nico_ah Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 Hi, I'm trying to find a good board for both conventional & automated lighting. A suitable one for live "no-time-to-program" applications. Any ideas ? I thought about : Pearl Expert, Jands 416, GrandMA, Maxxyz What do u think ? Thanks !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niclights Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 I'm going to recommend the Expert (probably rather predictably!) Everything is easily accessible. The ultimate for busking IMO. Basic programming can be done very quickly (inc. offline) or things can be built on the fly using blind & preset faders. I have been operating one now for 14 days straight, different show with multiple bands everyday in all flavours and very happy with the result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Nico, When you are looking for a ''good board for both conventional & automated lighting'' than please take a look at the Flyingpig consoles.We have consoles for shows of all sizes and are designed for controling conventional's and automated fixtures, if you'd like more info don't hesitate to contact me privately.Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiseTime Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Nico - the pearl is an industry standard (but not so good for theatre), forget Maxxyz unless you want an expensive MP3 player - I don't know the MA but I hear good things. You do need to add the avab congo to the list. I have been using a congo (lent to me as I couldn't get a Junior in time) and IMHO its JAM mode is awesome. patch the movers , set to jam and off you go. what's really cool are the independents where you can stick the house and orchestra lights on a pot in 5 secs and keep everyone happy without turning them off during the show. I had a demo after ABTT and they claimed it was both a theatre and busking board. will let you know after the tour if they are right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewR Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 I have been living with a congo for 6 months, and yes it does some things very well (like being able to jump in and tweak a running effect for example)But at the same time its very alien to learn (coming from strand/etc/pearl/hog....anything other than Avab really) And some of the things you might want it to do, it can't (much unhappyness at its performance for TV work, its not exactly easy to bring down a channel if its running from a master :D ) Oh and it doesn't have auto groups, or a gel/colour picker (the new moving light panel is not a colour picker!) and the effects engine is hampered by some really odd design choices.... Just be very wary, its an easy desk for things to go horribly horribly wrong. (First show I ever used it on, I lost half my subs just by pressing 1 button. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nico_ah Posted October 19, 2006 Author Share Posted October 19, 2006 thanks ! infact I already used avab boards and I like them very much, the troubleis the price, as I guess Congo is much more expensive than Pearl or MA lightAm I wrong ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewR Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Actually they are surprisingly afordable..... priced to break into the uk market I suppose :D Not sure how they are priced elsewere though.. get a demo, if you like Avab you will probably love the congo (wierdo! ) And there is also the Congo Jr for smaller budgets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andystone Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 Worth taking a look at the Compulite Vector Orange (I know, I would say that!), it's about the same price as the others you mention, but you get a an awful lot of console which you can setup to work the way you want to work and if you want something really cheap you can use the free Vector PC software and just buy the whatever wings you want to connect to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lampie Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 But at the same time its very alien to learn (coming from strand/etc/pearl/hog....anything other than Avab really) And some of the things you might want it to do, it can't (much unhappyness at its performance for TV work, its not exactly easy to bring down a channel if its running from a master :) ) Oh and it doesn't have auto groups, or a gel/colour picker (the new moving light panel is not a colour picker!) and the effects engine is hampered by some really odd design choices.... Just be very wary, its an easy desk for things to go horribly horribly wrong. (First show I ever used it on, I lost half my subs just by pressing 1 button. :( )I am working with a Congo for over a year now, and it is the best I ve come a cross in a long time. Lately I had to go back to a Hog II, to do reprogramming on a show. I wished I had my Congo. This much for alien to learn. The colour picker you are mentioning, if you use CMY fixtures, I always mix the colours with the wheels and I never missed it. The gel picker: with the Congo you can design your own colour frame lists and then you never have to calibrate again. Could you name a desk where things can´t go horribly wrong (e.g updating a cue on a hog not realising how fare that change tracks forward? Did you really lose all your subs or did you press next page? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin24 Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 Try having a look at the Jands Vista. It comes in all shapes and sizes and pricing structures.From what you are saying the S3 would be perfect for you. You dictate the amount of channels you require so therefore control the amount of money you spend. Have a look at the product Jands Vista If you want any more info or a demo please feel free to contact me off forum Kind RegardsAndy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewR Posted October 20, 2006 Share Posted October 20, 2006 I am working with a Congo for over a year now, and it is the best I ve come a cross in a long time. Lately I had to go back to a Hog II, to do reprogramming on a show. I wished I had my Congo. This much for alien to learn. The colour picker you are mentioning, if you use CMY fixtures, I always mix the colours with the wheels and I never missed it. The gel picker: with the Congo you can design your own colour frame lists and then you never have to calibrate again. Could you name a desk where things can´t go horribly wrong (e.g updating a cue on a hog not realising how fare that change tracks forward? Did you really lose all your subs or did you press next page? :( Well you are comparing it with a desk essentially 10 years old... and as to the tracking issue, sorry, is your Congo a magic one that doesn't track? seeing as ETC sell it as a fully tracking console.... ;) Gel picker? well if you have more than one scroller per channel it doesnt actually work.... yay! Personally I want a button for CMY with things like Red 106 or Blue 118. Which Vector and MagicQ both have, and are in a similar price range....Maybe I should replace my VL1000's with something with a colour wheel too? Oh and no I didn't just press next page, I was using a desk that only records 20 masters per page, but lets you put both banks of masters on the same page...ok? So you record 40 different presets...all on page one. No warning messages, the 40 masters are all quite happy and are linked to 40 different presets. When you do actually press next page its all lovely, untill you go back to page 1 and discover you now have 20 presets mirrored over the 2 banks. What fun. :) I belive this has been addressed, but its still not a nice way to have to operate your first gig on the thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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