Would you like to use video technology as a new or additional design element for your lighting show? And do you like to control it as fast, smooth and eas as possible? Just like adding any other lighting fixture?
If you already know the grandMA system there is almost nothing new you have to learn. The whole operation relies on the well established MA philosophy and is highly intuitive. You will instantly feel familiar with the MA VPU, even if you never have used video before.
Thanks to the power of the MA VPU you can display all your videos in Full-HD (MA VPU plus: 1,080p) or HD (MA VPU basic: 720p). Furthermore the internal output synchronisation of the MA-Net2/MA-Net ensures the highest frame and DMX synchronicity.
To scale your video to any size desired by your own imagination just use the valuable horizontal and vertical softedge blending, the keystone correction and enjoy expressive show designs you have never seen before. Size doesn't matter anymore. More than that the MA VPU offers a convenient 3D keystoning functionality and enables you to fit your content to any 3D objects, regardless of size and shape.
Use frame interpolation and smooth speed control to adjust the playback speed.
Beyond that there is a myriad of functions, features and effects available like frame blending, colour boost, dynamic colour key, contrast, brightness, hue, saturation as well as blur, sepia, black/white, ocean and invert. All of them can be easily accessed and are self-explanatory in their use. Combinations of video and still images can be mixed and controlled, and JPEG images and standard windows bitmap images such as *.bmp as well as *.gif are supported.
Via the console, the MA VPU can also be programmed in blind mode.
Up to 32 3D-video-layers (8 for the MA VPU basic) help to realise your ideas.
Based on the rock-solid technology of MA Lighting, the MA VPUs offer extreme reliability, are optimized for transportation, longevity and on-the-road use, as well as for fixed installations like theatres, TV studios etc.
Finally each MA VPU comes with a pre-installed content library comprising more than 17GB of professional HD- and SD video content.
Two different versions of the MA VPU are available to suit all needs:
MA VPU plus and MA VPU basic.
MA Lighting
The company was founded in 1983 by Michael Adenau (MA) and enjoys strong growth from the very beginning until today. More than 10,000 MA control desks are being used all over
the world and MA´s digital dimming systems have become an industry standard.
The success accelerated in 1985, when software specialist Ernst Ebrecht joined MA Lighting as a partner. In this period MA
introduced the Lightcommander 24 and Lightcommander 48 control desks.
When launched in 1992 the MA Scancommander caused a huge stir in the burgeoning world of moving light control. This product established MA Lighting as a leading innovator of lighting control for the global touring and event sector. Leading producers of intelligent lighting showed great interest in MA's new operating philosophy, which radically differed from the historical "dimmer -oriented" control systems of that time.
In the spring of 1998 MA showed the world the eagerly awaited grandMA console. This hybrid lighting control console brought a new level of hardware sophistication to the lighting world. The full color touch screens, motorized faders, built in UPS (uninterruptible power supply) and hard drive were only the beginning.
The summer of 2000 saw the launch of a host of new products from MA, the grandMA light, the grandMA replay unit and the grandMA offline editor. In the autumn of 2001, the grandMA range will be completed with the introduction of the grandMA ultra-light. The ultra-light has 1,024 channels but retains the main features of a grandMA at a very competitive price.
Today, MA Lighting are well known for their technical know-how and have achieved an unique international reputation for its operational philosophy. MA´s award-winning products are extremely reliable and offer cutting-edge solutions for
dimming and control.
Organizational Structure
This story of success is strongly based on the teamwork between MA and Lightpower. Lightpower, located in Paderborn, is handling the international distribution of MA products since 1987. The two companies work very closely together and, through their respective roles, have made each other stronger. Production, and research & development are located in MA´s modern
headquarters in Waldbuettelbrunn. For marketing, sales and technical support Lightpower has founded a new subsidiary: MA Lighting International. All of these activities are coordinated in their Paderborn facilities.
Used Video Processors and Mixers
A video processor, sometimes called a vision mixer, is used for professional compositing of video sources or the selection of video sources, in a similar fashion to the way audio streams are mixed and matched with a mixing console.
This video processor technology is normally used in TV studios, video editing bays and production trucks or studios, in the production of TV shows, theatrical shows and concerts. Video processor is actually a term more commonly used in the United States â?? in Europe and other English speaking countries, the terms video or vision mixer are preferred. The operator of a video processor will generally be called a technical director in all countries however.
The technical director will use the video processor to generate multiple transitions of video sources, such as pattern swipes or dissolves. The video processor can also be used to create color signals (or mattes) and carry out keying operations. As such, most video processors are geared towards professional use, and feature either a Serial Digital Interface (in the case of digital models) or component video connections (in the case of analog models).
A digital video processor is normally used for linear video editing in live TV, in conjunction with video servers and video tape recordings. For other uses, such as video presentations, VJing and small productions involving the use of multiple cameras, an analog video processor is still fairly common.
MA VPU - MA VPU in mint condition, previously used in a few demos.
MA VPU - Like new MA VPU, from 2013. Previously used in an installation.
