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Overview

MAtricks (MA Tricks) is GrandMA2’s powerful selection and timing manipulation system. The MA2 Plugins use MAtricks commands to create sophisticated timing patterns for pulses, waves, and delay effects.

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MAtricks Commands

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MAtricksWings

Creates symmetrical patterns from the center or edges of a selection.
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wingValue
number
required
Wing mode: 0 = no wings, 2 = symmetrical wings
-- Select group and apply wings
cmd('Group '..grp)
cmd('MAtricksWings '..wing)
Usage in PulseGenerator: 
local function PG_create()
  cmd('BlindEdit On')
  
  cmd('Group '..PG_grp)
  cmd('MAtricksWings '..PG_wing)
  
  -- Rest of pulse creation
end
Usage in PulseWaveGen: 
-- Determine wing value based on direction
local function PWG_getWing(direction)
  if direction == "in" or direction == "out" then
    return 2  -- Use wings for center-based effects
  else
    return 0  -- No wings for left/right
  end
end

local wing = PWG_getWing("in")
cmd("Group " .. grp)
if wing > 0 then
  cmd("MAtricksWings " .. wing)
end
Wings value of 2 creates a symmetrical pattern where fixtures are selected from the center outward or edges inward, perfect for “in” and “out” directional effects.

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MAtricksInterleave

Divides the selection into interleaved blocks for pulse effects.
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amount
number
required
Number of interleaved blocks to create
cmd('Group '..PG_grp)
cmd('MAtricksWings '..PG_wing)
cmd('MAtricksInterleave '..PG_amount)
Complete Example from PulseGenerator: 
-- Setup
PG_grp = 1      -- Group 1
PG_amount = 4   -- 4 interleaved blocks
PG_wing = 0     -- No wings

-- Apply MAtricks
cmd('Group '..PG_grp)
cmd('MAtricksWings '..PG_wing)
cmd('MAtricksInterleave '..PG_amount)

-- Store cue pairs
while PG_cue <= PG_amount * 2 do
  cmd('Next')  -- Select next interleave block
  cmd('At 100')
  cmd('Store Sequence '..PG_seq..' Cue '..PG_cue)
  
  cmd('At 0')
  cmd('Store Sequence '..PG_seq..' Cue '..(PG_cue + 1))
  
  PG_cue = PG_cue + 2
end
With MAtricksInterleave 4, the Next command cycles through 4 different fixture blocks. This creates 4 pulse pairs (8 cues total) for a 4-way interleaved effect.

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ShuffleSelection

Randomizes the order of the currently selected fixtures. 
-- Random pulse order
cmd('Group '..PG_grp)
if(PG_rnd == 'true') then
  cmd('ShuffleSelection')
end
cmd('MAtricksInterleave '..PG_amount)
Random Delay Pattern Example: 
-- From Color Sweep Update plugin
gma.cmd('ClearAll')

for i, group in ipairs(rows) do
  gma.cmd('Group '..group)
end

gma.cmd('ShuffleSelection')  -- Randomize all fixtures

for i, time in ipairs(timeList) do
  gma.cmd('PresetType '..pTypes_str..' At Delay 0 Thru '..time)
  gma.cmd('Store Preset 0.'..presetCurrent..storeOptions)
  gma.cmd('Label Preset 0.'..presetCurrent..' "'..timeList[i]..'s RND"')
  presetCurrent = presetCurrent + 1
end
Combine ShuffleSelection with delay spreads to create organic, random-feeling chase effects.

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Delay Patterns with MAtricks

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Linear Delay Spread

Create linear timing progressions across selections. 
-- Left to right delay
cmd('Group '..grp)
cmd('At 100')
cmd('Delay 0 Thru '..delayTime)
cmd('Store Sequence '..seq..' Cue '..cueNum)

-- Right to left delay
cmd('Group '..grp)
cmd('At 100')
cmd('Delay '..delayTime..' Thru 0')
cmd('Store Sequence '..seq..' Cue '..cueNum)

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Symmetrical Delay Spread

Create center-out or outside-in timing patterns. 
-- Center out (wings mode)
local halfTime = delayTime / 2
cmd('Group '..grp)
cmd('At 100')
cmd('Delay '..halfTime..' Thru 0 Thru '..halfTime)
cmd('Store Sequence '..seq..' Cue '..cueNum)

-- Outside in (wings mode)
cmd('Group '..grp)
cmd('At 100')
cmd('Delay 0 Thru '..halfTime..' Thru 0')
cmd('Store Sequence '..seq..' Cue '..cueNum)
From Color Sweep Update: 
-- Horizontal patterns with optional wings multiplier
local chaserWings_mult = 1
if chaserWings then chaserWings_mult = 0.5 end

for loop = 1, 4 do
  for i = 1, #timeList do
    for group = 1, #rows do
      gma.cmd('Group '..rows[group])
      
      if loop == 1 then
        -- Left to right
        gma.cmd('PresetType '..pTypes_str..' At Delay 0 Thru '..timeList[i])
      elseif loop == 2 then
        -- Right to left
        gma.cmd('PresetType '..pTypes_str..' At Delay '..(timeList[i] * chaserWings_mult)..' Thru 0')
      elseif loop == 3 then
        -- Center out
        gma.cmd('PresetType '..pTypes_str..' At Delay '..(timeList[i] * chaserWings_mult)..' Thru 0 Thru '..(timeList[i] * chaserWings_mult))
      elseif loop == 4 then
        -- Outside in
        gma.cmd('PresetType '..pTypes_str..' At Delay 0 Thru '..(timeList[i] * chaserWings_mult)..' Thru 0')
      end
    end
    
    gma.cmd('Store Preset 0.'..presetCurrent..storeOptions)
    presetCurrent = presetCurrent + 1
  end
end

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Advanced Patterns

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Multi-Group Wave Effects

PulseWaveGen Single Stack Mode: 
local function PWG_createSingleStack()
  cmd("BlindEdit On")
  
  local wing = PWG_getWing(PWG_dir)
  local delayStr = PWG_getDelayString(PWG_dir, PWG_delay)
  
  PWG_clear()
  
  -- Build Full cue with all groups
  for i, grp in ipairs(PWG_groups) do
    cmd("Group " .. grp)
    if wing > 0 then
      cmd("MAtricksWings " .. wing)
    end
    cmd("PresetType \"DIMMER\"")
    cmd("At 100")
    PWG_sleep(0.05)
    cmd("Delay " .. delayStr)
    PWG_sleep(0.05)
  end
  
  cmd("Store Sequence " .. PWG_seq .. " Cue 1")
  
  -- Build Off cue with same pattern
  PWG_clear()
  
  for i, grp in ipairs(PWG_groups) do
    cmd("Group " .. grp)
    if wing > 0 then
      cmd("MAtricksWings " .. wing)
    end
    cmd("At 0")
    PWG_sleep(0.05)
    cmd("Delay " .. delayStr)
    PWG_sleep(0.05)
  end
  
  cmd("Store Sequence " .. PWG_seq .. " Cue 2")
end
When combining multiple groups with delays in a single cue, apply the delay command after each group selection to ensure proper timing stacking.

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Vertical Delay Arrays

From Color Sweep Update: 
-- Calculate proportional delays for rows
local divisions = {}
if (#groups > 1) then
  local divCt = #groups - 1
  local interval = 1 / divCt
  local proportion = 0
  
  for grp = 1, #groups do
    divisions[grp] = proportion
    proportion = proportion + interval
  end
end

-- Apply delays to each row
for time = 1, #timeList do
  for grp = 1, #groups do
    cmd('Group '..rows[grp])
    
    local delayTime = timeList[time] * divisions[grp]
    cmd('PresetType 4 At Delay '..trunc(delayTime, 0.001))
  end
  
  cmd('Store Preset 0.'..presetCurrent..' /s /o')
  presetCurrent = presetCurrent + 1
end

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Best Practices

Order of Operations: Always apply MAtricks commands in this order:
  1. Select group(s)
  2. Apply wings (if needed)
  3. Apply interleave/shuffle (if needed)
  4. Set values (At, Delay, etc.)
  5. Store
PresetType Filtering: When applying delays to specific preset types, specify the type before the At/Delay command:
cmd('PresetType "DIMMER"')
cmd('At 100')
cmd('Delay 0 Thru 0.5')
Delay Precision: Use the trunc() helper to avoid scientific notation in delay values:
-- Bad: 0.123456789 might display as 1.23e-1
cmd('At Delay '..delayValue)

-- Good: Truncate to 3 decimal places
cmd('At Delay '..trunc(delayValue, 0.001))

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Common MAtricks Workflows

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Pulse Effect Workflow

1

Select and configure MAtricks

cmd('Group '..grp)
cmd('MAtricksWings '..wings)
if random then cmd('ShuffleSelection') end
cmd('MAtricksInterleave '..amount)
2

Create ON cue

cmd('Next')  -- Select first interleave block
cmd('At 100')
cmd('Store Sequence '..seq..' Cue '..cueNum)
3

Create OFF cue with auto-release

cmd('At 0')
cmd('Store Sequence '..seq..' Cue '..(cueNum + 1))
cmd('Assign Sequence '..seq..' Cue '..(cueNum + 1)..' /trig=time /trigtime=0.1 /mode=release')
4

Repeat for remaining interleave blocks

Loop through steps 2-3 for each interleave block.

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Wave Effect Workflow

1

Determine direction parameters

local wing = PWG_getWing(direction)  -- 0 or 2
local delayStr = PWG_getDelayString(direction, delayTime)
2

Apply to group

cmd('Group '..grp)
if wing > 0 then
  cmd('MAtricksWings '..wing)
end
3

Apply values with delay

cmd('At 100')
cmd('Delay '..delayStr)
cmd('Store Sequence '..seq..' Cue '..cueNum)

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