Strand Classic Palette

[Casteroil]

We are looking for a new lighting desk.

 

We have previously used the Strand 300 at a local venue and were looking to purchase something similar.

 

I have been advised that the Classic Palette 150 would be the desk to look at but one of our technicians says he has heard some bad things about reliability and software issues.

 

Has anybody used the desk and what did they think?

 

This is a lot of money for an amateur society to spend and I am keen to see that we buy a product that will last for many years.

[paulears]

I too quite like a Strand 300 (or 500) as a theatre desk, but the Pallette has no real link at all, apart from a name - and general chat at the moment suggests that there are better controls available for the same money, and from reports I have personally been given by disgruntled users, the backup isn't exactly out of this world.

 

You can buy a Bush branded radio, but it isn't the Bush my parents knew and loved!

 

Before you buy one, ask Strand for a list of satisfied customers you can speak to on the phone!

[Trunker]

Does it have to be a Strand? Why not look at the new Leag Frog from Zero88? I was rather impressed by it! I like Strand desks and like the way they programme, but Zero88 has some major advantages over the 'New' Strand desks atm.

[boatman]

Although I haven't used it in anger, I was very impressed with a recent demo of the ETC Smartfade ML as an easy to learn small desk for an amateur company. It can control 48 conventional dimmer channels and 24 moving lights. There are some online tutorials here, which will give you an insight.

[Nick S]

Personal opinion: ETC SmartFades are good desks. I've replaced two consoles with SmartFades in the past year. However, it has a very unintuitive way of dealing with everything and a steep learning curve. The similarly priced Zero88 Jester is a much better desk, especially given the VGA output.

 

The only reason I pick SmartFades over Jesters is because getting support for ETC products in the USA is a lot easier than finding a good Zero88 dealer!

[kennethpaulsharp]

We have a classic pallette at one of the venues I work at and I would advise you to buy anything other than the classic pallette or even anything control wise from strand.On paper the desk looks like the obvious choice for a lot of people but in reality the desk is a massive let down.

It has no connection to the 500 or 300 series which has been a standard desk for a lot of people. :(

[mr_towers]

I've had the bigger Strand desks demoed at me, and I kinda like them. I'd say that the smaller strand desks I've had the pleasure of using aren't quite in the same league. A lot of am-dramers have used and liked the frog series, so definitely worth having a try. I agree with the comments Nick's made on the Smartfade, it never really agreed with me - in contrast to the Jester. Which has!

 

Questions that need asked though, why are you wanting to replace your 300?

 

What do you want it's replacement to do?

 

What does it have to control on a regular basis?

 

Are there any special considerations that might affect your choice?

[gareth]

I suggest a search through the BR lighting archives - there's been a lot of discussion in recent months regarding the new Strand desks, and alternatives.

 

I won't go into too much depth here (I've said it all before, several times!), apart from saying that if I were you I'd be looking at an ETC Ion.

 

The other thing I'd say is that if you're used to a Strand 300, and want something with a similar interface and functionality, the Leap Frog (as suggested by someone else) would be highly inappropriate. I've never had the pleasure of using a Smartfade, although I've heard some very good reports - but looking at the specs, my gut feeling is that they're aimed more towards the small-scale end of the market than some of the other options you might consider (based on the number of channels/fixtures that they're able to handle).

[richard_cooper]

I'd agree with Gareth to look at the Ion, or even the Congo Jnr, which list for the same price. I use the Congo Jnr a lot, and have grown to love it, but there is an initial steep learning curve, and you may need a fader wing as well if sub masters are important to you. Once you've 'got it' I find if a very fast and powerful console to use.

 

It may be worth also looking at the new Jester TL or even the Jester TL extra which is not on the website but is in Phantom Jester. I quite liked the concept of a small, more theatre style desk when I had a look at PLASA, but other than a quick play on the stand I've no experience of it. From the Phantom Jester software, the TL extra looks like they've added a bank of submasters as opposed to having to use an external desk on the regular TL.

 

Richard

[johnhuson]

Does it have to be a Strand? Why not look at the new Leag Frog from Zero88? I was rather impressed by it! I like Strand desks and like the way they programme, but Zero88 has some major advantages over the 'New' Strand desks atm.

 

In the interest of completeness would you like to expand on these major advantages?

[Casteroil]

I've had the bigger Strand desks demoed at me, and I kinda like them. I'd say that the smaller strand desks I've had the pleasure of using aren't quite in the same league. A lot of am-dramers have used and liked the frog series, so definitely worth having a try. I agree with the comments Nick's made on the Smartfade, it never really agreed with me - in contrast to the Jester. Which has!

 

Questions that need asked though, why are you wanting to replace your 300?

 

What do you want it's replacement to do?

 

What does it have to control on a regular basis?

 

Are there any special considerations that might affect your choice?

 

We have used the 300 series at one of the venues we hire but it doesn't belong to us. We are hoping to expand to use further venues and would like to have our own lighting desk.

 

I am interested in the Jester but our main lighting man seems to think that Zero88 are in his words "A bit low rent" although I think I will show him the comments here and see if I can get him to see one in action.

 

We have tired to programme a smartfade in the past and it left him tearing his hair out. I'm sure that given time you could get it to do what it promises but time is never something we have a lot of.

 

Thank you very much for your comments.

[gareth]

You missed one important answer - what will your new desk have to control? How many channels of dimmer will you be running from it? Do you need the capability to program scrollers or moving lights? Is it likely that you'll need that ability at any time in the future?

[Casteroil]

You missed one important answer - what will your new desk have to control? How many channels of dimmer will you be running from it? Do you need the capability to program scrollers or moving lights? Is it likely that you'll need that ability at any time in the future?

 

 

It really depends on the show and the venue. We have hired moving lights for shows and will do so again although we are not in a position to purchase our own and the moment. We hope to be in a position to fit out our own venue in the new 18 months. Dimmer channels will at first be limited to budget but the most important thing is that we purchase a desk that can expand with us.

 

This is a large purchase for us and will be expected to last 10-15 years. I know we can't predict technology advances that far ahead but I would expect to many multichannel fixtures in that time.

[Kazeja]

One other aspect you may wish to consider is after sales tech support.

 

Who do you turn to and what is the response/fix time "in the unlikely event (?)" of it going wrong? :P

[Joe Bleasdale]

I had a palette a few weeks ago in a venue I was working in. Awful! Over the 2 days programming I had atleast 2 crashes per day. The inhouse guy even said it was bad. I thought it would be a newer version for the replacement of the 500 series, but I learned that everything changed, syntax, GUI etc etc. I by far didnt like it, and that will probably stay that way.