grandMA3
grandMA3 speed programming cheat sheet
Every key combo and command-line trick from the grandMA3 v2.5 manual and the latest release notes (2.5.1.1, 7 Oct 2026), on one page. Print it with Ctrl+P.
16 October 2026 · Peter Van Engelandt
Key + Key = hold the first, press the second. 2× = press twice. MA = the MA key (on onPC: Shift).- Any keyword can be shortened:
Store Sequence 8 Cue 20 /Overwrite = S Seq 8 Cue 20 /O.
- Keywords are not case-sensitive; names in quotes are.
- Items marked with a version (e.g. 2.5) need that version or newer.
1. Command line and key presses
| Keys / syntax |
Does |
| Please (PC: Enter) |
Run the command; empty line = activate all attributes of selection |
| MA + Please |
Focus the command line |
| Oops (Ctrl+Z) |
Undo last operation |
| Esc |
Drop unexecuted command, close pop-up |
| Clear 1× / 2× / 3× |
Deselect / deactivate values / empty programmer |
| Hold Clear |
ClearAll at once |
| Off Off |
Off menu (2.2+: clears command line) |
| At 2× |
Normal level (runs at once) |
| MA + At / MA + At At |
Integrate / Extract |
| Hold At |
At Filter |
+ + / - - |
Dimmer +10% / -10% |
. . / MA + . |
Zero / Default |
| MA + / |
Wildcard * (e.g. Group "Mac*") |
| If 1× / 2× / 3× / 4× |
IfOutput / IfActive / IfProg / If |
| Fixture 2× |
Selection |
| Channel 2× |
Generic |
| Group 2× / 3× |
World / Filter |
| Preset 2× / 3× |
Attribute / Gel |
| MA + Preset |
FeatureGroup |
| On 2× |
Call |
| Edit 2× |
EditSetting |
| Delete 2× / 3× |
Remove / Release |
| Copy 2× / 3×, MA + Copy |
Paste / Insert, Cut |
| Assign 2×, MA + Assign |
Label, Set |
| MA + Update |
Cook |
| MA + 8 / 2 / 4 / 6 |
Cursor up / down / left / right |
| Help, then tap anything |
Help for that item; Help Please = search |
| Hold MA + Esc 5 s |
Cancel a long operation |
2. Selecting and MAtricks
| Keys / syntax |
Does |
Fixture 1 Thru 10 - 6 Thru 8 |
Range minus a range |
Fixture 1 Thru 5 + 9 Thru 10 |
Two ranges |
+ Fixture 5 Thru 7 / - Fixture 5 Thru 7 |
Add to / remove from current selection |
Fixture Thru / Fixture Thru . |
All fixtures / all fixtures and subfixtures |
Fixture 301. |
Fixture and all its subfixtures |
Fixture 301.1. Thru 4 + 6 |
Only pixels 4 and 6 |
Group 3 If Group 5 |
Only fixtures in both groups |
| Next / Prev |
Step through selected fixtures one by one |
| MA + Next / MA + Prev |
Next / previous MAtricks step |
| Set key |
MAtricks on / off |
Set Selection MAtricks "XGroup" 2 |
Odd / even (2 groups); Next/Prev toggles them |
Set Selection MAtricks "XBlock" 2 |
Pairs of fixtures |
Set Selection MAtricks "XWings" 2 |
Mirror from both ends (symmetric looks) |
Set Selection MAtricks "XShuffle" 4 |
Random order |
Reset Selection MAtricks |
Reset MAtricks |
Store MAtricks 5 / Call MAtricks 5 |
Save / recall a MAtricks setup |
| Align (hold = reset) |
Fan modes: / < > >< <> |
| MA + Align |
Align transition mode |
| Highlight / MA + Highlight |
Highlight / Lowlight |
| Solo |
Others to zero |
| Selection grid: Shift + arrows |
Size a rectangle |
| Selection grid: Off + tap |
Knock out that fixture |
Grid 2/2 Thru 4/4 |
Select by grid position |
3. Values, presets and timing
| Keys / syntax |
Does |
At 75 / Full / Zero |
Dimmer 75 / full / zero |
At 5 (single digit input) |
50% |
At + 10 / At - 10 |
Relative change (space after the sign) |
At Cue 3 |
Take the values from cue 3 |
Attribute "Pan" At 20 |
One attribute |
At Preset 4.3 |
Preset 3 of feature group 4 |
SelFix Preset 1.5 |
Select fixtures used in that preset |
Group 8 At Preset 2.4 |
Apply preset to a group |
At 50 Fade 2 |
Level with 2 s fade |
Delay 4 |
4 s delay |
| Time key / MA + Time |
Cycle Fade, Delay / Relative, Absolute |
At 50 then Time |
Cycle value layer (e.g. At 50 Fade) |
At Speed Hz 70 |
Phaser speed |
At Phase 0 Thru 360 |
Spread phase across selection |
At Transition 0 + Width 50 |
PWM-style step |
| Hold MA + Phaser key |
Phaser editor |
KnockOut Fixture 2 + 4 |
Remove fixtures from programmer |
Fixture 1 At Default |
Default values |
Highlight / Store Highlight |
Highlight / store highlight values |
4. Store, update, copy, delete
| Keys / syntax |
Does |
| Store, Please |
New cue in the selected sequence |
| Store + executor key |
Store into that executor (empty = new sequence) |
| Hold Store |
Store Settings (merge/overwrite default, cue only, tracking shield) |
Store Cue 42 "Name" |
Store and label in one go |
Store Cue 1 Thru 10 + 20 Thru 30 |
Store ranges |
Store Cue + 0.1 / Store Cue Next |
Relative cue number |
Store Sequence 4 Cue 1.2 |
Store into a named sequence |
Store Cue 4 Time 6 Time 1 |
Store with CueFade 6, CueDelay 1 |
/Merge /Overwrite /Remove (/M /O /R) |
Store options |
/CueOnly / /CueOnly "DimmerOnly" |
Don't track into the next cue |
Store Cue "BO*" /Merge |
Merge into every cue whose label starts with BO |
| Update (key flashes when possible) |
Update menu: tap a cue to update it |
Update Preset 4.1 / Update Cue - 1 |
Update a preset / the previous cue |
| MA + Update |
Cook (recipes, no editor) |
Copy Group 1 Thru 3 At 11 |
Copy a range |
Copy Cue 2 At 6 |
Copy cue |
| Copy 2× / Copy 3× / MA + Copy |
Paste / Insert / Cut |
Move Macro 1 At 3 |
Move (others shift along) |
Delete Cue 2.5 / Delete 2× / 3× |
Delete / Remove / Release |
Release Attribute "Pan" |
Release values in programmer |
| Hold Oops |
Oops history window |
Assign Appearance 1 At Sequence 2 + 3 + 4 |
Assign to several objects |
Label Fixture 1 Thru 10 "Mac700 1" |
Auto-numbered labels |
| Edit 2× / MA + Edit |
EditSetting / Edit recipe |
5. Sequences, executors and playback
| Keys / syntax |
Does |
| Go+ / Go- / Pause (large keys) |
Selected sequence: next / previous / pause |
| MA + Go+ (large) |
Go+ on the loaded cue |
Go+ Executor 101 |
Go on a specific executor |
Goto Cue 10 Executor 201 Fade 2 |
Jump to a cue with your own fade |
Goto Cue Next / Goto Sequence 42 Cue Previous |
Relative jumps |
Goto 2× (Load Cue 3) |
Preload the next cue |
<<< Cue 5 / >>> Cue 5 |
Jump using playback timings, not cue times |
| MA + Go- |
Top: back to first cue |
| MA + Go- Go- |
Kill: Go here, all other playbacks off |
| MA + Go+ |
Temp: on while held |
| MA + Go+ Go+ |
Toggle on / off |
| MA + >>> |
Flash: full while held, no fade |
Swap Sequence 5 |
Play this, pull other dimmers down |
Off Sequence 1 / Off Loaded |
Switch playback off |
| Off 2× |
Off menu (see and switch off what is running) |
| Pause 2× / MA + Pause |
Park / Fix |
| MA MA + Pause |
Desk lock |
| Hold Learn + tap executor in tempo |
Learn phaser speed |
MA + Learn (Rate1 Executor 105) |
Rate back to 1:1 |
Master 3.1 At BPM 120 |
Set a speed master |
Select Executor 105 / Select + exec key |
Make it the selected sequence |
| Assign + function + exec key |
Set what an executor key does |
Assign Sequence 4 At Page 2.301 |
Put a sequence on an executor |
| Page+ / Page- (hold Page- = page 1) |
Change page |
Freeze, Blind, Preview |
Programmer priority / no output / preview mode |
6. Windows and PC keyboard (onPC)
| Keys |
Does |
| Shift |
Works as the MA key |
| Enter |
Please |
| F1 |
At Filter |
| F2 |
Menu |
| F3 |
Command section menu |
| F4 |
Master controls |
| F5 |
Playback menu |
| F7 |
Custom master section |
| F8 |
Encoder bar menu |
| F9 |
Desk lock |
| F10 |
Keyboard shortcuts on / off (label yellow = on) |
| Ctrl + C / V / X |
Copy / paste / cut in a grid |
| Insert / Ctrl + Insert / Delete |
Insert / store / delete at selected grid item |
| Ctrl + Enter |
Edit pop-up for selected cell |
| Ctrl + N |
Toggle the new-object line |
| Arrow keys |
Move cursor / selection grid cursor |
| Double-tap a title bar |
Maximise window |
| Hold MA |
Show pool IDs on view buttons |
Locate Group 3 (2.5) |
Jump to that pool object |
Your own key mapping: List KeyboardShortcut, or Load Defaults in the shortcut settings.
7. Cue timing, patch and macros
| Keys / syntax |
Does |
Cue 1 Thru 4 CueFade 5 |
Fade time on several cues |
CueFade 6/12 / CueFade 3/ |
In/out fade / change in-fade only |
Cue 1 Thru 4 CueDelay 5 |
Cue delay |
Store Sequence 5 Cue 3 CueFade 7/11 |
Store with timing |
Cue 3 |
Select the fixtures used in cue 3 |
Patch Fixture 2 3.123 |
Patch to universe 3 address 123 |
Patch Fixture 1 Thru 10 |
Open Edit Patch for a range |
Macro 5 / Store Macro 2 |
Run / store a macro |
Off Sequence 5; Delete Group 3 |
Several commands on one line |
MA + X1 X1 (Recast Preset 21.1) |
Push preset changes into cues using it |
Cook Preset 1.1 |
Cook recipes without the editor |
AutoCreate FixtureType 13 At Group 21 /OddEven (2.3) |
Auto odd/even groups |
8. New speed tricks in v2.0 to v2.5
| Version |
Keys / syntax |
Does |
| 2.5 |
Locate Group 3 (again = next place) |
Jump to where a pool object sits |
| 2.5 |
Locate Page 1.201 / Locate Reset |
Show an executor's object / go back |
| 2.5 |
Hold List + tap object |
Same as Locate |
| 2.5 |
FaderMaster Group * At 100 |
Set group masters from the command line |
| 2.5 |
Hold Group |
Masters window (group, world, speed, playback, timing) |
| 2.5 |
Flash / Black / Swap / Temp + hold a pool object |
Use that action on pool objects, not just executors |
| 2.5 |
Press MA |
Show index numbers on pool-style executors |
| 2.4 |
At NShot 3 |
Phaser runs 3 times |
| 2.4 |
Fixture 1 At Preset 4.1 /Universal |
Call a preset in universal / global / selective mode |
| 2.4 |
Preview key + sequence; Preview twice; Preview + Off |
Preview a sequence / switch live-preview / leave preview |
| 2.3 |
Learn + tap executor |
Set phaser speed and start by tapping |
| 2.3 |
FastSync / ReSync |
Resync phasers at once / gradually |
| 2.3 |
Store Cue + 0.1, Store Cue Next 2, MA + / MA - |
Relative cue numbers |
| 2.3 |
Copy Cue 21 At Cue + |
Copy and auto-number between cues |
| 2.3 |
AutoCreate FixtureType 13 At Group 21 /OddEven |
Make odd/even groups automatically |
| 2.2 |
MA + Edit + Please / EditRecipe Cue 1 |
Open the recipe editor |
| 2.2 |
Store Group (no number) |
Store in first free slot |
| 2.2 |
Assign Appearance 1 At Sequence 1 + 2 + 3 |
Assign to many targets at once |
| 2.2 |
Ctrl+Z / Off Off / double-tap title bar |
Oops / clear command line / maximise window |
| 2.1 |
Help Please / Help twice |
Search help / reopen last article |
| 2.1 |
Hold MA + Esc for 5 s |
Cancel a long operation |
| 2.0 |
At 5 (single digit input) |
50% |
| 2.0 |
/CueOnly "DimmerOnly", /TrackingShield |
Protect later cues from tracking changes |
| 2.0 |
AutoCreate Universal 1 At Preset 1.11 "DimmerIncrement" 25 |
Build dimmer presets in steps of 25% |
| 2.0 |
Off + tap in Selection Grid |
Knock out that fixture |
| 2.0 |
Long-press an attribute / a fixture ID |
Calculator / jump to patch |
Before updating to 2.5: OSC uses ; between sequence name and cue, shape pool moved (update macros), and onPC now needs Vulkan graphics.
Sources and caveats
- No default onPC key table exists in the online help; the F-keys above are the framework shortcuts. Check yours with
List KeyboardShortcut.
- grandMA2 keywords like
MAtricksInterleave don't exist in grandMA3; use Set Selection MAtricks "XGroup" 2.
- The manual disagrees on whether one Learn press enters Learn or LearnSpeed. Test on your desk.
Manual (v2.5): Command syntax · Keys · Store · Update · MAtricks · Select fixtures · Cue playback · Framework shortcuts
Release notes: 2.5 features · 2.5.1.1 · 2.4 features
grandMA3 is a trademark of MA Lighting. This sheet is an independent summary and is not affiliated with MA Lighting.
Published by
Peter Van Engelandt
