universe unlocked thru artnet ? Or do you still need an Ma wing or node too unlock it ? And if so ? Could you do a tutorial to get the artnet interface connected ? I got it to work on dot.2 . But i want to learn more thru Ma 2. Greetz from holland

[@mrpumbahstic9126]

hey i have a question you didn't explain about clone source. Once you have the clones sources in setup what do you do with them when you need them or how do you is them? or do u just patch the amount you need?

[@trumpdrums]

hey christan, thanks for sharing all this stuff for free!!! with a circle fx like you show it at 1:02:00, how do you mirror it? Manually with different effect directions for the left and right fixtures or different?

[@christianjackson]

+trumdrum just play around with wings

[@passion4688]

Can u share showfile?? PLS!!!

[@Daan0317]

@02:10:00 Whats the philosophy behind the quelist for the dimmers? Why not a buttonpage for the different types of dimmercues for the fixtures? That would work faster than go go go to go to que 3 for lets say the spots?

[@christianjackson]

+Daan Bogers you can hit five of the physical exec buttons to go through all of the fixtures dim effects at once. The screen does not allow for multitouch presses simultaneously. So each sequence has the same order of effects. First cue is full, second is sine, third is pwm chase, 4th is even odd ramp... Etc. So I can quickly send them all to cue 4 by tapping go simultaneously 3 times from top cue.

[@vincentverweij1053]

Hi Christian, Would it be possible to share the patch and the 3d positions in a showfile. I'm not a fan of you sharing the whole show file with everything already setup because we won't learn anything, but i'm a fan of the rig. Or is this one available at mastages? Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I'm using a full size in a club but with a show that isn't mine and I would really like to train with your rig for making my own show.

[@egh3388]

waited for this video post everyday since it streamed, now watched it all twice to see the reversed stomp fader explained? and there is no explanation... i could tell that ther was a dummy involved but how? what? any tips to try on my own??? have been breaking my head about this for years

[@samuellafond6086]

you made me figure that the size fader you see is an illusion .. its a dummy dimmer fixture with invert dmx in the fixture profile so when the fader is down the dimmer is at 255... you patch that dimmer (remote input setup)to an executor with your stomp cue ... (with Ultra prio. and disabled off on Over.) so when the FX size is at 0 , your dummy dimmer send dmx values 255 to the stomp executor and when your dimmer is at full it send dmx value 0 wich turn off stomp executor ... hope it make sense! explaining all this in english is hard for me

[@egh3388]

I agree, I stumbled uppon the comment on ma-share when people mentioned dmx inputs and it struck me that the dummy is just a dimmer and it does not need to be a temp fader...

[@EthanBenjamin]

But then how would that control size because as soon as the stomp cue is activated,it stomps the effect

[@samuellafond6086]

Ethan Benjamin the cue wich stomp the effect has to be controlled by a temp fader

[@samuellafond6086]

So if you put your fader at 50% its half way from full stomp

[@hectorperaza9640]

i like your videos, where i live we dont have a place to learn this, so most of lightning theme i learned from your videos! thanks a lot,

[@alphaartsnet3988]

Anyone know how to make the lights converge at a point by clicking with your mouse in MA 3D

[@Sagar_Mhatre]

Hello Christian Jackson Please Help me..... I need your help for midi assign Can you Tel me How to Assign Midi Keyboard In GrandMa2 On pc?? I have a Nektar Impact LX61 Midi Keyboard

[@Cheese706]

Thanks for whis video, amazing stuff! Could you tell a little more about what's in the macros for color fx generator? Especially how to make the parameters change on the fly.

[@christianjackson]

+Julia Stecka its basically assigning different values to the effect lkney via command line. And the two colors are placeholder​ presets that are copied from my global color presets

[@Cheese706]

I figured out the colors and other modifiers but they don't work until I start the effect again. I'm new to MA2, is there a command that updates the changes made to the effect that I'm missing?

[@akrsanlighting]

hi can you explain how to do the load cue macro.

[@rdmstrobe4283]

(1/1) Hi. Okay, I made it to the end of the first hour so far :-) I'm pausing to ask a probably a stupid question but it's been bothering me from quite a time now : I've been working for years now with a desk (let's skip brands to avoid console war comments, please) that by default does not release fixtures to their default position (or towards their last active playback, of course) when emptying the programmer. I know this seems really strange to a lot of operators used to the 'regular' behavior but to me it seems quite natural, as that's how the first desk I ever programmed was reacting. Actually, in a busking situation it allows me to work almost only with presets while still being able to clear and keep my programmer empty (or tidy, using Clear masks) : select group/fixtures, (optional : press 2 for a 2 sec fade - or use the user defined default preset time), select a preset. Selected preset is applied to my fixtures in 2 sec and voilà, I can press clear and everything will stay in place until I request new values via the programmer or a playback. I really like that way of working, at least in a busking environment, as I don't have to build endless cuestacks for each preset types... And actually it tends to allow a more busking-friendly way of working in a lot of situations. Of course, I still build complex cues and cuelists for a lot of jobs, but still I almost never need to build a color or position stack.

[@rdmstrobe4283]

(2/2) So, here are my two questions : 1) Is there a way to reproduce that behavior on MA2 ? Freeze is a good step towards it, but I'm still obliged to avoid the Clear button. I'm talking about a simple activable/deactivable setting. If it does not exist, I guess I'll go towards a macro recording the programmer content in a remote, always active playback to achieve this. 2) Am I missing something more fundamental here ? I mean, it took me a long time to understand why so many people used color stacks, for example, but now that I've a better understanding of other systems, it still seems to me more of a drawback of those than a real advantage. Basically, to me preset stacks are just a lazy thing I sometimes implement with an auto Go every 90 sec for the last half hour of a corporate party... So, what am I missing here ? What are the real advantages of working with a well-organized (but time consuming) position stacks screen instead of my well-organized groups and preset screen ?

[@Jounye]

For (1): Create a macro which stores only selected attributes/presettypes into a cue. This could be done using filters. So you would select your presets, run the macro and are good to go.

[@WeSolveCR]

Hello, how do you create fader size master? thanks

[@jonathanevans4623]

Wish my venue had more lights... I have 6 spot, 6 beam, 6 wash and 6 strobe. It's alright but seeing festival rigs makes me sigh. haha

[@XBreesantX]

Is there a way to limit the movements of moving heads in the patch? So if I know, that I can only use them within eg. 90 degrees to the front, because otherwise the light into stage walls, can I do that?

[@christianjackson]

Streuner - Controllerism sure. Go into the fixture type editor and limit the pan and tilt dmx range

[@Jayme]

Now i neec to figure out the FX size fader. -_-

[@christianjackson]

find a way to invert a temp that stomps movement.

[@DjFreakyoriginal]

will u ever upload your showfile?

[@christianjackson]

maybe. Probably not

[@iankeene9532]

When does he start talking about cloning

[@christianlovelady2009]

Hey, why would you have such specific passwords for a GMA showfile? especially considering most people know the standard gma admin user/pass... bypassing the macro hitting the X and logging in through tools

[@christianjackson]

Because my admin user profile is empty with none of the screens set up and no layout views.

[@christianlovelady2009]

Ah ye, makes sense

[@Antoine_Jldt]

Hi can you put in description a link to download this showfile to erxercising us on the ma software ???

[@christianjackson]

+Antoine JAC Prod the show file is not for sharing. This video is to help you make your own

[@sam10dj21]

how are you controlling the multi screen

[@lanehymel1368]

Are you using layout view or are you using the 3d software by MA? Also do you have a video on how to set up FX speed on a fader?

[@plasmatic433]

He is using both the layout view inside of Grandma2 onPC and MA 3D separately.

[@gamingwithtrex6161]

What software are you using?

[@EthanBenjamin]

Has anybody figured out the color wheel +1 thing?

[@suetter]

Ethan Benjamin hey Ethan you found a Solution for this? I thought about using a VAR indicating actual active cw Position and using this with conditions. But I've the feeling there might be an easier Solution :/

[@EthanBenjamin]

I think its just a relative effect on the color wheel for each fixture with a flat high form.

[@niklasbeier2749]

Hey christan, thanks for all this cool stuff for free. J have build my own layout view. But J have a big delay when J pres one macro. Have You any tipps for me ?? Warm greetings from Germany. Sorry for my English ;).

[@sayingyestogod2927]

I'm fairly new to the programming aspect of lighting shows so I was just wondering how you learned about it. Like did anyone teach you or did you just hop in an go for it?

[@christianjackson]

+SayingYestoGod played around with light jockey for a few years then downloaded ma2 after i got to use it once

[@sayingyestogod2927]

I see, do you usually have light shows cued in or do you do most of your shows "on the fly?" Also, how long did it take you to complete your current screen set up? I'm currently in the process of redoing ours for myself as I cannot stand the current configuration. I understand your configuration better and I want to practice it on my own before making it something that I teach my team.

[@mtumix]

Total veraltete Grafik/Technik/Visualisierung.

[@FUXProductions]

talking about worlds there is a pretty cool macro with worlds for example u stored lamp on to a few sequences but almost impossible to get it out fast select the fixture and make control active use macro: store world999/o world 999 delete sequence thru world 1 and all the lamp on is deleted from your sequences and only that

[@FUXProductions]

sorry its delete cues thru

[@szymongwozdz8574]

Soooooo Coooool Video. I work on chamys in my club, and dreaming how to move all this ideas to chamsys software and miniwing.

[@newton2013]

I thought a cat was outside my window for a while there. It was your cat. :)

[@BurkenProductions]

Would be more fun to do this on a raspberry pi and using a php script rather than this messy interface though.

[@plasmatic433]

Anybody know how to create the load cue macro.

[@pmgpriebe]

Load @

[@diegovargas3549]

I have to study something to do that?

[@randomguy7503]

Ahh, is that The Stream missed :D

[@Triceijt]

I ain’t sitting on my ass I’m watching the whole thing

[@andrewgjordeni]

I don't think u work with commands on live editing, aren't u? It is a little bit hard!

[@Whopcap]

Soooo cool!!! And yes, I'm have no life and yes.... I'm really interested in this stuff although I'm more used to mixing consoles :)

[@FlonordIK]

Can anyone explain me what does it mean "Flyout" ?

[@FlonordIK]

anyone ? Christian Jackson ?

[@yingliangnie7038]

Brother, I am your loyal fan, I often just look at your published MA video, I saw your video, I learned a lot, thank you very much! Can you share your Show file for me to study your usage, i really like your Editing program as well as macros. If it can be really grateful!

[@thepyrotechnicpenguin4846]

no

[@bezumny]

perfect stream

[@BlakePlayZGamez]

I wish I New how to run MA onpc

[@thepyrotechnicpenguin4846]

maybe you should watch videos like these and stop complaining

[@ryanwans9129]

At 1:06:20 dat was who commented for a full screen of the cat. Ur welcome😂

[@techcraft_de]

You still haven't explained the Load macro :( (The reason i watched the whole video :D)

[@Sunildjsunil]

hey bro can yu share ur show file ....

[@thepyrotechnicpenguin4846]

no

[@wenqiangcheng9446]

sorry,dont english,but i like you

[@kaiyoungsteadt9692]

hey motley told me to watch you

[@valentinofael]

You're not an expert? ...What a joke! hahahaha

[@christianjackson]

getting better every day, trying!

[@ChappiLD]

Harambe

[@yingliangnie7038]

Brother, I am your loyal fan, I often just look at your published MA video, I saw your video, I learned a lot, thank you very much! Can you share your Show file for me to study your usage, i really like your Editing program as well as macros. If it can be really grateful!