Control/Dimming - New light board for a high school

[charding]

Hi
My high school is currently looking to purchase a new light board. We use 5 pin DMX 512 for control. We have about 100 conventional lights as well as six gel scrollers which use 3 DMX channels each. We don't have any moving lights and it is unlikely that we will be getting any in the near future. Currently we use Horizon by Rosco for all our shows. We like the simple point and click interface used. I would like to find a board that has an interface similar to this so that I don't have to type every cue into a number pad. Also I would like to be able to name each cue instead it just being identified by a number. As well we have a 48 channel two scene preset board. We usually use this for contracts and simple events. i would like a board that can do both of these things. So it needs to have a cue stack and sub masters for simple events. I was looking at the Leprecon LPX-24 but I don't think this is what we want. Currently I started looking at the Strand basic palette or classic palette. However the basic palette says it only has 100 channels which would not be enough. I was also looking at the ETC ION but this doesn't have submasters. I would like to stay under about 6000 but this is stretchable.

Thanks
-Clay

[fredthe]

You say you have 100 lights, but use a 48 ch preset board. How many dimmers do you have?

The Basic Palette can be upgraded to more channels, 100 is just the base. I don't know at what point it will become more cost effective to get a Classic Palette, though.

With the Palettes, you can do point-n-click or the keypad depending on your preferences. Check with a local strand dealer, you can probably stay under $6k.

[Footer]

Go with a Strand if you already know Horizon software. It will give you the same interface with a bit more power. You can easily pick one up under 6k.

[icewolf08]

Ion does in fact have submasters, you just need to add a wing to the basic Ion. This still leaves you in the basic price ballpark as the Strand consoles. I have not had any first hand experience with the new Strand consoles, but gafftaper has one, and he may be able to tell you about it. As was said they do run an updated/adapted version of Horizon, so they may seem familiar. The ETC consoles are very nice too.

[charding]

Originally Posted by fredthe

You say you have 100 lights, but use a 48 ch preset board. How many dimmers do you have?

We only use the 48 channel board for simple contracts, for real shows we use Horizon. We have about 200 dimmers not including house lights and architectural lighting.

The Strand consoles seem pretty good. Do the dealers have display boards that we can look at before purchase?

[Sony]

Originally Posted by charding

I was also looking at the ETC ION but this doesn't have submasters. I would like to stay under about 6000 but this is stretchable.

Thanks
-Clay

Do more research...the ETC Ion is capable of having up to 160 Submasters total. The wings are separate so you can upgrade over time...it's a great option for schools which may not have a lot of money up front but could possibly add more over time. The base unit + a 2x20 submaster panel and 2 LCD Monitors will run you around $6000.

[soundlight]

Considering my experience with the OLEs (not the physical consoles, so take that in to account in this opinion), I'd go for the Ion with a 2x20 wing panel and 2 LCDs. ETC programming style just makes a lot of sense to me, and I like the ION/EOS operating system quite a bit at its present incarnation. My only issue is the way that you access displays. I'm used to the display hard keys of Expression/Obsession series consoles.

[midgetgreen11]

A high school with 200 dimmers? You're lucky.

[derekleffew]

It would appear the Preset Palette 48/96 would most likely fit your shopping list the best. However, since it includes more hardware, it may not fit into the $6K budget.

You realize that just because you have 200 dimmers doesn't mean you must have 200 channels, right? With 100 channels minus the 18 for scrollers, you still have 72 for conventionals. Elsewhere here, SteveB has shown how he fits his entire House Plot onto 48 channels.

Note that the ONLY reason I would consider recommending a Strand console is because you like Horizon. Perhaps it's because it's all you've ever been exposed to. More importantly, is what your Drama Director likes or can teach. You'll be out of there in three years maximum. While many High Schools depend on the upperclassmen teaching the frosh, occasionally there are no students interested, the well runs dry, and the teacher must step in.
So it needs to be his/her decision primarily, of course with students' input and opinions.

[mc2880]

If you're already used to Horizon, the Marquee would be the logical upgrade. The strand Palette uses the Marquee Software (modified). I like the Marquee console much better, and there are fader and button wing panels available for it.

There are a few levels of Marquee;

Marquee PC - Just a USB-DMX card w/ Marquee software. Standard is 128 Channels

Marquee Console - Full console and PC w/ Marquee Software (it uses the same USB-DMX Card as in the Marquee PC, just mounted inside the console). Standard is 128 Channels

Marquee ILC - Moving Light console w/ rotary encoders otherwise the same as the regular Marquee Console. Also, comes with 1024 channes of output


On the console the main bank of faders can be assigned to Channels, Looks, ect.

All are easily upgradable and all versions will support moving lights w/ good profiles for most lights out there. Also, if they don't have a profile available just e-mail them. The will usually have a profile within a day.


My recommendation based on what you've stated would be the Marquee console w/ either the extra submaster wing panels or the button wing panel.