Can i use Unison Paradigm with the element 40 console

The short answer is absolutely yes. DMX and sACN (DMX on ethernet) are industry wide standards and anything that uses them (correctly) will work with others. I have designed many church systems and routinely pair them.

The longer version is that there is very little the two have to do with each other. Typically, architectural panels work in parallel with performance consoles. They both tell the fixtures and dimmers what to do, but the untrained find dedicated buttons and sliders easier to use. The janitor shouldn't need to turn on the console!

There are several other possibilities that might be less expensive, but of more limited function. Paradigm is my preferred system because it has a mind boggling range of functions and uses. Unison Echo comes in the same forms as Paradigm. It is very capable and less expensive. Echo Flex is wireless so can be wonderful in retrofits. A simple system of toggle switches and an I/O gateway can work wonders. And of course some systems use a blend. Almost always along side a console.

The real question is whether you've thought through the church needs. As a consultant myself, I naturally encourage you to hire a theatrical consultant. They will have the expertise to help you navigate the many, overlapping questions that will form the next 20 years of your lighting. This stuff gets very technical but must to be driven by the big picture goals of the church. Anyone that doesn't have all that info is bound to make mistakes. A consultants fees truly magnify the rest of the budget and preventing errors, saving you money. Dealers can be very helpful but usually don't have as wide experience or independence from sales. You can start with your local ETC dealer, other churches or contact ETC directly to find the right person.

Hi Rick,

Thank you for the response in such a short amount of time! Thank you for letting me know that I can pair these two. We have talked to some other churches near ours and have recommended this system. On your other question about hiring a "theatrical consultant" I can't do that. Our church, for lack of a better term is "cheap" so I'm kinda stuck looking at other systems. I get that hiring somebody prevents errors, but I have no choice

- Bailey

P.S: With budget in mind would Unison Echo be a good choice then? The only reason i'm considering archetectual panels is because of the older people in the church / maintenance :)

If you do decide to go with the toggle switches I have some available that will work directly with your Element without the need for an I/O Gateway.
community.etcconnect.com/.../contact-closure-adapter-and-remote-trigger-switch-for-i-o-port

Thanks! I will consider it!!!

Yes Unison Echo works with the Element, or any DMX board. Do you know that Echo and Paradigm are actually a whole bunch of products that create a system. Are you thinking of a DRd rack? do you have dimmers that you would like to keep? How big will your system be?

Major functions you might want that Paradigm has over Echo: faders on wallplates, touchscreens, complex programming. Several other things like the contact closures require add-ons with Echo.

If all you want is some switches at entry points then Echo or Echo Flex would be great. Johns toggles simplify connecting to the console, but require the console to be on 24/7. The point of the gateway is to leave the console off. Paradigm has contact closures built in, Echo has a contact closure interface that would allow similar function directly. Most built in dimmers have at least one "panic input" that can be used with simple toggle switches.

For budget you might look at the ColorSource console. It's build to be volunteer friendly! The top of the line CS costs about the same as the smaller Element so there is full range of options.

I hear you on hiring someone, in fact I hear that a lot. My point is that consultants actually save you money, but it does work better on larger projects, like $10,000+ If you reach that PM me and maybe we can do a remote consult. A good local dealer is a great alternative. They'll want to be your source for the long term so are usually willing to put some effort in before you buy. But do stay with ETC gear. I advise lots of budget oriented churches to go all ETC, without having any financial ties, except that happy clients are the best advertising.


John: If you decide to sell your adapter you might make it with outputs for all 4 of the contacts. Including some generic info on momentary vs maintained switch systems. The best solution might be to find a company to sell your idea to. Someone that already makes things, and maybe has a wide audience of Eos users.... (hint, hint Anne)

Hi Rick,

With that in mind, I am going to go for Paradigm then, it looks like it will be better suited for the church. I have looked at into ColorSource line, but I wanted to go for the element for two reasons; 1: I already know how to use it, and 2: No volunteers are interested in lighting. My budget total is 10,000 or so. We are contacting some sellers right now around are area and they are willing to help.

To answer your question earlier, "How big will your system be?"; The system will be medium sized - Around 16 LEDs, some Pars and some Ellipsoidal's. There may be some ML's as well.

And Yes, we are considering a DRd power controller.

Sounds like you have a good path forward. Good luck, and don't be shy about asking questions!

ok thank you for your help!!