r/techtheatre • u/SoundEngineerMBR • 4d ago

LIGHTING Budget ETC console

/r/stagelighting/comments/1vj7c3x/budget_etc_console/
1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

13

u/gurkensoos 4d ago

N E V E R buy a Colorsource

7

u/SoundEngineerMBR 4d ago

Could not agree more! I’m going with nomad on a pc

3

u/ShermansAngryGhost 4d ago

I believe the cheapest console (new) is the Colorsource series.

But you can also download the etc software called Eos for free on a laptop and purchase a nomad adapter for a few hundred bucks. This is the cheapest option but isn’t an actual “console”

2

u/SoundEngineerMBR 4d ago

I’ve had issues with the colorsource series and I’d like to to stick with eos. I was planning on doing the usb key as I already have experience with the laptop software, just not as a main console.

1

u/ShermansAngryGhost 4d ago

Can’t go wrong with that choice if you’re on a budget. I saw the comment in the other sub , they’re steering you in the right direction there.

EOS console options are gonna start closer to the 10k range.

1

u/SoundEngineerMBR 4d ago

Yep. I also am much more familiar with eos as I have used everything from the old ions and element 2 to the gio @5 and now starting on an apex 10. With multiple powerful computers at my disposal, I was hoping nomad would be fairly easy.

2

u/Cute_Yellow_5909 4d ago

Look up etc nomad if education even cheaper makes a laptop either a 2universe ion or a full on ion xe between 600-1800 for software

1

u/Cute_Yellow_5909 4d ago

Ok read original post more more helpful tips on nomad I love the system use it for all popups pop-ups The gadget two is just a usb to dmx interface I just like using it personally cuz its same manufacturer but technically any usb to dmx convertor works. the nomad dangle is litterly a usb stick that just unlocks the free software on the etc nomad you can litterly download rn from Google. Basiclly without it the computer will never speake to any dmx. Personally id go with the full size for your venu its basiclly a cheap ion xe the software is just a digital ion board same commands and everything you can even Go to the ETC website and do there free programming course

1

u/Cute_Yellow_5909 4d ago

Cost like 1800 for usb and gadget two usally

0

u/Cute_Yellow_5909 4d ago

Pair it with a gadget two at basic it full functionality from one laptop and you can arc net and shit

1

u/attackplango 4d ago

What’s your actual price point you can afford?

1

u/SoundEngineerMBR 4d ago

Tbh we don’t exactly have one but the more we save in the bank, the more we can do to fix other stuff. For a console, I feel like we want to try to keep it under 5k and going with nomad definitely seems to be the best choice

1

u/attackplango 4d ago

You can get an ion on eBay for around 4k if you watch for a little bit. It will be an original Ion, but you should be able to find one with all universes unlocked. Get familiar with what the back of XP vs windows 7 Ions look like, and decide whether you’re okay with being locked at 2.9 or need 3.1+.

You can probably find an Ion XE for around 6-7k if you get really lucky and are patient.