lxbuzz Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 so what do I buy when my strand 520 dies (it is unwell!!)? I need a theatre based console instead of a concert or event desk but im stuck by the choices.....do I go zero88? avolite? grandMA? Hogs? Frogs? We use movers but not on a huge scale, often use scrollers and other DMX controlled kit and occasionally take it out on location. please help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxbuzz Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 I have a good budget!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GridGirl Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 We're in a similar situation - while our 520 is fine at the moment, it is getting old and won't last forever, so we're starting to look around for a replacement. Current thinking is either a Strand Palette or an ETC Ion - I'm arguing for the Ion, but we'll be trialling both desks and probably a few other options as well before making any decisions. I doubt we'll be heading down the Frog route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 This is the question on a lot of people's lips at the moment. What I can tell you is that, for theatre use (especially as you're at a theatre school and therefore will probably need to think about selecting something that your students are likely to encounter in theatres elsewhere when they leave you) I'd stay away from Avolites and Zero88. I know of a couple of theatres with GrandMA desks, and one with a Hog. Lots of theatre venues and companies seem to be going down the ETC route at the moment - Congo seems a popular choice (there are quite a few satisfied Congo users on the Blue Room), and Eos also has its fans. ETC brought an Eos to demo for us a few months ago, and it's very, very impressive - a very capable console with a fantastic user interface, and much more mature than its Strand counterpart. The Strand Palette doesn't impress me nearly as much, sadly - and it hurts to say that, as I was brought up on Strand desks and the 530 is one of my favourite desks to program (LP90 ad Galaxy Nova are two other desks that I have a soft spot for! :)). The new Palette, though - I just don't like it as much. The hardware leaves quite a bit to be desired (the total lack of 'soft labelling' with LCDs on the front panel is a huge drawback, IMO), and the software still has some way to go before it's at the level of the Eos software. Well, it did last time I saw it, anyway - I normally have a good chat with Bill Richards when I visit the Strand stand at trade shows, but he wasn't around on the day I attended ABTT this year and no-one else on the stand seemed to be remotely interested in talking to me, so I gave up and went elsewhere. The venue I work at is (or will be, at least) in a similar position - we have a networked system of three 500-series consoles, the oldest of which (an aging 530) is slowly approaching the end of its useful life. I'd love to go for an Eos/Ion system, but the physical architecture of the Eos doesn't quite suit our control room - we wouldn't be able to see the stage over the touchscreens! However, there's a new 'middle sibling' coming out in the next few months which will sit in between Eos and Ion in the product range which sounds like it might address that particular issue, so that might be something that we need to look at very closely ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxbuzz Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 I have looked at the palette and found it disappointing aswell. I am interested in the ion and eos tho wont go near a congo as they are very unreliable from companies I know who have had them. why oh why did strand have to stop!!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadhippy Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Dont see any mention of ETC on your list. One thing I find missing from the frog is the command line,not just being able to tap 10@@,but being able to string together whole lists commands. However for busking a show there great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxbuzz Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 I want to make sure I can train my students on the most relevant desk as well as the strand for when they go out and work. They of course have alot of ideas on what I should get but I live in the real world with a budget so a fullsize GrandMA may be fun but not practical for us!! A concurrent post has been automatically merged from this point on. the list was just what came off the top of my head. I am very open to ETC!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_s Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I have looked at the palette and found it disappointing aswell. I am interested in the ion and eos tho wont go near a congo as they are very unreliable from companies I know who have had them. why oh why did strand have to stop!!? we're a pretty satisfied congo customer. We have two, both well over 2 years old now, and we had some teething issues during the first couple of shows (we were amongst the first to install them in the UK) but had pretty good customer service from ETC, on one occasion they got a replacement desk out to us in 2 hours, so although there were some development issues to solve, we didn't feel too exposed. I'd certainly feel a lot more vulnerable knowing I had to rely on a 520 on its last legs these days.... I would certainly have been interested in looking at the Eos and / or Ion had they been available at that time, but the congo is certainly prettier than either of them, and I wouldn't write it off. Strand had to stop because competition became too hot for them and they couldn't make a profit.(probably a vast oversimplification, but the bottom line in any business is of course......market share and money.) There has of course been a long history of takeovers / mergers in the Strand Lighting biography.... Can I be a bit radical and suggest that if you want to stick with strand, then look for a second-hand AMC three preset-three group manual desk, so that lighting students can really learn about presets and transitions in lighting.....feeeeeeeeel the fade. (I am, despite the above, like Gareth a strand fan, having used most things they've made since the 1980s, (and some things they made before then!) in my board-opping career....some great, some merely "OK", but sadly things move on) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Bleasdale Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Well the congo is something I DO have experiance with. The console and V5 software are probably my prefered desk fo choice for most applications. Congo because: its adaptable to any situation! (congo and congo jr) also programming is unbelievebly simple! I had an introductury course and was programming chases, pallettes, masters and moving lights in the space of a few hours. I know you said u dont use a huge amount of movers, so when you do have to program them it is about as simple as it could get with the congo. Also I have heard that students may well be using it...? So again I say within probably 1-2 days a student with a good background knowledge of moving light, generic lights and programming would pick the console up with no problems. Patching.... I think this is the most difficult concept students have to grasp. With this desk it is no problem, the patch wizard does it for you. You simply tell it what fixtures you want to patch, the amount and what address and universe they need to start at etc. again I say, a simple to use desk excellent for students joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxbuzz Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 thank you for your advice, I've always been a strand girl but am aware that will die out soonish. ETC seems to get quite a good rep but I wont be persuaded on the congo!! ** laughs out loud **! another thing to wonder......do I buy brand new or second hand? brand new obviously has the service team option but second hand may get me a better spec desk at cheaper....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bootay Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 A local school here has just replaced their old Strand LBX with an Ion (plus 2 playback wings) and has had no problems with the transition. Another factor to consider when looking to replace your desk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_s Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 brand new.("better spec" probably may also mean more to go wrong more expensively, so better in my view to get the piece of mind that goes with a warranty and servicing back-up.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strand600X Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 We at opera north have just invested in the palette Vl with networks plus remotes etc.. it's as easy to use as the 500 and its strand.Like the eos but the eos is just not suitable for what we need and when we had the demo of the eos I was asking can it do this or can it do that and I got sick of hearing "no but it is in development" a ploy I know is used by many companies with new productsyes I am a strand man but I think we need to give the palette a chance and I think it will be the new 500 in time. :) ;) bAz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat.OS Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 just a small thing that I saw while reading the previous posts. I still think that grand ma is worth looking into. for example the light. its obviously alot smaller in physical size than the full size but will still do everything the full size will. but for a student desk it may be the way to go. it would teach them about running video and av as well as lx, it would show a good example of networking, as well as remote focusing and off line editors and the list goes on. I'm also a strand fan and love programming the 520i but I can't say I'm a fan of the palettes. I think they have a good potential but will take years to get up to etc, ma and hog standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Well the congo is something I DO have experiance with. {snip} I had an introductury courseN.B. - 'doing an introductory course' on a desk does not constitute actual, real world experience. How many actual shows have you programmed on a Congo, Joe? Edit : bizarre duplicate post removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.