Element vs Ion for moving lights

Question

We are renting a junior high school for a production of Joseph and the amazing technicolor Dreamcoat next week. They have an ETC Element, updated to 3.0.1 software. 
 We are renting four Elation Picasso moving lights for the production and a couple of tech guys have told me that we really need the Ion XE for moving lights instead of the Element. 
 
 Is that accurate? Should we also rent an Ion XE or are we ok to program the Picasso lights in the element? 
 Thank you!

RobertP · Accepted Answer

The Element does not have physical encoders which can make focus with moving lights cumbersome (still doable with the ML controls tab) and then creating focus palettes for commonly used positions. You can also use the OSCRfr app on an iPad to gain virtual encoders which is another very effective route. 
 Depending on whether you need other features (like multiple cue lists) or a higher address count than the Element has then you should be fine with the Element and save the rental $. 
 Robert

Element vs Ion for moving lights

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