I think a lot of this boils down to the fact that MA2 is not an easy
console to just step up to and run. It's true. It's basically a build-a-console. It will do whatever you want it to do, but if you don't know how to ask, you can't even get started. This even applies to
screen vews - you have to put down all of your
screen views manually. There are no prebuilt screens that pop up with these presets and those presets and a smart menu and some MAtricks. It's very necessary that you have a semi-working knowledge of the board before stepping up to it if you want to program a show.
The .2 appears to be the exact opposite. I'm not going to say for sure until I mess around with the .2 onPC software, but this seems like a great
console for a lot of situations. I think limiting it to 30-40 movers is a
bit under for this
desk, especially given the 4096 output capability. I'd like to see the
fanning and grouping tools, but if they're at least somewhat there, this could easily control more, and nicely. Definitely more static LEDs. I think this is going to be a board that will make it in to rental houses, and it'll be one that they can
send out knowing that they don't have to give someone a class beforehand in order to
send it out. The actual "street cost" on the Core will probably be around the 12k
mark, and the XL will probably be in the 15-16k range "street price". I can't remember the time I paid
MSRP/"List Price" for anything other than parts. In that price range, you're very close to a fully tricked-out
ION -
fader wing, touch monitors, pushed up
parameter count.
And this
console is designed to be able to busk movers very easily, with a set of (albeit limited compared to full on MA2)
button functions like
toggle and also faderless playbacks. The
Programmer nature of this
desk is also great for
busking, because I can't remember a time when I was programming a
busking show where the fact that I was using a programmer-based
desk didn't make programming much, much faster. But at the same time, the default master cuelist and the "Store Look" functionality that the
console has will mean that colleges and well-funded high schools will be able to use it as a theater
desk. I'm seeing more and more high schools put in lots of LEDs and a few moving lights when they upgrade, and they aren't given a
console that will tell them how to control them. This
console actually tells you what to do. That is slick. It's also MA hardware, which means it's top-of-the-line components and will stand up to the abuse that kids will dish out.
The 3D functionality is also huge. This is fantastic for schools and colleges. This means that you can sit kids down in front of a nice, big rig of movers and let them have at it without owning that nice, big rig of movers or paying for a nice, expensive
visualizer that wouldn't get approved anyway. It comes with the
desk.