"DJ Iron Man" EDM Lighting | GrandMA3 Timecode Show | VBS 2025
Last summer, I had the opportunity to program a timecode EDM show for our annual Kids event! Had a blast organizing LED wristbands for the event and doing a real live timecode show for the first time!
Looking back, there are parts I feel I could have done better, but the audio track used for the show actually changed multiple times leading up to the event including the day before...
GrandMA3 MOBILE APP?? - Try G3Link, the Best MA3 Upgrade
Today, I'm sharing my absolute favorite add-on for the GrandMA3 software! The G3Link mobile app is an awesome tool that enables you to remotely control the lighting console from anywhere in the room - using your phone or tablet!
In this video, I show you how the app works, what it can do, and talk about when you may not be able to use it for network-related reasons.
GrandMA3 Phasers Pt 1 - 1D Phasers
Stop wishing you understood phasers and let's make it happen! There are two types of phasers - 1 dimensional and 2 dimensional - and this video is going to tell you everything you need to know about 1D phasers, as well as working through several examples so we can practice putting that information to use!
This video was recorded on MA3 v2.3.2.0
Real Show File Building - Recipe Presets
If you've been wanting to get an accurate look at what the process is like to set up all these presets like I've talked about using before - here it is! I'm working on a brand new show file, so here's a quick video about what me creating all these is, with exactly what goes into each preset and the fastest way to do it.
How I Use Presets for Programming in Recipes
Want to see someone else's preset pool layout and an example of how to set up presets for programming in recipes? Here's mine! And as always, I explain not only what I'm doing and how but also the reasoning behind it and what you need to think about to create a workflow for programming in recipes.
Real-Time Light Programming - Every Decision Explained
If you've ever wanted to watch somebody program out a song, start to finish, on MA3, here's your opportunity! I explained in detail my thought process, what exactly I was doing, and why from both a technical and creative perspective as I went, just like I would if I was training someone in person!
Speed Masters and Live Phaser Speed Workflow Tips
If you have ANY questions about MA3 phaser playback speed control, speed masters, sequence speed masters, how they all interact, you will find the answers in this video! I'm going over speed scale, syncing speed masters, and some different workflows for managing speed overall in your show file.
This video was recorded on MA3 v2.3.1.1
Ten Minutes to Learn 4 Phasers That Will Level Up Your Lighting
Quick-and-easy guide to making four different super impressive-looking phasers people have been asking about online. These are tremendously fun and I'm excited to share how easy they are!
This video was recorded on GrandMA3 version 2.2.5.0
My Phaser Workflow - Using Recipes for FASTER Programming
GrandMA3 recipes and phasers are both a unique challenge coming from other lighting systems, but when you understand how they both work, you can harness their combined power to develop a much faster, more efficient workflow, by understanding what attributes need to be stored in your templates and which can be quickly manipulated in recipes.
This video was recorded on GrandMA3 version 2.2.5.0
ChatGPT and Grok Tested on Lua for MA3 - What Really Happened
AI is taking over our everyday lives, and people everywhere are discussing its usefulness in many different areas. I decided to try it out for myself with Lua and MA3 API, and I also compared ChatGPT and Grok to see which one worked better. Here's what I found.
Lua for MA3 Custom UI Elements Pt 3 - A Streamlined Method
At this point, I'm assuming you know how to build a custom UI element, so I'm going to show you how to make a streamlined function to make your custom UI element easily reusable in different ways! It will function similarly to MessageBox(), where you put in information to customize it differently each time you use it.
Learn Lua for MA3 - Episode 8: Loops x Conditionals (The BEST Part of Coding!)
In this video we're going to be going over the two types of conditional loops and how to best use each to your advantage. After demonstrating the problem their existence solves, I'll thoroughly cover all the nuances to how they work and, of course, show you some fantastic examples you'll be able to copy and modify later too!
Learn Lua for MA3 - Episode 6: Loops and Why You Need Them
In this video I'm explaining the concept of generic for loops and how best to use them in conjunction with tables in Lua and with the MA3 API function MessageBox. For loops will be your friend anytime you need to sort through table values, and I make them easy to understand so you can use them right away!
Learn Lua for MA3 - Episode 3: Interacting with the Non-Lua Side of MA3
In this video I'm talking about how to interact with the MA3 command line from Lua and the differences between different types of MA3 system tasks and how they pertain to our use of Lua. I'll also show you how to build the first truly useful plugin of the series!
"We Fight" by As We Ascend | GrandMA3 Light Show
A little over a year ago I programmed out this "timecode" light show on GrandMA3 - just timed cues because at the time I was unfamiliar with real timecode and this project was a lot of new things to me. It was the very first thing I programmed when we added the pixel bars to our rig, and I did it to surprise my boss for his birthday!
I'm excited to finally share one of my favorite projects ever!
GrandMA3 Phasers Pt 2 - Pan, Tilt, and FLYOUTS
Circle phasers, flyouts, the 2D phaser editor, and other general tips and tricks for making position and multi-attribute effects in GrandMA3!
Part 1 covered everything you need to know about 1-dimensional phasers and basics, so if you missed that one be sure to check it out as well!
This video was recorded on MA3 v2.3.2.0
Live Programming Challenge: How Fast Can I Cue a Song?
What a Worthy Name/What a Beautiful Name mashup for Easter weekend! I programmed the cues out live during our Thursday night rehearsal and then ran through it again with the recording and updated them. This was a fun challenge in how-fast-can-you-really-program and low key I think I aced it! What do you think?
Need To Make Random Positions? No Worries!
Use code FLIGHT10 (for one plugin) or FLIGHT15 (for both) to get 10-15% off your plugin purchase!
I made this video as a tutorial for anyone buying the plugin, but if that's something you haven't considered yet I would highly recommend watching the video and seeing what you think - my opinion is, it's worth it!
EVERY GrandMA3 Sequence Setting in 17 Minutes!
There is a WHOLE PAGE of settings that you can change for each sequence in GrandMA3, and they do a lot to affect programming, appearance, functionality and playback of cues. In this video I'll explain every one of them, so you never have to wonder what their often too-cryptic names really mean again!
This video was recorded on MA3 v2.3.0.4
When to Use Each Button to YOUR Advantage!
Bumps are essential to any good light show, but do you fully understand the different types of button actions that can be used to achieve various types of bumps and in what situations each shines to the fullest? This video is the quick explanation you always wanted!
This video was recorded on MA3 version 2.2.5.0
GrandMA3 Recipes Are A Game Changer
The ability to program in recipes instead of the traditional way in MA3 is a complete game changer for your programming workflow, but they can be intimidating at first, and it's important to understand how they're really working. But here, I've put together a thorough explanation of how best to use them.
This video was recorded on MA3 Version 2.2.5.0
GrandMA3 Fixture Profiles: Adding Virtual Dimmer Channels
If you've ever wondered how to edit the fixture profile and add a virtual dimmer channel in GrandMA3, or if you're not even sure what a virtual dimmer is, this video is for you! I'll show you how to patch a fixture, set up the virtual dimmer, and connect it to the color channels so it'll work properly!
Lua for MA3 Custom UI Elements Pt 2 - How to Make Your Own From Scratch
This is part two of my series on coding your own custom UI elements, or pop-ups for the user interface, in GrandMA3 using Lua. As, really, the main part of the series, this video should get you from knowing nothing to being able to confidently get to work on making your own custom UI elements! In the next video I'll show you a more streamlined workflow, but this should get you started!
Learn Lua for MA3 - Episode 10: The Extra Tips I Always Need to Refer Back to!
Today's topics include pattern matching, getting time and date from the operating system, how to give your main function arguments from the command line, as well as dealing with MA3 updates, using Printf() and Echo() and their variations, and how to reset your Lua variables without rebooting!
Lua for MA3 Programming Tools - One of These is a Game Changer!
Today I'm going to introduce two Lua/Visual Studio Code programming tools I've recently started using. One is a bit overpriced; the other is AMAZING! But I'll tell you about both so you know what I'm using and can use whatever you like. You may get more value from them than I do!
Learn Lua for MA3 - Episode 2 : Let's Talk About Conditionals
In this video I explain what if statements are, how value comparisons work, and how to make a variable local and what that means. I will also be illustrating how you can take user input and use it to change what your plugin does. The possibilities opened up by this ability are truly endless!
Busking a Worship Set With Live Commentary
Don't just watch my actions, hear my thought process! I recorded my voice live while I was running lights and explained what I was doing, thinking and so on as I was running lights.
I also put the music director and Ableton guide audio in the right channel so you can hear what I hear as I'm doing it - and my voice is only in the left channel so make sure you're listening with both ears!
Become an Appearance MAster in Under 5 Minutes
GrandMA3 Appearances are SO versatile, but they require a very different workflow from MA2. If you've been struggling to get started with them, this video is for you - and before you know it, you'll be answering everyone else's questions about appearances too!
Boom - Every Fan Position You'll Ever Need
Use code FLIGHT10 (for one plugin) or FLIGHT15 (for both) to get 10-15% off your plugin purchase!
I made this video as a tutorial for anyone buying the plugin, but if that's something you haven't considered yet I would highly recommend watching the video and seeing what you think - my opinion is, it's worth it!
Intro to Decoding Lua for Beginners and Non-Programmers (Lua for GrandMA3)
Your show WILL benefit from at least using someone else's Lua plugin even if you don't code yourself. But what if you need to have a look yourself, or you're ready to start learning Lua but it seems a bit overwhelming?
Have no fear! This video exists to make it all make a lot more sense and give you a good idea of what tools to use to make it easier starting out!
GrandMA3 Objects, Actions and Icons Unpacked!
Struggling to make a sequence, preset or other MA3 object do what you want? Wondering why your objects do one thing in the object pool and another on executors? How to change executor defaults?
No matter your question, this video will bring you to a point of confidence in defining MA3 objects, actions, and settings for objects.
This video was recorded on MA3 version 2.3.0.4
Phaser Math Isn't Complicated - Here's What's Really Happening (in Version 2.2!)
The mathematical relationship between the different parts of MA3's phaser engine can be difficult to make sense of, and many tutorials are made on earlier versions. This video will quickly and easily break down all the interaction and how everything works together, so you never have to beat your head against the wall in clueless frustration again!
Lua for MA3 Custom UI Elements Pt 1 - What They Are and How to Use Them
This is the beginning of a three-part video series on coding your own custom UI elements, or pop-ups for the user interface, in GrandMA3 using Lua. Over the next few videos, I'll walk you through how to make these yourself from the very basics of what a UI element is all the way to where you can figure out how to do anything on your own!
Learn Lua for MA3 - Episode 9: MA3 Object Control Will Change Everything!
Finally, the big topic - how to use Lua handles to control MA3 objects! This is the key to bring everything together and really start making use of Lua for all kinds of things in MA3. From finding and changing names, commands, notes, and more on pretty much every type of object in MA3 to figuring out what data exists and how much of it can be changed, this video has all the answers!
Learn Lua for MA3 - Episode 7: Do More with Less Code (Numeric For Loops)
In this video I'm talking about numeric for loops and how you can use them to your advantage in a variety of applications where you need to repeat an action just with a different number inserted each time. We'll also go over some interesting examples from one of my own plugins, and as always you'll have access to the same file in GitHub if you want to practice with it yourself!
Learn Lua for MA3 - Episode 1: Getting Started
This is the first video in my Lua for GrandMA3 tutorial series, and today we're talking about functions and data types. Functions are the structure we use to organize and run code while programming, and we will also discuss the different types of data you can use in writing Lua.