Congo Jr or leapfrog 96

[jimbob]

Hi all we are in the final stages of purchasing a new lighting desk for our Amature Drama Club and was looking at the Leapfrog 96 we currently have strand MX48. The leapfrog looks good and being able to insert cues is a real bonus we recently hired a old frog style desk for a show with moving lights and was pleased with it. However we were also looking at a Congo Jr and reading on this forum everyone says the Congo Jr is streets ahead of the Leapfrog we had origionally priced a Congo Jr with Play Back Wing but due to our tight Budget we would only be able to purchase a Congo Jr only.

I downloaded the Congo Jr manual and found it hard to understand and follow compaired to what we are used to and compaired to the Leapfrog. Just wondering if anyone has any advice on these two desks and is it easy to use a Congo Jr without a playback wing bearing in mind that we are used to a MX with Fader per channel and submasters.

 

Thanks all

[PDD]

The Congo Jr is really easy to use without the playback wing (I have one, plus the wing, but hardly use the wing), but it will be completely unfamiliar to you if you're used to using the MX's fader-per-channel - the Congo Jr doesn't have that, and even with the playback wing, doesn't necessarily have that. (You can set it to work 1-to-1 but the playback wing is mainly intended as an equivalent of sub-masters, and as playbacks for moving lights or chases, etc.) Don't be confused by the manual - the desk has two ways of working - 'RPN' or the more traditional @ mode, which you might find easier. (i.e. channel 1 @ 50%, etc.)

 

Although I don't own a Leapfrog, you do get the faders built-in, and therefore maybe more suitable for you.

 

Surely the thing to do is hire/borrow/demo them both for a show - or arrange a demo from your local supplier or even the manufacturers themselves? Would you buy a car without a test drive?

[Germaine]

IMHO the Congo is more of a busking desk, and the ETC Ion may be a better choice for a theatre setup. I think the pricing is similar, and since this is a purchase you will have to live with for sometime it would be worth researching well.

[gareth]

Congo Jr is indeed streets ahead of Leapfrog in many ways - but it takes a little while to get one's head around the operational philosophy. As Germaine mentioned, you should really take a look at the ETC Ion as well.

[Gwion]

I was faced with the same dilemma a year or so ago.

 

I managed to have hands on experience of both desks, and although I used to own my own Fat Frog, then became Technical Manager in a theatre that owned a Bull Frog, I opted for the Congo Jr with a Playback wing.

 

Despite the fact that understanding the Congo takes a lot more head work, it is more suited to our venue. that is a theatre with a lot of visiting companies, as well as concerts that our tech team operate. The Sub masters are fantastic for doing this, and the theatre Stacking is ideal for shows. Furthermore, we have a number of moving heads, and the Congo is ideal for busking these.

 

Having said all that, the Leapfrog can do a lot of the same, and is intended as a theatre stacking desk with intelligent light support. it is a lot easier to get to grips with, but has it's limitations in comparison.

 

A mentioned previously, you wouldn't buy a car without a test drive...

 

Hope it helps...

 

PS if you are able to visit us, you are more than welcome to have a demo on out Congo Jr.

 

Cheers

Gwion

[ablett]

I have gripes with both consoles.

For theatre use, I would personally recommend the Congo.

It's well armed for theatre...I wouldnt use the congo for anything else but for that purpose.

 

But...You might also want to consider the ION, if you can afford it, similar look to the congo, and it's more aimed at theatre. (I believe it's designed to replace the old Strands). And then again you could also look at getting a second hand Strand 520 if thats an option...

[CARWYN]

I was faced with the exact same dilema as you last february congo jr or leap frog 96

I knew of a venue that just bought a congo jr and they invited me up to have a look at it and the training session they had with it. well the training course was totally useless and didnt learn anything. also the venue nearly two years have past with them having the desk now and it is still being used as a door wedge as there are still issues with it not working properly and etc are not that botherd about fixing it.

I then went to a trade show and they had a leap frog 96 there and they demod it and I had a good look at it and used it and the crew were so helpfull.

 

so eventually I went with the leap frog 96 as I thought it was a far cry better desk for my venue.

Zero88 hold free training sessions at their base whitch I went on which were exelent and there was a buffet dinner time, and if you have any problems phone them and they will sort you out I recently had a fault with the mfk keys with it and I finished one show finishing on the monday and a nother shows get in and rigg on the thursday. they came and fetched it on the monday and it was droped back off to me on the wednesday morning. I was most impressed with the service.

 

I would recomend the leap frog due to the quality of service :unsure: :D

[richard_cooper]

also the venue nearly two years have past with them having the desk now and it is still being used as a door wedge as there are still issues with it not working properly and etc are not that botherd about fixing it.

 

..............

 

I would recomend the leap frog due to the quality of service :unsure: :D

 

I suspect that there more to that story. ETC have been more than willing to help us, even repairing a fault with out fader wing for free that I would have expected to pay for as it was more damage, than a fault. I've also had great support from them on software issues, not that I've had many.

 

I'd also agree that Zero88 offer great support as well.

 

Richard

[Tomo]

I knew of a venue that just bought a congo jr and they invited me up to have a look at it and the training session they had with it. well the training course was totally useless and didnt learn anything. also the venue nearly two years have past with them having the desk now and it is still being used as a door wedge as there are still issues with it not working properly and etc are not that botherd about fixing it.

I assure you that ETC are interested in helping them out, but it's very difficult to help someone who doesn't tell you they have a problem.

 

If they are still having issues, then please ask them to get in touch!

 

Tel: 020 8896 1000

Email: congo (at) etcconnect.com

 

The office is currently closed for the christmas break, but re-opens on Friday.

Emergency help is always available 24/7 on the above phone number.

 

ETC hold free 2-day Congo training sessions at the London office at least twice per month, and yes, they do provide lunch.

 

If you don't understand something during training, then please ask!

The trainer won't think you're stupid for asking a question.

[Nick S]

As somebody not affiliated with either company I will back Tomo up and say that ETC have some of the best support in the industry. I've had the same brilliant level of service dealing with (relatively) cheap SmartFades and expensive EONS. I've never heard of ETC not being interested in helping users with problems - I've heard of plenty of users who aren't bothered getting in touch with them.

 

Similarly, Zero88's support in the UK is just as fantastic - I've even seen them write custom patches in response to venue problems. You can go wrong with neither company, but as others have suggested above I would perhaps recommend looking at the ETC ION instead of the Congo Jr.

[The Gaffa]

A third vote for ETC, the backup support is great.

 

Had a problem with the Electronics in one of our Smart racks, and they sorted it out within 6hrs,

full replacement and test, before leaving the tech made sure we were happy.

[CARWYN]

not trying to offend anyone but the trainer was only interested in showing how the console was good at controlling movers and he was not interseted in showing them the full board from my understanding and the technician has got in touch with etc every time the console went wrong and they have replaced the desk 2 - 3 times due to an issue to the desk.

I think now they have managed to get everyone that is involved with the mass purchase from stage electrics have got all the desks to one theatre and they are having someone down from etc to make sure all the desks are working properly and to do some training and there is someone from an other theatre that knows the desk like the back of his hand is comming over to iron out any queeries regarding anything they cannot do or having problems with

 

cheers

[elarsen]

not trying to offend anyone but the trainer was only interested in showing how the console was good at controlling movers and he was not interseted in showing them the full board from my understanding and the technician has got in touch with etc every time the console went wrong and they have replaced the desk 2 - 3 times due to an issue to the desk.

I think now they have managed to get everyone that is involved with the mass purchase from stage electrics have got all the desks to one theatre and they are having someone down from etc to make sure all the desks are working properly and to do some training and there is someone from an other theatre that knows the desk like the back of his hand is comming over to iron out any queeries regarding anything they cannot do or having problems with

 

cheers

 

 

Dear Carwyn

 

It's good to hear that you are happy with your Zero88 desk and the service you receive.

I would not have expected less from a professional manufacturer and would like to point out that ETC is providing the same. We do care for our customers and for products manufactured by ETC by providing 24/7 service, free training courses on all platforms, being Congo/Congo jr, Eos/Ion or SmartFade. Also our website contains online tutorials for all consoles.

What desk to choose is a matter of user taste and venue demands. Anntending a free course is a good way to try out different control philosophies to find the one that suits you and your venue.

You should be very welcomed in one of our courses and I can ensure you that it is not all about moving lights and that you will be offered free lunch <_<

 

Kind Regards

[gareth]

Carwyn, just a question to clarify something - if I'm interpreting your posts correctly, you (or the venue that you're talking about, at least) bought the ETC desk from Stage Electrics, correct? In that case, was the 'trainer' that you talk about a Stage Electrics trainer or an ETC trainer? And likewise, if the desk came via Stage Elecs, are they talking to Stage Elecs or direct to ETC regarding the issues that they're experiencing with the desk? I just think it's important to clarify that, because the way you word it makes it sound like the training and support problems are with ETC themselves, and it wouldn't be fair for people to be thinking along those lines if the issues are with ETC's agent rather than ETC themselves.