Idols SA 2021 switches to grandMA3
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Other ground-breaking aspects for this year’s broadcast shows included a move away from the State Theatre venue in Pretoria after several years, decamping to Studio 10 at the Urban Brew Studios in Johannesburg. With that came the need for a completely different aesthetic approach and treatment.
“The objective was to ensure it looked amazing from all camera angles,” explained Josh, adding that his own Idols expertise - this is his 17th series - plus Andre’s fresh eyes as an LD has been “a great combination”.
Knowing the show and its demands and challenges very well, and being experienced grandMA users, the two felt it was the right time to deep dive into the power of grandMA3. Over 200 moving lights plus other LED fixtures and some conventionals, all adding up to 17,000 parameters and 34 universes of lighting control, were run using one grandMA3 light console with a grandMA3 XT as tracking backup. These were running over a fibre network comprising one grandMA3 processing unit L, three grandMA3 4Port Nodes, one grandMA3 8Port Node and two MA Network Switches.
Andre likes the fact that the grandMA3 system needs considerably less physical hardware to control larger numbers of parameters, and they only need one grandMA3 processing unit L on this show. In terms of grandMA3 features that he could immediately appreciate after using the system for only a short time, he enjoyed the flexible playback options - being able to have four different playbacks on one fader. “This makes a huge difference, and everything becomes much more accessible,” he commented, adding that “it’s an ongoing learning process of course.”
Both Josh and Andre were “hugely impressed” by the “outstanding” tech support they have received from MA whilst working on this project, especially from Luke Chikkala and brand manager Daniel Kannenberg helping to smooth the transition from grandMA2 to grandMA3.
Duncan Riley from MA’s southern Africa distributor DWR stated: “It has been a great learning process for all of us, and Josh and Andre’s enthusiasm and commitment to making it happen and their willingness to make the switch on such a major show has been fantastic! Hats off to them.”
Idols SA 2021’s director is Gavin Wratten. The producer is Anneke de Ridder and technical AV production is being delivered by Dream Sets, co-ordinated for them by Eben Peltz for series production company, SIC Entertainment.
