Strand 300 - extra submaster panels

[Guest merchant]

Just had a look at the 300/500 ops manual on the web and it specs the 300 as having 24 subs over 4 pages.

 

Guess the answer is only 1 panel of subs supported then.

 

As far as I know, there were no softwares to enable more subs, only more channels and applications.

Actually no- you're wrong. I know of at least two venues that have multiple sub fader banks - 5 I think is the most I've seen.

 

I had the same probs at my old venue we had 5 panels, They all worked fine when desk arrived but we had major probs with the 300 and strand pre merger came down and fixed it. Unfortunatly they had to reistall software and all but the first panel stopped working. Phoned them up and was told that we had not bought the software to run the other panels, I was not in charge at the time so couldn't argue, but I'm sure you need the software upgrade to make the panels work as subs, which I have seen working.

[ianknight]

I've just looked through an old dealer CD we have and there were indeed 120 submaster versions of the desk.

 

The hardware was common through the range with features being defined by what software was installed as it came out of the factory (and possibly CS 'capability' codes I suppose). It may still be worth enquiring about an upgrade 'key' though, as it could work out cheaper than buying a replacement desk if they want to charge - as the equivalent desk (in terms of form factor and features) to the Strand 300 is ???

[IRW]

Interesting to hear this about needing a key to run more than one bank...

 

We currently run two x 24 fader panels as 48 subs on our Strand 300 in the Studio Theatre-

 

I think I may start looking through our filing cabinets to see if I can find said upgrade key just incase we ever need to re-install the software!

[thommyboy]

The work around we use is the keyboard shortcut.

By pressing <k> <2><*> that sends you to page 2. and have 24 subs there.

 

FAR from being ideal, but at least gets you more handles in a pinch

[Kazeja]

Just had a look at the 300/500 ops manual on the web and it specs the 300 as having 24 subs over 4 pages.

 

Guess the answer is only 1 panel of subs supported then.

 

As far as I know, there were no softwares to enable more subs, only more channels and applications.

Actually no- you're wrong. I know of at least two venues that have multiple sub fader banks - 5 I think is the most I've seen.

 

Yes, you're quite right. I am wrong. Learnt something new here that I wasn't aware of. Have now gone through all the spec on all 300 variants that I could find and the top of the range console with 5 fader panels and 600 channels did give you 120 subs.

 

You need 5 fader panels and 600 channels.

 

As the 300's were expandable in 25 channels steps, I'd be interested to find out what the lowest channel count would be before loosing the 120 subs.

 

Do you remember the channel count at these 2 venues?

[scottmcleod]

Strand lost MAJOR points in my books for this mishap.

 

I'm in the same boat as you. Strand 300 with 24 faders. Not enough for our venue. What happened? I looked into buying an extra wing... 800$ for the wing, 1200$ for the software upgrade. WTF?!

 

Now, that being said, an unnamed person at strand may or may not have given me an upgrade for another strand console at a venue that I work at occasionally. I'm not saying for what, and I'm not saying why, or what I told them to convince them...

 

... but it saved me almost 1500$ for the software key.

 

Ask nicely, plead, deal, make a bargain. Point out that all of your fixtures are strand. Point your your dimmers are strand, point out that the console is outdated and make them a reasonable offer for the software upgrade. Maybe you can get it at half price.

 

What was my solution? I called my good friend Martin Searancke at LightFactory, bought myself 2 of the ENTTEC Pro dongles and a single universe license... and I'm off to the races!

 

Laptop: 600$ or less

LF(512 - 1 universe): 500$

ENTTEC PRO (x2): 180$ (one for input, one for output)

Leviton (7012?): 375$ (32 faders)

 

... I now have a 512 Channel console with 32 subs for... 1700$.

 

More wings? 375$ + 90$/ea (~500$).

 

Dead easy to get started on, I haven't even pulled the manual out yet, and I have yet to not be able to find a function.

 

(an external LCD monitor is nice though. 100-150$ (15-17") *or* a touch monitor (400$-500$) )

 

... Just my $0.02

 

My strand won't dissappear, but I may be moving it down to the smaller studio if Martin's Product proves itself to be easier to program and use in the long run.