There have been several topics like this lately so do some searching. The
Express although the most popular
console of all time has been discontinued after about 15 years in service. The folks at
ETC feel that there is no longer a need for a two scene
preset console in the modern lighting world and they are not directly replacing the
Express (I agree with them 100% on that idea by the way).
ETC has replaced
Express with an extremely simplified product called the
Smartfade or a high end replacement product called
Ion. Smartfade has not impressed many of us around here.
Ion is an excellent
console but it may be a lot more
console than you need. The
Strand Palette series is an excellent alternative and they do still a two scene
preset (as well as my favorite suggestion for small theaters the Basic
Palette).
Other products to look at include
Zero 88,
Leviton,
EDI, NSI all of these are going to be cheaper than
ETC/
Strand options. They are also much older technology. If you have any plans to use any sort of
DMX controlled toys (moving lights, color scrollers,
gobo rotators
etc) you want to get an
ETC or
Strand console as the software is VASTLY superior.
Tell us more about the rest of your rig and budget. How many dimmers? What is the facility like? Quantity and type of lights you use? Do you use any
DMX gear now? How likely are you to expand into the
DMX world in the future?
Alex: Have you looked at
Palette VL yet? If they can price it for less than
Ion it's going to be a serious challenge to
ETC. I'm not sure if this is the new one coming to
LDI or if there is another one as well.