ETC EOS OR MA2?

hi ruben

from a programmer standpoint the biggest difference is that Cobalt speaks "Yoda" and Eos speaks like everybody else: 5 Channel 7 Thru 50 Level (i think, i'm not a cobalt person...) in the Eos world is Channel 5 Thru 7 At 50 Enter.
i consider the software stable, but like with no other manufacturer there is no software that is completely bug-free. i don't say this to scare you, quite the opposite. i have never had a show stopper. i did have sometimes a function that didn't do what i expected but some of them were also user error (as usual ;) ).
one of things i really really like is the user community and of course the technical support. and there are some functions i don't want to miss anymore: magic sheets, the whole color handling and color fade tools, RDM integration and a full (and quite clever) OSC integration to name just a few.

i would suggest you contact your local dealer and get a demo. it's hard to talk about consoles without having any hardware to demonstrate the features. have someone show you. there are exciting new features in the pipeline and the software keeps getting new functions :)

if you have more questions, don't hesitate to ask! i'm sure everybody here is happy to help.

I have found the EOS platform to be exceptionally stable - truly more stable than any other platform I've used.

Which console is better probably depends on what kinds of shows you do. If you do any amount of theatre in the space an ION or GIO would be an excellent choice. The GIO is a nice little desk for the price point and has Faders attached - no need for a separate wing.

There are a few weaknesses compared to MA. 1) You can't just add NPUs to get additional universes - this is typically never a problem in a theatre. 2) The Playback side of the EOS console isn't as flexible as MA.

The developement team is currently in the process of upgrading the Playback capabilities of the EOS line - what you would see in software version 2.4 is the first half of that process and gets us a long way towards the goal.

Obviously on ETC's website you'll get a lot of users who prefer it - same with the MA site if you are posting over there. I've worked in more theatres than I'd like to mention - but for 90% of the workflows I have seen EOS is great desk.

Thanks so much for your responses! I will be sure to give the Eos family a hands on try before deciding wether it will be an MA or ETC. I must say that I am leaning towards EOS after reading your comments :)

Do you guys know by any chance if our Congo faderwings are compatible with the Eos desks/software?

Are they Universal Fader Wings (Part Number on back starts with 4310A_, then yes can be used with Eos Family.
Master Playback Wings (PN: 4320A1002) - can't be used with Eos Family.