# Connect grandMA3 viz-key

Source: https://help.malighting.com/grandMA3/2.3/HTML/fs_connect_viz_key.html
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The grandMA3 viz-key is needed to:

- Establish a connection between a grandMA3 software and a third party visualizer with an unlimited number of virtual parameters.
- Output 512 parameters via network.

If the correct version of grandMA3 onPC is installed on the visualizer workstation, no further download or installation is required.

When sufficient parameters are already available in a session, then the grandMA3 viz-key hardware is not required. To establish a session between a visualizer on which no grandMA3 onPC is running and a grandMA3 system, the matching grandMA3 viz-key software must be installed on the visualizer. This software is essential for establishing a connection between the visualizer and the grandMA3 system, so even if no viz-key is required, the software must be installed on the visualizer.\
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For more information, see [Update grandMA3 viz-key](/grandma3/2-3/update_viz_key/).