Frankly I find it a little disappointing that it takes so long for our industry to move ahead with technology, though I suppose it is cost prohibitive. Really, why can't a console cost the same as a top of the line computer, that is all it is, just with a few different buttons. If consoles didn't cost upwards of $8K for low end and over $40K for high end we might be able to advance the technology more. No one expects their computer to last 10 years, why should we expect our lighting consoles to last that long?
Feel better now?All I have to say is "I told you so."
And by the time those intstructors are making names for themselves they won't want to give up the Ion for the next big thing.By the time that IONs really make it into the educational market on the high school level, the teachers are going to be the the students that were talked of in the article. That and even though cities cut budgets for arts people are realizing that they need to have instructors who know what they are doing.
Here's where your wrong. It is a great workhorse. Its still better than most of the lower end boards released in the past 5 years and that includes Smartfade.It is about time that the Expression was discontinued. It was a great workhorse, but the operative word in that sentence is "WAS."
It is time for new things. Frankly I find it a little disappointing that it takes so long for our industry to move ahead with technology, though I suppose it is cost prohibitive. Really, why can't a console cost the same as a top of the line computer, that is all it is, just with a few different buttons. If consoles didn't cost upwards of $8K for low end and over $40K for high end we might be able to advance the technology more. No one expects their computer to last 10 years, why should we expect our lighting consoles to last that long?
Look through the 1977 Kliegl catalog. A 1355 was almost the exact same price as today's SourceFour. Adjusting for inflation, this means that "state of the art" conventional ERSs have actually come down in price, significantly. I cannot recall the exact price of my 1979 S-C Light Palette V4J, but I know it was in excess of $100K with every available option (floormats, cruise control, moonroof). The $10K Ion is ten times what that Light Palette was. In the 1970s, who, (other than perhaps Steven Skirpan) would have thought we'd be using touchscreens for lighting monitors today? Naturally, all theatre technology is "acquired" from other, larger industries....Frankly I find it a little disappointing that it takes so long for our industry to move ahead with technology, though I suppose it is cost prohibitive...
Of course, I never expect to work with a grandMA or Hog lighting system. I would still like to see an ION come down in price, of course, but even then I don't mind spending $8,000 on an extremely specialized computer, especially when I know I won't have to spend $8,000 for another ten years, all dreams aside.
I moron the death of not so much the Express as the lack of control that goes with it. There will always be a need for conventional lighting, and shows that use just that.
I've been a HOG guy for about 12 years now and will never go back to the educational ETC line. It just doesn't add up. HOG (and GrandMA) does everything any ETC board does but it does it faster and easier by a longshot. Oh, and it does a lot more too... You guys in eduacation should not consider these consoles out of your reach.
jb
I moron the death of not so much the Express as the lack of control that goes with it. There will always be a need for conventional lighting, and shows that use just that.
Sorry, I just thought this typo was hilarious.
I guess I don't see the point of morning over the death of two scene.
You are missing the point.
Hogs, Grand MA's and Vista's are great consoles for what they do - control ML's and LED systems, even in busking situations.
What they don't do well is events that need a lot of manual channels, They don't offer a lot of manual channels, and trying to use the touch screens as a substitute is not as fast as having a fader. Period.
While I can't speak for Hog II/III or Vista this statement is completly false in terms of grandMA (btw Grand MA is that lady who gave birth to one or if you live in Arkansas both of your parents grandMA is the lighting console).
With the MA I have the ability to create subs, run each channel individually, program a Q-stack or set a chase to a push of a button...virtually at the same time. No ifs, no ands no buts. Quick and easy.
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