ETC Congo / Future Console

[andystone]

Someone mentioned earlier that even ETC have a next generation console on the market - the Avab Congo.

 

They are actually developing a new 'ETC' console which is really cool, step up from the Congo, I heard it will be at PLASA.

[Bryson]

I'm abusing my powers and splitting Andy's post off into a new thread, because it's something I think is interesting. :blink:

 

I just had a demo of a Congo, and I was impressed. It doesn't do anything radically new, as such, but it's a very slick and easy to use package, and (may I be struck down) it beats the pants off the similarly-priced and main competitor, the 500 series. What it does do, is bring together all the nice features into a single console, while retaining the "muscle memory" style for those of us who've grown up with old-style theatre desks. What they need right now is the installed user base to grow, the skill level of the average user with the console to grow, and they'll have a real winner.

 

So, if they are releasing a new console, I do hope that the OS are interchangeable (in a 300/500 kind of way) or they'll undo all the good work.

 

I'm sorely tempted by the Congo (and have money to use right now) - the only thing that's holding me back is the physical size of the machine. My control room isn't big. If they made a baby version of a Congo (kind of 520 size or a mite smaller), then I reckon I'd take one tomorrow. I guess I'm hankering for the beautiful tiny footprint of my old Hog...

 

So, ETC consoles and the future. Thoughts?

[mac.calder]

I am certainly waiting with baited breath to see where they take the congo and their next generation consoles in general. Unfortunatly, I never really get the time to play with 'next gen' consoles (Bugger), but I did play with the congo for about 1/2 an hour and found it a delight.

[andy_s]

I'm sorely tempted by the Congo (and have money to use right now) - the only thing that's holding me back is the physical size of the machine. My control room isn't big. If they made a baby version of a Congo (kind of 520 size or a mite smaller), then I reckon I'd take one tomorrow. I guess I'm hankering for the beautiful tiny footprint of my old Hog...

 

So, ETC consoles and the future. Thoughts?

I understand that a smaller, slightly lower spec version of the congo is in the pipeline - there was talk of us having one for our studio space, but as the delivery date was a bit unclear, we have a full-sized congo in each of our two spaces. We're very happy with them, currently using the Congo to trigger our Hippotizer in the studio for the video content of the show - a pretty straightforward process, the technical manager tells me....

[goochr96]

Just whatched some of the video on the Congo from the ETC website, looks like a very nice desk. Does anybody know what the price tag is on it please? Couldnt find it on AC website. ?

[Bryson]

List is somewhere in the region of £12k

[Jeremy Roberts]

Come to ABTT to see the Smaller Congo, same feature set, smaller footprint.

[JohnG]

So, ETC consoles and the future. Thoughts?

 

To me the Congo is not quite an ETC console. It is a nice innovation ETC bought for whatever reason. Maybe to get the jump on the new desks Strand finally displayed at our USITT last month. And certainly to compete with Hog.

 

In the future, I wonder what ETC will do with the Obsession? Adding the Congo is a third OS in their line isn't it? I think anything under the ETC Brand along with ETC's marketing will do fine in the UK and US. However, it seems like they should ditch the Obsession platform if they have not already done so.

 

We have 1 Congo in our small market. It seem like just another moving light desk. The syntax is a bit weird but a software upgrade is on the way to make it more user friendly to those familiar with Hog speak.

 

JG

[MartinT]

I'll be putting a few Cong's in this year - I guess I'l be learning the Congo in a hurry.....

 

Smart Move on ETC's part to get it to read strand SSF files - no longer will major touring houses be limited to one desk.

 

I hear the 300 replacement will be at ABTT too - which should be interesting although with Congo (and Congo Junior) around I think Stand are very concerned. Certainly the 300/500 replacement will have to be very special but for the moment I'ff refrain from pre judging it. Alough as a historical Starand user part of me wants it to suceed

[homersignalman]

The problem is, speaking also as a historical Strand fan club member, they have dragged their feet for so long and made so many false promises regarding theses new desks, it is very very hard to beleive what we are now being told. Its one thing being shown an "artists impression" and a totally different thing to see the working hardware. Lets just hope they have it right this time.

[gareth]

Smart Move on ETC's part to get it to read strand SSF files - no longer will major touring houses be limited to one desk.

But will it actually read SSF files, though? Not having used a Congo I have to rely on other people's experiences and views, but I'm reliably informed that, contrary to what the 'hype' would have us believe, SSF files have to be put through Showport and turned into ASCII files first, and that effects, attributes, etc. don't survive the import process. Can someone who's actually experienced the Strand->Congo conversion process enlighten us, please?

[JohnG]

Can someone who's actually experienced the Strand->Congo conversion process enlighten us, please?

Gareth,

 

If the lighting supervisor at our city's new venue is willing, I will try to load an ssf to a Congo this week and report my findings.

 

JG

[andy_s]

Gareth's right. But Jeremy at ETC was very very helpful when we were trying to work out how to make our show (plotted on our congo) tour into strand houses.

[AndrewR]

FX stuff doesnt transfer, as Congo actually has a proper effects engine. And moving lights have to be repatched, as the congo can't convert the Strand Fixture file. (Well showport can't) Might pull the cover off the Congo today, got a copy of ShowPort somewhere. (Isn't showport a strand product?) Will be able to check.

[Andi_Davis]

I think Gareth's point is that there are a number of consoles on the market that can import data once it has been converted into one of the open formats that ShowPort supports (namely two formats of ASCII Light Cue and comma separated values). If this is all that Congo is doing, then the claim that desk 'imports' from .SSF is somewhat misleading.

 

ShowPort is indeed a Strand product, designed for exactly this purpose. However, importing open format data is ENTIRELY different to being able to import .SSFs directly. I'm no expert on the legal side of this, but as far as I'm aware .SSF is a proprietory format devised by Strand. Its possible that this might actually prevent another manufacturer providing the facility to import .SSF files, or it might require Strand to license them to do it (in the case of ETC this seems unlikely!)