I have toured exclusively with Hog consoles for the past 4 years, and just started a job where they own a bunch of ETC consoles. My supervisors are open to making the switch to Hog, but only if I can justify it with reasons (and not just wants and comfort) for leaving the ETC line. We currently have an Eos and Ion. Any technical or factual reasons why making the switch to Hog would be greatly appreciated.
I hope given the Hog User Base here, you will get multiple replies from some of the power users. Obviously most replies will (and should be) bias towards Hog.
I have almost exclusively programmed on Hog. I worked with earlier ETC consoles (Insight, Expression, etc.) and only stumbled through using an Ion a few times. From my perspective, I had a lot of trouble efficiently controlling a number of moving lights.
From my perspective, I feel like the Hog can control conventional lighting as well as it controls moving lights and LEDs. However I don't think the ETC efficiently controls Moving lights as well as it controls conventional based on MY experience. I understand that an experienced Ion programmer can easily make the counter argument. it ultimately depends on the programmer.
Ultimately, I think the best argument you can make towards going for one console is you. If you can program a Hog faster than you can program an Ion, and you can save productions time/Money, then that is an excellent reason to get you the console you need. Below are couple bullet points, I hope they help. You should also consider posting your question on the Wholehog 4 User Group on Facebook. I think you will be overwhelmed with the replies there.
Hardware Improvments: Larger and Higher Quality Displays 3-Axis Trackball (Hog 4 & Full Boar 4 only) 5 Encoders (Hog 4 & Full Boar 4 only) Front Panel Display & Jog/Shuttle dial (Hog 4 only) Built in Keyboard (Hog 4 only) Multitouch Capable Displays Motorized Faders (Hog 4 & Full Boar 4 only) Dedicated Grand Master (Hog 4 & Full Boar 4 only) Assignable Front Panel Function Keys Built in DMX outputs Separate Back and Pause Buttons (not HH4) Additional Pig Key (not HH4) Solid State Drives for speed and reliability 3 External Screens (Hog 4 only) Built in MIDI and LTC (Hog 4 and Full Boar 4 only) Storage Drawer with USB power (Hog 4 only) Software Upgrades and Reinstalls in minutes
Softwareware Improvements: Plot View & Pixel Mapping Compound Fixtures Media Integration and CITP User Kinds Playback Scale Masters Assignable Command Keys Fast New Shows Video Matrix Control DMX Test Visualizer Bundled Reporting, Print to PDF Lock Screen OSC Remote Control XML Import/Export Menu Window
Plot View Graphical 2D view of fixtures Create within seconds using touchscreen or mouse Powerful layout tools: line, grid, circle Drag to select fixtures using line, rectangle or area Intensity and color feedback for instant awareness
Pixel Mapping Most powerful pixel mapper in industry Pixel map built using plots, not grids Accepts images and videos in any format Totally self contained, no external hardware needed Playback completely integrated with existing lists
Compound Fixtures Schedule entire fixture at once DMX patch all parts at once Display all parts together Fast selection using dotted numbers Lateral selection Use “.1” or “.2” to quickly move between parts
Media Integration and CITP Gobo and Color thumbnails Import media server thumbnails Stored in show, available offline Thumbnail images shown on toolbars and in dedicated Media Picker window User can provide custom images and names
User Kinds User defined collections of parameters for fast direct access to any part of complex fixtures Automatically created and assigned to hardware buttons for ease of use Fully configurable encoder assignments via drag and drop Also use as masks during programming and playback
Scale Masters Rate Control via Faders and Buttons Control Fade Rate, Effect Rate or Effect Size Increase/Decrease via Fader Double/Half Rate via Button Quickly switch between options
Command Keys Command Keys make Function Keys into executors Assign Any Lists, Scenes, Macros, etc to hardware buttons Fast, direct access to anything in a show
Fast, Small Show Files New Shows start in seconds Easily import fixture types from external libraries Show backups are small and fast Show files remain self contained
Video Matrix Control (coming in v3.5.0) Direct control of video matrix switchers over Ethernet Specific models from Barco, Lightware, BlackMagic, etc Seamless integration in library, programming & playback Sync video and lighting playback in a single cue Allows consolidation of roles A single operator can now run larger more complex shows A dedicated video operator now freed up for other tasks
Hog 4 - Aggressive Release Schedule Hog 4 is moving quickly Frequent releases – every 3 months on average 15 major software releases since inception New features added regularly Will continue for the foreseeable future
Hope this helps. Feel free to contact me directly if I can help. paul.hancock(at)barco(dot)com
I am not trying to be that guy. But I was wondering if any of the more experienced users have any suggestions? Thank you in advance for your responses!
As a programmer, I want what I will be fastest and most comfortable on. I generally program on Hogs and Ma2's, but the occasional ION/EOS line as well.
If it's a rental house, he should rent what is asked for in the area. Generally, I see Ion/Eos on theater style shows and Ma's and Hogs on concerts. As Paul stated, a console is purely a personal choice. If the rental house is always sending you out with the console, then whatever console you are fastest and most efficient on will save the client money in the end. All consoles do the same thing...spit DMX. It falls to the GUI and what the programmer is comfortable with to make them "sing."
I'm fastest and most comfortable on a Hog. I can do 90% of what the Ma can do on the Hog. For 99% of the shows I do, you don't need that last 10% of the Ma firepower. Then there's cost. Consoles are expensive. For a rental house, if he can't get a ROI on console purchases with rentals, then it doesn't make sense to change.
It's purely up to you to sell what you are worth. If client time and money savings is important, then it sounds like the Hog is the way to go for you and your boss.
I totally agree that a console is a personal choice, but I do think that some consoles are made for one application more so than others. In the past, I have generally programmed on Hogs and Ma2's as well, but I was also doing live concerts and events on the road. Now that I have spent 3 months with the ETC's in a fixed venue I find them lacking. I think they serve theaters, brodcast, and video recording studios very well. But with live events and music, I personally see the Hog's handling the demand better.
All that to say, my personal feelings don't matter in this decision. I am looking for factual reasons (hardware or software) the Hog's are better for live music than theater. Hope this makes sense.
