MA LIGHTING grandMA3 lighting control system was the preferred choice for The Voice Thailand 2024, produced by Exit 365 and co-produced by Lighting and Equipment, airing on Channel ONE 31 and Netflix Thailand. This globally renowned singing competition, celebrated for its high production values and dynamic performances, required a lighting solution that could deliver creativity, versatility, and reliability across multiple rounds.

Lighting designer Ryan Attig, an expert in broadcast, live music, and opera lighting, led the visual direction for this season, collaborating with Miss Arunroj Thomma and Mr. Nipon Jakkitrungrueng from the lighting design company Lightist. Given the sheer volume of performances, the lighting team faced the challenge of designing a vast number of scenes within the constraints of venue size and programming time. According to Attig, the grandMA3 system played a crucial role in overcoming these limitations by significantly streamlining the process and enhancing efficiency.

Ryan commented, “The Voice requires the design of a great many lighting scenes to support the sheer number of shows and performances involved, but it all has to be done within the limitations of the venue size and the available programming time. Fortunately, grandMA3 saves us a lot of time. It’s a platform that I know well and trust completely within my range of lighting work. We always use MA systems. onPC to full-size, grandMA2 to grandMA3 – depending on the nature of the job and the supplier.”

Lighting and video equipment for the production were supplied by Lighting & Equipment Public Company Limited with grandMA3 system support provided by MA Lighting’s local distribution specialist, Total Solution Marketing (TSM). TSM, a trusted MA Lighting partner since 2016, played a key role in facilitating the transition to grandMA3 mode for the lighting team.

Chantiga ‘Cat’ Chotkajornthai from TSM initially provided on-site support, particularly for programming and the Blind Audition round. “Originally, the lighting team asked for the grandMA3 control system to run in mode2, which they were familiar with. But we offered them grandMA3 training, and they very quickly saw more possibilities with the software, so they decided to convert to grandMA3” she explained. By the time the season progressed beyond the Blind Auditions, the lighting team had become proficient with the software, requiring no further support.

For a show of this scale, consistency, flexibility, and efficiency are paramount. Attig highlighted how grandMA3’s expanded parameter control enabled greater precision in managing pixel fixtures and effects, a major advantage given the extensive use of LED strips throughout the production. The Phasers effects engine proved instrumental in creating dynamic lighting sequences, while the NDI (Network Device Interface) function allowed seamless integration of video content, graphics, and camera feeds into the lighting setup.

Ryan noted that the grandMA3 provided him and the team with access to more parameters, which allowed them to control more pixels and fixtures more efficiently. The Phasers function enabled them to craft intricate effects quickly, and the NDI feature made it easier to integrate pixel fixtures with video elements. The advanced mapping capabilities of grandMA3 further simplified complex lighting designs, ensuring a visually stunning and technically seamless production.

In such a high-pressure environment, the reliability and speed of grandMA3 proved invaluable. “The functions available on grandMA3 help us program multiple lighting scenes more quickly and accurately, which is critical for a show like The Voice,” Attig concluded. “Some features, like Phasers, take time to master due to their extensive possibilities, but once fully understood, they offer incredible creative potential.” With its advanced toolset and intuitive design, grandMA3 once again demonstrated its status as an industry-leading lighting control solution, meeting the demands of a world-class television production with unparalleled performance and flexibility.