In a record year for ETC product releases, the climactic moment is set for LDI 2006, when ETC formally debuts its latest and most sophisticated lighting control system, their new flagship, Eos.
Eos was engineered to handle the most advanced and complex lighting rigs. Designed for the rigorous demands of Broadway shows, opera houses, concert halls, TV studios, and large productions, Eos is the culmination of extensive ETC console experience, research and end-user feedback. Eos is undeniably ETC -- users will be instantly comfortable with its operational style and syntax -- while boldly new in its visionary features and functionality.
Eos is a fully networked system managing conventional fixtures, moving lights, LEDs, fog machines, media servers and more. The system is both forward thinking and reverse compatible, as it simultaneously outputs both ETCNet2™ and the new Net3™ protocol, ETC’s network powered by the new ESTA ACN standard.
Eos responds to the way people work, anticipating the team-intensive style of today’s productions. The console offers unique features tailored to the needs of each member of the design and production team. ETC’s Eos product manager Anne Valentino explains, “In complex real-world productions, a desk or remote station may be used by a programmer, a designer or ALD, an electrician, and others in the team – all approaching the system with different purposes and varying requirements from the system. We’ve learned from watching professionals and talking with them about their needs that each looks at the system from a different perspective, but the common issue for all is time. Everyone is interested in reducing the time it takes to program the lighting system so they have more time to be creative.
“So we developed this powerful new desk that is familiar and comfortable, while providing better, faster ways to program a show. Some things are obviously new – how lights are marked, how quickly and intuitively patch works, our query function, setting color by matching to gel references, for example. But we also looked for every opportunity to streamline those functions used constantly, and it’s also those shortcuts that result in a smile and nod from people. Everything was optimized to be simple, easy and time-saving.”
Eos offers what ETC calls ‘partitioned control’ to support the layers of production work that can be done simultaneously. Multiple programmers can work within the same show file, while electricians with remote focus units and a designer at a remote workstation work independently. One easy instruction in the first cue of the main cue list synchronizes everything to one [Go] button and one operator when the programming is wrapped.
Eos provides a syntax and operational style very familiar to most designers, allowing them to speak with their moving light and conventional programmers in the same language. Designers will also be able to work from a laptop or Remote Video Interface connected to the Eos network. These remote stations can mimic the programmers’ displays, or designers can set up their own workspace, totally independent of the programmer.
Programmers look for speed, efficiency and flexibility. The most commonly used functions are right on top with Eos – so that programmers can work by muscle memory. Eos provides seamless interaction between the command keypad and ‘direct selects,’ which provide one-touch instant recall of show content. LCD direct selects can be used with or without innovative button overlays that support multi-touch operation and – because they provide tactile response – let programmers keep their eyes on the stage, not the desk. Eos also introduces ‘intelligent-parameter’ mapping, showing controls only for lights that are currently patched. Force-feedback encoders provide a tactile response to programmers, letting them know when color scrolls, wheels and gobos are in full frame.
Electricians will find that Eos is engineered to adapt to multiple system configurations—present and future. Because the system outputs both ETCNet2 and Net3 simultaneously, it provides control of legacy systems, which can easily be migrated to a full ACN environment when needed. Eos imports show files from a wide variety of desks, as well as LightwrightTM patch information. Powerful utilities provide information about the lights used in the show and tools for cleaning up the show data itself.
Eos is available in two models: Eos 8K (supports 8000 outputs) and Eos 4K (supports 4000 outputs). Eos accessories include the Eos Remote Processor Unit (RPU), which provides additional backup options and stand-alone playback functions; the Eos Remote Video Interface (RVI), supporting two DVI video ports and providing a workstation for designers, ALDs and stage managers; and Eos Radio Remote Focus Unit (RRFU), purpose built with integral LCD, backlit buttons and encoders, to support the most common maintenance and focus functions. Eos’ Client Software Kit includes a CD image of the Eos Off-Line software, with a dongle to enable a third party computer access to the network. This station can then serve as a remote display or programming device.
Eos system capacity:
8000/4000 outputs/parameters
5000 control channels (devices)
10,000 cues
99 cue lists
30 fader pages
4 x 1000 palettes (intensity, focus, color, beam)
1000 presets (all palette)
1000 groups
1000 effects
1000 macros
1000 snapshots
Supports three VGA or DVI monitors starting at 1280 x 1024 resolution
Hard disk
USB ports for USB Flash drives, pointing devices, keyboards
Multiple timecode Inputs simultaneously.