Presets are the backbone of efficient programming in GrandMA3. They save time, create consistency, and give you a modular way to build your looks. Whether you’re working with dimmer levels, position, color, or phasers, storing smart presets early on sets you up for smoother cueing and faster show builds.

How Presets Fit into the Programming Structure

Think of your show file like a stack of Russian nesting dolls:

• Values live in the programmer

• Which go into presets

• Which get stored into cues

• Which live in sequences

• That are triggered by executors

Skipping presets breaks the chain—so it’s worth the extra step.

Selective, Global, and Universal Presets

• Selective: Works only for the fixture(s) it was created with.

• Global: Works for all fixtures of that type.

• Universal: Works for any fixture that shares the attribute.

Color is often global due to differences in LED mixing. Position is almost always selective. Phaser templates and common looks are great use cases for universal presets.

Special Preset Pools

• All Presets: Store a full look using dimmer, color, gobo, etc., in one recallable preset.

• Dynamic Pool: Automatically follows your selected encoder group (dimmer, color, etc.)—great for focused programming sessions.

Store Settings and Filters

Long-press Store to access:

• Preset Mode (selective, global, universal)

• Input Filter: Determines what gets stored. Turn it off to allow multi-attribute presets like All or hybrid ones.

Don't forget to hit Save Preferences in this menu to lock in your go-to settings.

Updating Presets

When you adjust a preset live:

1. Activate the value in the programmer.

2. Watch for the flashing update button or cyan feedback.

3. Hit Update, select the correct item, and confirm.

You can also click directly on a flashing preset to update it without opening the menu.

Best Practices for Worship Environments

• Create base presets for every key light and color wash.

• Use universal phaser presets as templates, then customize per song.

• Rely on All presets to speed up scene transitions and ensure consistency across cues.

Presets are what make programming flexible, fast, and repeatable. Start using them early and often.