ETC Launches Congo Kid Console

ETC's Congo control family just got a little bigger, with the new addition of the Congo Kid lighting console. The Congo Kid controller puts the Congo line's software within reach -- and within budget -- for smaller venues that use conventionals, LEDs, scrollers, moving lights, and media servers.

The Congo Kid console offers all of the facepanel controls that ETC's Congo jr desk has, with 40 master faders in a single, portable console enclosure. Its setup makes for easy work of busking small shows in multipurpose venues. The new board comes with either 256 or 512 control channels. For venues that want to start small and work up to more capacity, the 256-channel Congo Kid console can be increased to 512 channels with the purchase of an upgrade code. The Congo Kid console can be used as a stand-alone system or as a client or backup to Congo and Congo jr boards. And ETC's RFR (Remote Focus Unit), cRRFU (Congo Radio Remote Focus Unit) and iRFR software, which turns any iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad into a portable remote control unit, is compatible with the Congo Kid platform.

The Congo Kid control system has a maximum output count of 1,024, two universes of DMX, and can connect to either two DVI monitors or a single DVI monitor and an sVGA monitor. The board does not support connection to external fader wings or modules, but it features MIDI connections and can handle more complex shows thanks to its compatibility with ETC's Net3 I/O and Show Control Gateways.

The Congo Kid console is a good fit for small theaters, houses of worship, broadcast, and special event, the company says.