Want a grandMA3 in your rack—without a console, switch, or network configuration? The grandMA3 onPC DMX-key makes it possible. Simply plug the unit into your PC or laptop via USB-C, launch the free grandMA3 onPC software, and you have 4096 parameters at your command.

This significantly lowers the barrier to entry for the grandMA3 platform. It is the same platform that runs the grandMA3 full-size—the flagship console, eight of which powered the light show for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. In addition to the standard DMX-key, there is also a grandMA3 onPC DMX-key starter offering 1024 parameters, designed for those still learning the ropes.

No configuration, no network settings, and no separate power supply required. The DMX-key draws its power from the USB port (5 V, max. 2.5 VA). The key itself features two 5-pin XLR DMX512-A outputs, allowing you to control a small venue or club directly.

The onPC software runs on Windows 11/10 and macOS, and you get the full software—not a demo version requiring a purchase. This means you work with the same fixture handling, effects, and syntax found on the large consoles.

The housing is made of aluminum. The USB-C connector is lockable—ensuring a bump against the rack won't bring your show to a halt—and a status LED shows at a glance whether everything is running. Anti-slip strips are located on the bottom. Using the included guide rails and screws (2x M5 x 12 with nuts), you can mount the key in a system rack or flight case.

This makes all the difference for integration. Whether for a museum, theme park, stadium, or architectural project, you can build a compact installation based on full-fledged grandMA3 software that scales with your needs and integrates seamlessly into professional MA workflows.

The grandMA3 onPC DMX-key starter features the same housing, the same two DMX outputs, and the same locking USB-C connector, but it unlocks 1,024 parameters. That is exactly the total output of those two ports—more than enough to learn programming and build your first shows. Since you use the full onPC software here as well, you learn the workflows you will later encounter on a console right from day one. It is a logical choice for schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.

The real advantage lies in the expansion options. If you want more physical control, you can combine onPC with the grandMA3 onPC command wing, command wing XT, fader wing, or rack unit, or with onPC xPort Nodes. As your project grows, you can upgrade to the consoles—ranging from the compact and compact XT, through the light, to the full-size model with a standard 20,480 parameters. With grandMA3 processing units available in three sizes and the MA-Net3 protocol, you can scale up to 250,000 parameters.

Your workflow remains consistent throughout this process. grandMA3 offers native GDTF support—allowing manufacturers to define how their fixtures are controlled—and utilizes MVR to share scene data with visualizers and CAD software. The software includes a built-in 3D visualizer for pre-programming. The onPC software also serves as a pre-programming station, a design workstation, or a backup for an existing grandMA3 system.

Do you have existing grandMA2 shows? You can export them from grandMA2 software version 3.4, subject to functional compatibility. The consoles (though not the onPC version) even run a full-fledged Mode2 using native grandMA2 software.