User Friendly Light board suggestions?

[KaR356i]

Any suggestions on light boards that are user friendly and are capable of using a few moving lights with? (for people who have no experience with ML's or anything more than a simple two scene preset board)...

And of course, they would be on a budget...

Thanks!

[JD]

Here is the thing, there is an inverse correlation between price and ease of use. Meaning, the least expensive boards can be awkward, and to some extent, when you put out more money they get easier. There is a point where this abruptly reverses itself, and you end up with a board that requires training before use. Most likely, each person that responds to this thread will have their favorite. An inexpensive choice would be the Elation DMX Operator Pro (~ $325) It can run eight fixture groups (up to 16ch each) with 96 scenes. It also has eight stage dimmer channels for straight dimmers, so it gives you a little of everything at an entry level price.

I think if you search this forum, you will find a lot of threads that already cover this subject in one form or another.

[jeffheart08]

An NSI MLC-16 is a good moving light board all though it has little quirks here and there as do most boards in the lower prices. With a disk drive, it is about $1200 so I dont know if that counts for being on a budget but compared to real deal lighting consoles, 1K is a drop in the hat. Download the manual and read up.

Originally Posted by KaR356i

Any suggestions on light boards that are user friendly and are capable of using a few moving lights with? (for people who have no experience with ML's or anything more than a simple two scene preset board)...
And of course, they would be on a budget...
Thanks!

[icewolf08]

I think the big questions are: What is your budget? And What is the application?

Answering those questions will be able to focus the responses you get to ones that are actually useful to you.

[soundlight]

I'm going to go right to the top of the budget range and say ETC Smartfade ML, at about $2200. Great board, easy to use, easy to set presets with, familiar fader controls, can be used as a preset, submaster, or cue stack board, with basic ML control.

That said, it's probably out of your price range. But well worth it if you can afford it.

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by soundlight

I'm going to go right to the top of the budget range and say ETC Smartfade ML, at about $2200. Great board, easy to use, easy to set presets with, familiar fader controls, can be used as a preset, submaster, or cue stack board, with basic ML control.
That said, it's probably out of your price range. But well worth it if you can afford it.

I almost fell out of my chair laughing at this post....top of the budget range hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe $2200 hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

Two words....grand MA easy to use runs ML's like a dream...and definetly out of price range....

Look into an Express...decent ML interface but not great...easy to pick up and program.

[SerraAva]

He can always go for the Jands Vista Grog, thats a fun one too. Budget would help, so would applaction. If its just moving light control with little conventionals, Hog PC or Light Jockey. The lower end would be stuff like Elation's Compu Live or Chauvet's ShowXpress. This stuff is just PC control, very easy for to use for ML control. There are also a bunch of cheaper consoles out there that can control MLs, just not as easy as these PC controls.

If you need a theatric console, I'm with Grog. An ETC Express works nicely, easy to learn, and ML control isn't very hard. Not the best for ML control, but if your in a theatre setting with only a couple of MLs, then you can't go wrong with it. Cheaper would be Smartfade ML.

Cheaper then that, you are looking at DJ/Club/Bar stuff, not really for theatre at all. If you are just looking for something to control a couple MLs for a theatric show and can't spend the money for a Smartfade ML, I would say look at using two consoles. Your two scene preset for conventionals and and something like what JD suggested for MLs or a PC controller above. As stated again by JD, the more you spend, the easier it will be to control MLs. Also, it will be easier to included conventional fixtures as well with higher dollar ML consoles.

[zac850]

Nah, don't use an Express, sure its possible, but its really clunky and not at all made to do movers.

I'd vote for a HogPC. I assume someone somewhere has a windows box you could use for the shows, or that you could get one cheep. Get the programing wing so you don't pull your hair out trying to program on a keyboard or mouse.

Great console, reliable. Just ran a show off of it with 96 dimmers, a handful of CXIs and 6 Mac2Ks, worked great. It may be a bit complex for people now, but I had no trouble learning it after being raised on ETC Express. While it does have some complex advanced features, you can always ignore them.

I also second the vote for the Smartfade ML. Never touched one, but what I've seen online makes it look nice.

[KaR356i]

Thanks for your help! For this particular application, I think the ETC Express is nearly perfect, but I wanted some outside opinions. They bought a Leprecon board, and as was suggested on here, it's pretty much a pain. They have now asked me what kind of light board I suggest.... I didn't want to say the Express right off the bat, but in my opinion, it is plenty capable to handle the movers they have. I just finished a show in that theatre using the Express (instead of the LP) and I had no trouble whatsoever. But before giving a suggestion, I just wanted to do a little research on the other consoles out there.

I will look into the Smartfade and the Hog PC!

Thanks!

[icewolf08]

Since finding an Express may prove difficult since they are no longer made, you might think about looking into the Expression (used as well). They are much more ML friendly than the Express, but they program exactly the same. while you are doing that, you might also want to look into a used Strand 300, the strand OS has a much better ML package than the Express/ion line.