ETC unveils new Element™ lighting control consoles, USITT 2009

MNicolai

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As usual, you asked, and thanks to the folks at ETC, your concerns have been addressed in their addition to the Eos line of consoles, with respect to the market formerly taken care of by the Express series consoles.

When customers demand, ETC listens. Users have been asking for an ETC lighting control console designed expressly for modest rigs and maximum hands-on fader control. In response, ETC is introducing their new Element consoles at USITT 2009 in Cincinnati. ETC Controls Product Manager Sarah Clausen explains: "ETC defined the basic lighting controller when the Express console was introduced in 1995. We've seen over time that the basic lighting rig has changed. With Element, we've redefined what 'basic lighting console' means, without losing the ease of use of Express." Element comes in two hardware versions, based on fader count (the Element 40 or the Element 60). Each supports either 250 or 500 channels and a full two universes of DMX output.


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Element is directed at smaller venues like schools and houses of worship who depend on single console operators or volunteer staffers. It is designed to handle rigs outfitted predominantly with conventional fixtures (spotlights, PARs, fresnels, and their accessories – scrollers, mirror heads, gobo rotators, etc.), while also accommodating some LED fixtures and/or a small number of simple moving lights. "We based Element on our Eos® control system but with a simplified feature set in a stand-alone console," says Clausen. Integral faders, a single cue list and command prompts echoing those of the Express console make operation of an Element console simple and direct.


ETC addressed a number of special requirements in this new console. Users asked for channel faders. ETC engineered Element with true LTP channel faders for handling simple shows directly or for building up looks for use as submasters or cues, or for editing levels live. Users wanted submasters. By turning a switch, Element's channel faders become 40 submasters for simple playback of live shows. When submasters are needed all the time, the Element 60 console provides 20 additional dedicated submaster faders. Users wanted the simplicity of one-button operation if needed: Element records cues and fade times into a single cue list for simple playback of more complex shows using a GO button. Or, when users are ready to move up, they can access more complex timing functions like cue parts and follows to create more intricate lighting transitions.


Element also opens the realm of special effects to basic operators by recording effects directly into cues or loading them into submasters for more dynamic lighting looks.


Element even navigates basic accessory, LED and moving-light control. At the press of a button, the console's On Demand ML Controls appear on screen with tools designed to control smaller numbers of non-intensity equipment like scrollers, gobo rotators and mirror heads for conventional fixtures. Element's color and gel-picker tools simplify the control process further, applying appropriate colors to LEDs and color-mixing accessories and fixtures.


Smaller-scale venues like schools will appreciate the deep customer and technical support behind Element -- from its on-screen prompts, Help system, and video tutorials, to ETC's online Community Forums and standard expert 24/7 phone support.


ETC plans to begin shipping Element this summer 2009.
For a current product description and available downloads, go to etcconnect.com/element.




Element

The basics of lighting control, redefined.
Based on ETC’s award-winning Eos® control system but with a simplified feature set in a stand-alone console, Element was designed expressly for modest rigs and maximum hands-on fader control. Affordable and easy to use, Element packs in the fundamentals of lighting control. Element comes in two hardware versions, based on fader count, to suit your rig. Each supports either 250 or 500 channels and two full universes of DMX output:
Lighting control in your Element
  • Channel Faders – Not just any channel faders – true LTP channel faders that you can use for simple shows directly or to build up looks for use as submasters or cues, or to actually edit levels stored in subs or cues live.
  • Submasters – Turn a switch, and your channel faders become 40 Submasters for simple playback of live shows. Need subs all the time? The Element 60 provides 20 dedicated submaster faders in addition to the 40 switchable channel/submaster faders.
  • Cue List – Record cues and fade times into Element’s single cue list for simple playback of more complex shows using a GO button. When you’re ready, use more complex timing functions like cue parts and follows to create more intricate lighting transitions.
  • Effects – Record effects directly into cues or load them into Submasters for even more dynamic lighting looks.
  • Accessory, LED and moving-light controls – At the press of a button, the On Demand ML Controls appear on screen with tools designed to control smaller numbers of non-intensity equipment like scrollers, gobo rotators and mirror heads for conventional fixtures. Color and Gel Picker tools let you apply just the right color to LEDs and color-mixing accessories and fixtures. Intensity, Focus, Color and Beam Palettes let you store commonly-used settings to buttons you can label yourself.
  • ETC quality and support – From on-screen prompts to the Help system to video tutorials to ETC’s online Community Forums and acclaimed 24/7 Technical SupportETC is in your Element.
The ideal element for Element
  • Smaller venues like schools and houses of worship with a single console operator or volunteer staffers
  • Rigs outfitted predominantly with conventional fixtures (spotlights, PARs, fresnels, etc. and their accessories – scrollers, mirror heads, gobo rotators, etc.)
  • Rigs with some LED fixtures and/or a small number of simple moving lights
 
I'll be at USITT tomorrow, I'll have my video camera (a little Flip Minio HD) and I will see if I can get some time to interview Sarah Clausen and have her show off the Element. What would you like to see and are there any questions that you want answered about the new Element?
 
Q for Sarah (or other ETC folk)

What percentages of other consoles would you say the Element is based off of or similar to? (For example, 20% Express, 50% Eos, and 30% something new and different)



I'll probably add more questions later today or tomorrow, but I don't have much more time right now.
 
Not necessarily for Sarah, but what is the street price for one of these?

Does it do touch screens like the ION and the EOS?
Edit: Found the answer... It's optional.
 
Again not necessarily for Sarah...
It says LTP channel faders... is there a way to set them as HTP like the express? It would really be a bear to always have to use LTP for inexperienced techs with all conventionals.

The one other thing that would be an issue for me is only one fader pair, I almost always use AB and CD on the express (even though it is really just a single cuelist that can be played on both)

I would LOVE to have the ML on Demand thing though for the LEDs-- it would require so much less programminf effort.
 
The one other thing that would be an issue for me is only one fader pair, I almost always use AB and CD on the express (even though it is really just a single cuelist that can be played on both)

I would assume, since it is based on the Eos/Ion software that you don't really need multiple fader pairs. Express could not run simultaneous cues on one fader, but Eos, Ion, Obsession could. So you can run your super long sunrise cyc fade and then run other cues on top of it on the same fader.
 
This console is indeed the perfect Express replacement, and will inevitably outsell both Ion and Eos.

lieperjp: Pricing and delivery have yet to be determined. Contact your favorite ETC dealer for more information. The actual touch screen monitor is optional, but all four Element versions support them.

A couple of first-impression niggles:
Because of the way the 40 or 60 handles are used (channel faders 1-40, 41-80, 81-120; or submasters) they are not labeled on the desk itself.
Depending on how the operator works, that four position rotary switch at the top center could get A LOT of use. I would have preferred four lighted buttons (perhaps blinking at me to remind me what mode I'm in).
The use of Board Tape can easily get very confusing with this desk.
Am I the only one who isn't particularly enamored of "tombstone view"?
 
Are there actually four different desks, or two different desks with different channel numbers? I'd hope that you could buy up more channels later on without having to purchase a new desk...
 
Am I the only one who isn't particularly enamored of "tombstone view"?

Tombstones, or something like them, are a necessary evil if you are using touchscreens. It would be nice if they could reduce the spacing between tombstones to free up more space for useful data but I think they are sized for the plastic button inserts that are available on the EOS.

I'm speculating that most of the code comes from EOS/Ion with ML support coming from the virtual encoders already in the EOS software, and maybe a command line interface tweak to be more familiar to Express users.
 
Re: ETC Element

It looks like a great console, depending on the price it may be the perfect replacement for the Express.

The only thing I am slightly disappointed with is the lack of even just two or even just ONE encoder wheel. I know it has an intensity wheel which is great! Much better than the Express with it's junky touchpad, but I would like to know how they expect me to Encode my Apollo Right Arm's? Is there going to be an XY Pad on the Touchscreen or am I going to have to punch buttons? I don't expect the 4 Wheels of the Ion, or even the Ion's nice little LCD panel with Encoder info. Unfortunately, I could see programming moving lights like the Right Arm to be even more cumbersome than programming them on the Express. I will however admit that all depends on the execution, if they have already found a suitable solution to this problem then this would be the perfect board for my school's theatre.

I however loved the Ion, it was a great console but the 6k to 10k price range was a bit much, and we don't need all the features it has. However if the Element has a suitable XY Control surface then it would be a perfect fit for our small theatre. If not, we might just have to drop the 6 to 10 grand on the Ion.

It would be cool if ETC Introduces an Element ML in a couple months, that would be perfect.
 
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Are there actually four different desks, or two different desks with different channel numbers? I'd hope that you could buy up more channels later on without having to purchase a new desk...

4 different desks. 40 or 60 handles, 250 or 500 channels per handle selection.

At some point, being able to buy up channels gets you into Ion range, without any of the advantages of Ion, I.E., encoder wheels, etc... so I wonder if that's the intention and would suspect not, especially if they put the list price between Smartfade and Ion.

I wonder about LTP channel handles, but can understand the logic of wanting to move a handle and take control of whatever the channel is doing elsewhere, where HTP will not do that. I wonder though if the minute you bump the handle up to 01% (so don't accidentally bump the handle) does it instantly have control - at 01%, or does it wait until a matching level is found, at which point it's HTP, THEN LTP. Not sure how this works.

Tombstones can be zoomed in and out, BTW to truncate the view. They work very well on an LCD and I'm glad they kept them.

I'm OK with single fader pair and single GO, as having A/B and C/D on Express/ion was never as useful as one would think - 'Ya really have to understand the logic of Expression Speak to make dual faders work.

I too am curious as to how they replicate encoders on a pointing device. Or maybe it's on the wheel, one attribute at a time, or maybe position on a mouse, everything else on an LCD or thru Channels values. But the whole point is the console is oriented to someone who rarely does a lot of ML programming. They still get the core of the Eos OS, just greatly simplified I assume.

Steve B.
 
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Setting Non-Intensity Parameters is handled in two ways:
Pressing the "ML On Demand" button brings up onscreen virtual wheels, which one can drag with an external pointing device (i.e. mouse--but I'd use a trackball, because I prefer trackballs).
Alternatively (again using a mouse), the Op can drag a dot on an XY grid for positioning, or through a colorspace for color mixing. Much more elegant than the Express/ion.

With this statement:
...while also accommodating some LED fixtures and/or a small number of simple moving lights.
ETC seems to be downplaying the fact that the Element can control the same fixtures as Eos--I was told it's the exact same fixture library in both.
 
The XY Grid sounds pretty good, however the dragging encoder wheels onscreen with a mouse sounds cumbersome. Hopefully I'll get to play with one sometime soon to see what it's like.
 
I'm interested in using one having used both the ion and eos systems. However i find the appearance very intersting it looks like ETC took and ion and express and crossed them and came out with an element.
 
The Strand solution for virtual encoders is holding down a button on the console and rolling the wheel on the mouse. Or to position a mover you can actually drive the mouse around the table top and control both x and y axis... which I really like. The Element data sheet mentions mouse control. So they probably have a very similar solution. Remember that the people using this console are likely to have a couple of I-cues/Right Arms or a few scrollers. They aren't going to be programing a rig of Mac 2k's. So a little cumbersome is no big deal.
 
I don't think it would be too much of a problem not having the encoder wheels. If their target customers are the Express crowd, the expectations are a bit lower. Especially since this board is designed for use by volunteers/single operators. Some of those people probably won't even know what an encoder is...
 
The things that make me most excited about this console are:

1. The HOPE that part cues will be easier to access and perhaps better understood by more designers. I'm hoping we won't have to go into Blind to manipulate the parts of an already programmed cue.

2. The fact that this console DEFINITELY includes a tracking mode really excites me. I usually use my laptop running MagicQ in houses that have an express because I really hate doing a heavily cued show without tracking. Also, since the express finds so much use in academia, if the Element catches on in the same area, it means that a lot of young designers will get access to a tracking console a lot earlier in their careers which would be amazing! Fighting the fear many have for tracking consoles is one of my personal missions. ;) (Scared of tracking consoles? Feel free to get me on the subject any time! :) )

And finally, I really love that it's being designed to simply use a windows laptop as a remote video display. Another thing young designers don't get to do (or get FORCED to do by their instructors) often enough is get away from the console and let the operator program and edit cues for them while they learn to focus on the artistic task of design, not the technical task of operating a light board. The fact that you can now throw your laptop on the tech table with no extra hardware and see what the operator is doing will free up a lot of designers who might have let the board op program the show (their job) if they could just have seen the display from the tech table....

Art Whaley
Art Whaley Design
 
For remote connection, how exactly does that work? Just through a network?

I don't know for sure how it's working with Element but with Ion/Eos you load the software and then plug in a dongle. The dongle was free with registration... I had the feeling they might start charging for them. Then you just connect to the data network and you can watch everything.
 

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