Choose My Console

[Footer]

I have an upcoming musical, Joseph... and his Coat.. woo hoo

Its in a new venue in town, well a re-done 1920's movie house. 25' Wide stage, 30' stage edge to back wall, full balcony... all that fun stuff.

Lighting system consists of 48 dimmers, 60 lekos, 24 S4 Pars, and an Smartfade 24/96. Obviously I will be pulling my personal shoebox dimmers in to add a bit more dimming as well as pulling some units from my theatres inventory. I will also be taking over my 4 Mac250's and 4 Technobeams.

So heres the question, my skill level at any of these consoles aside....
I have 3 options for consoles,
-ETC Expression 3 w/ Emphasis
-Hog II PC (No Wings)
-Chamsys Magic Q (No Wings)

This will be a Monday load in Sunday strike show, open Friday. I will need to pre-program the show. I have WYG perform, all consoles will talk to perform. So the question is, better console on a PC or a control surface?

[Pie4Weebl]

If it were me I would split up the conventionals and the movers with an ETC for half and the Hog for the other half, this has always served me well in the past. I suppose with the hog there is no real reason you couldn't do the conventionals on that. Also if you use the hog IMO its worth the $20 to go get an old school track ball, makes programing so much quicker.

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by Footer

So heres the question, my skill level at any of these consoles aside....

Actually I think that you really just want to go with the console that you are most familiar and most comfortable with.

[DaveySimps]

Assuming you are equally comfortable with each board, I would say go with PC. Even though you have no wings to use, I still think it would be easier to deal with your moving lights, which I am sure you are going to get a lot of mileage out of with the inventory you have listed.

~Dave

[BUSSME2009]

My vote is for the ETC Expression 3. It can easily handle the conventional, Mac's and Technobeams. The board is simple to use and it sounds like for your application it would fit well. I currently have an expression running 96 dimmers and 4 MAC 700 profiles.

[Pie4Weebl]

Originally Posted by BUSSME2009

My vote is for the ETC Expression 3. It can easily handle the Mac's and Technobeams.

Oh really? You are one of the few and brave to support the notion of moving lights on a pre-EOS etc board...

I still curse the vendor who sent a Expression II and called it a moving light board....

[Sony]

I'd also suggest the Expression 3, as long as you're not going mega crazy with the moving lights...then it should suit you well, and personally I've always liked having a proper control surface to use rather than a keyboard, mouse and screen. I also really belease that you should use the console that you are most familiar with, for me that would be the Expression.

[gafftaper]

Stick with the smartfade!



ok... sorry couldn't resist. I'm with Victor. Split them up and do the conventionals on the Expression and the movers on the Hog or the Chamsys

[Arez]

I'd use the hog/magic q for atleast the movers.

I've helped program movers on pre EOS boards and let me tell you not only is it not very fun, it takes significantly longer to get it just the way you want.


Oh, and, "For The Hog!"

I wonder how many people will get that.

[jonliles]

Footer-
Though I can't pick your board, I can certainly help with hang, etc.. Who is doing "Joseph" in town (I am assuming Atlanta Lyric)? It's one of my favorites. I have more shoebox's if you need to borrow some (personal stock). One day we really should do coffee.

Jon