grandMA
Case Study
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
grandMA – total control
QPAC
Queensland Performing Arts Centre
– grandMA system controls 504 channels at Brisbane’s cultural centre
Queensland Performing Arts Centre, known as QPAC, offers arts presenters and the people of
Queensland a choice of venues and services to suit every need. Performance spaces include
the Lyric Theatre, Concert Hall, Playhouse, Cremorne Theatre and Studios. Spacious foyers and
corporate entertainment areas complete the performance spaces. With a history of sell-out
musicals, plays, ballets, operas and concerts, QPAC has an unrivalled reputation for providing
the right mix of location, space, service and venue credibility.
The Idea
After an intensive research by the lighting department to upgrade the QPAC’s dimming system an
MA Lighting dimMA system was chosen for its Concert Hall. It became one of the largest
theatrical dimMA installations worldwide. “We wanted an energy efficient system that didn’t
have a power dynamic issue with the frequency harmonic”, explained Doug Brimblecombe,
lighting manager at QPAC, “We also wanted something that would work as a relay so we didn’t
have to keep changing modules. Furthermore it had to be suitable for powering moving lights. At
the same time we wanted to increase the amount of dimmers as we only had 96 channels and
now we’ve got 504.”
Showtime in the Concert Hall
Realisation
The installation consists of seven dimMA Digital Dimmer Racks, each with 72 circuits, distributed
throughout the Concert Hall. There are four racks with four MA Network Dimmer Processors
(NDP’s) in a specially constructed room within the ceiling space, two behind the side lighting
positions each with a backup NDP and one in the basement also with a backup NDP. Each rack
has a redundant processor capable of controlling 144 dimmer circuits. This rack distribution went
away from the traditional central dimmer room design and thus a large saving was made with the
cabling infrastructure, as the racks are now closer to the outlets.
dimMA Digital Dimmer racks
provide altogether 504 channels
“There were a whole lot of features that made the dimMA system stand out,” commented
Brimblecombe, “They were the only dimmers that could ‘hot swap’: the power was automatically
disconnected when we pulled the chassis out. The build quality is really fantastic when you
actually see the product. Heat issues were important - two dimMAs were placed either side of the
venue where the temperature can soar to 40 degrees. So it was crucial that they could stand the
heat whilst not making a noise. The MA dimmers were the quietest that we saw on spec in the
world. Nearly 40% of performances take place in the Concert Hall. So if you’re listening to a
chamber orchestra you don’t want to hear a dimmer whirring in the background. Furthermore the
dimMA system was the first complete dimmer system that was presented to QPAC that had a
really good, fully expandable and controllable yet simple networking.”
Once the dimming system had been specified, Brimblecombe and his crew had to work out
how they were going to run the system and consequently a fibre optic backbone was
installed, as well as four lines of DMX and two lines of CAT5, to most of the venue.
“Looking to the future, I can see us getting more into energy efficiency with 80 volt lights
for example. The MA dimmer, no matter what power is coming in, will always put the same
output out. With the MA dimmers, we can safely look at replacing the ceiling lights with
newer technology that uses lower voltage such as LED lighting.”
Having been thoroughly impressed by the MA Lighting dimMA system, the lighting
department turned their attention to the MA Lighting range of lighting consoles and a
purchased two grandMA full-size, two grandMA light, six grandMA wireless PDA remote
packages, four MA NSPs, two grandMA video media servers and four MA 2Port Nodes.
QPAC is the most important
cultural address in Brisbane
Project Team
Building Management
CAA Facilities Management Branch:
Steven Gibson
Bassett Consulting Engineers:
Duncan Richards
For QPAC
Executive Manager, Production Service:
Bill Jessop
Manager Lighting:
Doug Brimblecombe
Australian Distributor:
Show Technology Australia
Local Distributor:
The Production Shop
Electrical Contractor:
O’Donnell Griffin
dimMA in roof ceiling and data distribution with redundant DMX
Double reliability: Two NDPs offer
the perfect backup solution
Lighting control room
grandMA
onPC
grandMA
light
grandMA full-size
Switch
Switch
W-LAN
PDA running
grandMA remote
W-LAN
PDA running
grandMA remote
DMX x 4 stream as backup
Stage right system
Switch
grandMA onPC
DMX512
MA-Net
dimMA
Stage Left
dimMA
Stage Right
dimMA in Basement and
Main data distribution
Schematic Network Diagram
Company Profile
MA Lighting International, based in Paderborn, Germany, is the dedicated sales, support and service entity
for the renowned grandMA control systems, digital dimming systems, networking tools and media servers of
MA Lighting Technology, based near Wuerzburg (GER). The product range offers cutting-edge solutions for
control and dimming and contains the award-winning grandMA consoles, the renowned Light- &
Scancommander, but also the reliable digital dimmer racks and packs. With its media server grandMA video
MA bridges the lighting and video worlds and integrates media servers like a fixture into lighting control.
Today, MA Lighting is well known for its technical know-how and has achieved a unique international reputation for its operational philosophy. The company looks back with 25 years experience. MA Lighting strictly
follows a professional user-centric approach and is getting as close as possible to the market via its own
international offices as well as competence and support centres in the UK, North America, Latin America, the
Middle East/India and Asia Pacific – supported by an world-wide distribution and service network.
MA Lighting International GmbH
An der Talle 26-28
33102 Paderborn – Germany
Tel: + 49 (0) 52 51 68 88 65 -10
Fax: + 49 (0) 52 51 68 88 65 -88
info@malighting.com
www.malighting.com
© 2008 MA Lighting International GmbH
Version VIII.01
All technical specifications are subject to change without notification.
We do not assume liability for any incorrect information in this case study.