South African technical supplier, Stage Effects Group, has purchased a grandMA3 full-size for their shows and yours.
There is great excitement in the air for company owner Theo Papenfus and director Erik de Bruin, who recently took ownership of a new grandMA3 full-size console from DWR Distribution.
Having seen grandMA3 specified on more and more international riders, it made sense to go this route. “While we are definitely buying rider orientated gear to at least have the market on our side, this is also for our shows,” explained Erik. “We’ve had a grandMA2 console for quite a while now and it will also be used as our backup desk should we run a show in Mode 2. If you look at the MA history, both grandMA and grandMA2 desks are user friendly and grandMA3 will be too. We look forward to enjoying this desk the same way we did our previous console.”
Robert Izzett from DWR is thrilled for the company and believes it to be a good decision. “There are only a few grandMA3 full-size consoles in the country and generally, when there is a big international act, at least two are specified,” says Rob. “Stage Effects are an awesome bunch of guys who have stayed the same humble people over the years and I think this investment is wonderful for the company. Stage Effects has always been very strong in lighting and this just reinforces it. They do so much more than people know, and just get on with it, working on festivals, corporate and television work.”
Brand new to the Stage Effects warehouse, the team are discovering all the features grandMA3 has to offer. “But one of the main things I like about this console is the possibility to deal with MVR files,” Erik says. “It literally took me two or three minutes to import one of my previous shows that was drawn out in Vectorworks. That was amazing and I couldn’t believe how quick and easy it was. Even with no experience with the grandMA3. I watched half a video tutorial and there it was, on the desk. Pretty cool.”
The grandMA3 full-size console, the flagship of the range, is designed for professionals. The assignable custom area and a dedicated master area provide fingertip access to powerful functionality. Add the 120 physical playbacks and 16 assignable x-keys and the grandMA3 full-size console offers the most flexible playback platform MA Lighting has ever produced!
Erik looks forward to taking this ‘puppy’ on the road. He adds that any rental companies wanting to dry hire a grandMA3 are welcome to contact Stage Effects who will be happy to help.