Control/Dimming - New light board for a high school

[gafftaper]

We've already chatted via P.M. I like the Marquee idea. It's a good console and does use Horizon software. The OS 10 software upgrade for Strand consoles has been completely "Strand-afied" and although it's Horizon under the hood there is very little Horizon left on the surface. Visually It reminds me more of CB's software than Horizon actually. I doubt you will have any major advantage learning the console.

As I've ranted about quite a bit, there's a gap in the ETC product line between Smartfade and Ion. The Baby Palette fit's perfectly in that gap. 16 submasters, powerful software, easy to learn... with a list price less than an Express 48/96.
Negatives:
-less upgrade options... but you can upgrade the channel count.
-no encoder wheels... not a problem for most high schools, churches, and small community theaters
-Not ETC's legendary support... but so far Strand has been VERY good at taking care of me... things ARE different at Strand in the customer support department.

Ion is a powerful console... but you are paying thousands for MANY features a typical high school will never use. The Palette is a powerful new generation console with features very similar to Ion... there is very little Ion or Palette will be able to do that the other can't add in the next software upgrade.

You've got around $4500 to spend on a new light board what are you going to buy? Baby Palette vs. Smartfade isn't even close. The rest of the competition is the vast sea of ETC Express imitations. None of them are anywhere near as powerful as Baby Palette.

Get a demo, if you don't know where to call for a demo post your location and we can help you find one.

[waynehoskins]

I'd be tempted to go with something like an Express 250 or the equivalent Strand Newlightpalette, a midrange compact memory board with a few subs, if you're planning on keeping the two-preset board around. If not, I'd go with an Express 4896 or its Strand equivalent if you need two-preset capability too.

Most shows I do (all, actually) fit plenty fine in under 100 channels. Most could be run on a two-preset 24, though 48 is much nicer.

I do wish ETC had come out with a new Express-level series. Most theatres fit right into that category, and with the discontinuing of Express and the huge blaring gap between Smartfade (you can do something with that?) and Ion (where are the handles?), ETC I think is missing a major market. Thankfully Strand has the Newlightpalette series to fill that hole.

Whose 48-channel two-preset board do you have already?

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by waynehoskins

I'd be tempted to go with something like an Express 250 or the equivalent Strand Newlightpalette, a midrange compact memory board with a few subs, if you're planning on keeping the two-preset board around. If not, I'd go with an Express 4896 or its Strand equivalent if you need two-preset capability too.

Most shows I do (all, actually) fit plenty fine in under 100 channels. Most could be run on a two-preset 24, though 48 is much nicer.

I do wish ETC had come out with a new Express-level series. Most theatres fit right into that category, and with the discontinuing of Express and the huge blaring gap between Smartfade (you can do something with that?) and Ion (where are the handles?), ETC I think is missing a major market. Thankfully Strand has the Newlightpalette series to fill that hole.

Whose 48-channel two-preset board do you have already?

Before anyone jumps in here and says get an ETC Express, remember that the Express is no longer produced... a dealer may have some on a warehouse, but it is out of production. It was an outstanding product line and will be useful for many years... but to try to find one now is foolish because it's 15 year old technology and the days that you can get parts for it are numbered.

Wayne take a look at the Basic Palette and see if you agree with me that it's a great entry level fit below Ion/Jr. and all the other crap. The list price on the basic Pallet is in the high $5000 range (about the same as an Express 48/96 was). That means you should probably be able to get one for around $5k maybe a little under even depending on the package you are buying... a few thousand less than Ion and a wing panel.

Compare this console to what else is available for less than $5 from places like Colortran and it's not even close.

[LightStud]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

The Baby Palette fit's perfectly in that gap.

Where is Baby Palette on the Strand Lighting - A Genlyte Group Company website? I can't seem to find it, and I've looked and looked.

[waynehoskins]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

Before anyone jumps in here and says get an ETC Express, remember that the Express is no longer produced... a dealer may have some on a warehouse, but it is out of production. It was an outstanding product line and will be useful for many years... but to try to find one now is foolish because it's 15 year old technology and the days that you can get parts for it are numbered.

Wayne take a look at the Basic Palette and see if you agree with me that it's a great entry level fit below Ion/Jr. and all the other crap. The list price on the basic Pallet is in the high $5000 range (about the same as an Express 48/96 was). That means you should probably be able to get one for around $5k maybe a little under even depending on the package you are buying... a few thousand less than Ion and a wing panel.

Compare this console to what else is available for less than $5 from places like Colortran and it's not even close.

I didn't say it very well, but that was my point exactly. My background is with ETC boards, at least in college, so that's generally what I use as a basic unit of measure. If the Express line were current, one of those would be a perfect fit. And I agree, the Basic Palette looks to be a very good fit too.

I don't mind old technology myself, but then again I have a Lightboard M 48/96 on my desk, between keyboard and monitor as I type this, that I'm in the middle of putting back together.

[coolbeam]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

and the days that you can get parts for it are numbered.

Electronic Theatre Controls will still repair a 1986 Vision. Wayne, why don't you try sending your Lightboard M in to its manufacturer for repair? I'm sure they'll send you a loaner while its in the shop. ;-)

[waynehoskins]

Originally Posted by coolbeam

Electronic Theatre Controls will still repair a 1986 Vision. Wayne, why don't you try sending your Lightboard M in to its manufacturer for repair? I'm sure they'll send you a loaner while its in the shop. ;-)

But why would I want to do that? It's a $50 Ebay find that just needed some TLC. Works fine as best I can tell. Plus, working on stuff is the fun part.

[icewolf08]

One thing that I don't understand about all the recent threads we have had like this one: Ion is the console that fills the gap that the Express(ion) "left." Ion can be as simple or as complex as the user needs it to be. If you only need a few subs and a cue stack, Ion can do that. If you need a bunch of MLs and multiple cue stacks you can do that too. You can do all that for the same price as Express, and certainly cheaper than Expression. Sure, it can be intimidating, but hey, so was the Express to a lot of people. With 10 minutes of training any high school music teacher or drama director could learn how to turn on lights for rehearsals.

I am not saying that Ion is a better choice than a Palette, I am just saying that the Ion can have a place in venues like high schools.

[Sony]

I have to agree with icewolf08 and the base Ion can be had for as little as $4,000...sure it has a lot of features that you may never use, but for the price...why would you buy a more expensive board that can do less. IMO The Ion is the best bang for the buck.

[midgetgreen11]

Originally Posted by icewolf08

One thing that I don't understand about all the recent threads we have had like this one: Ion is the console that fills the gap that the Express(ion) "left."

I completely disagree. An express was much more in my high schools price range. An ION costs almost 2k more, without submasters, which have to be added on and purchased