Connect your Grandma3 to Capture in three steps

A Grandma3 is a lighting control console made by MA Lighting, and Capture is visualization software that shows you how your lights will look in a real venue before you run the show. To connect them, you install Capture on the same computer as your Grandma3 software, enable network communication between the two programs, and then tell Grandma3 where to send its lighting data. The connection happens over your computer's internal network, not through a physical cable — Grandma3 and Capture talk to each other as software running on the same machine.

This setup is useful if you design lighting in Grandma3 and want to see the result in a 3D model of your venue before you get to the actual rig. Capture renders the lights in real time as you move faders and change cues in Grandma3, so you can catch problems early and show clients what the show will look like.

Key Takeaways

  • Capture and Grandma3 must be installed on the same Windows computer, and both programs must be running at the same time.
  • You enable the connection by opening Grandma3's network settings and pointing it to Capture's default network address, which is usually 127.0.0.1 on port 9010.
  • Capture needs a 3D model of your venue with your lighting rig already placed in it before Grandma3 can send it lighting data to display.
  • If Capture does not respond to Grandma3 commands, check that both programs are running, restart Capture first, and then restart Grandma3.

What you need before you start

You need a Windows computer with enough power to run both Grandma3 and Capture at the same time. Capture is graphics-intensive, so a dedicated graphics card (not integrated graphics) will make the visualization smooth. MA Lighting publishes the minimum specs for Grandma3 on their website, and Capture's system requirements are on the Capture website — check both before you begin.

You also need Grandma3 software and Capture software already installed on that computer. If you have only the Grandma3 console hardware (the physical desk), you will need to install Grandma3 software on a separate Windows PC to connect to Capture. The console itself does not run Capture directly.

Finally, you need a Capture project file that includes a 3D model of your venue with your lighting rig already placed in it. If you do not have this yet, you will need to build it in Capture first — Grandma3 cannot create the venue model for you. Capture comes with some example venues, but most users build or import their own.

Install both programs on the same computer

read Grandma3 from the MA Lighting website and install it following their instructions. read Capture from the Capture website and install it the same way. Both installers will guide you through the process and ask where you want to save the program files.

After both are installed, start your computer fresh if you can — restart Windows completely. This clears any temporary files and makes sure both programs load cleanly. Then open Grandma3 first, wait for it to fully load, and then open Capture. Running them in this order helps avoid conflicts when they first try to talk to each other.

Enable network communication in Grandma3

In Grandma3, go to System > Network. You will see a list of network interfaces and protocols. Look for the option to enable Art-Net or sACN — these are the languages Grandma3 uses to send lighting commands to other software. Capture listens on both, so either one works.

If you choose Art-Net, set the output universe to 0 and the destination IP address to 127.0.0.1. If you choose sACN, use the same IP address. The address 127.0.0.1 is your computer's internal address — it tells Grandma3 to send data to itself, where Capture is listening. Do not use your actual network IP address; that is for sending data to hardware rigs across a real network.

After you enter these settings, click explore or OK to save them. Grandma3 will now send lighting data to Capture every time you move a fader or change a cue.

Open your Capture project and verify the connection

In Capture, open the project file that contains your venue and lighting rig. Make sure the project is set to receive Art-Net or sACN on the same universe you chose in Grandma3 — usually universe 0. This setting is in Capture's Preferences > Network or Settings > DMX Input, depending on your version of Capture.

Once your project is open and the network settings match, move a fader in Grandma3. You should see the lights in your Capture model respond in real time. If nothing happens, check the troubleshooting section below.

Troubleshoot if Capture does not respond

The most common problem is that Capture is not listening on the right universe or IP address. Go back to Capture's network settings and confirm that the universe number matches what you set in Grandma3. If it does not, change it and restart Capture.

The second most common problem is that one of the programs crashed or lost focus. Close Capture completely, wait five seconds, and then restart it. Then restart Grandma3. This clears any stuck connections and forces both programs to find each other again.

If you are still not seeing lights respond, check that your Capture project actually has lights in it. Open the Capture project in Capture itself (not through Grandma3) and make sure you can see the venue and the lighting fixtures. If the project is empty or the fixtures are not visible, you need to add them to the project before Grandma3 can control them.

If Capture is running but Grandma3 is not sending any data, go back to Grandma3's network settings and confirm that Art-Net or sACN is actually enabled — not just configured. Some versions of Grandma3 require you to toggle a switch or click an "Enable" button after you enter the settings.

Use the connection to design and preview your show

Once the connection is working, you can design your lighting in Grandma3 while watching the result in Capture. Move faders, record cues, and change colors — Capture will show you exactly how those changes look in your venue. This lets you catch problems like lights that do not reach the stage, colors that clash with the set, or intensity levels that are too dim or too bright.

You can also use Capture to test your show on a different venue model. If you have multiple Capture projects for different spaces, you can open each one and run the same Grandma3 cues through them to see how the show adapts to different room sizes and rig positions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect a physical Grandma3 console to Capture?

Yes, but you need a separate Windows computer running Grandma3 software. The console itself does not run Capture. Connect the console to the computer over a network cable, and then follow the same steps to enable Art-Net or sACN on the console and in Capture on the computer.

What if I only have Grandma2, not Grandma3?

Grandma2 can also send Art-Net to Capture using the same method. The network settings are in a slightly different menu, but the process is the same — enable Art-Net, set the IP address to 127.0.0.1, and make sure Capture is listening on the same universe.

Do I need a special network cable to connect Grandma3 and Capture?

No. If both programs are on the same computer, they communicate through your computer's internal network. No cable is needed. If you are connecting a physical console to a separate computer, you need a standard Ethernet cable between them.

Can I send data from Capture back to Grandma3?

No. The connection is one-way — Grandma3 sends lighting commands to Capture, but Capture does not control Grandma3. You design in Grandma3 and preview in Capture, not the other way around.

What if Capture shows the wrong colors or intensity?

Check that your Capture project has the correct fixture types and color profiles for your actual rig. Capture can only show what you tell it about — if the project has generic fixtures instead of your real lights, the colors and intensity will not match. Update the fixture library in your Capture project to match your actual rig.