ETC Introduces Gio Lighting Control Console ETC's award-winning Eos lighting-control family is expanding -- but the newest console in it is not. The buzz since July (when ETC gave their end-users at their CUE conference an exclusive first look) is about the elegantly compact design of the new Gio - a high-functionality console in a smaller footprint. "Gio puts together the control-surface depth required to do large shows in a mid-ranged, ergonomically engineered package," says Matt Kerr, ETC associate entertainment market manager. "We designed it to be the professional solution for space-compromised productions and touring." Gio will be officially debuted at fall industry tradeshows like PLASA in London, LDI in Orlando, and WFX in Dallas. Positioned in the middle of the popular Eos console range, between the Eos and the Ion boards, Gio features the family's powerful hardware and software for sophisticated effects - like pixel mapping and media server control -- as well as the instantly recognizable ETC syntax. Programmers familiar with other ETC consoles will immediately settle in with Gio, and novice users will quickly master the direct, intuitive operational style. Not just lightweight and portable, Gio introduces new technologies to the Eos line-up. The console's buttons are back lit, making programming in dark situations much easier (and freeing up console Littlites for script reading). Gio also includes two articulating 12.1" LCD multi-touch displays, allowing the screens to be positioned flat for shipping and angled for programming according to preference. Whether a programmer is sitting or standing, the view is adjustable to his or her sightline and comfort. Gio also supports up to three high-density external displays -- all of which can be multi-touch -- speeding up programming by putting navigation and more control right at the fingertips. Compact but not compromising on capability, Gio accommodates the broad and varied range of modern lighting demands. Fully networked with ETC's ACN-based Net3, Gio can act as a primary console, a synchronized back-up, or a client integrated within an Eos or an Ion system. Offline and client programming is available on PC (Windows 7 or XP) and Macintosh (OS X Intel). And twelve discrete online users with partitioned control means a lighting team can work faster -- splitting the workload by accessing the same show file simultaneously. Transition will be smooth from other consoles as well: Shows can be imported from ETC's Obsession, Express, Expression, Emphasis, and Congo, as well as the Strand® 500/300-series show files via ASCII. All Eos and Ion accessories work with Gio. Small but muscular, Gio offers 10,000 channels (devices); 2048, 4096, 6144, or 8192 outputs/parameters; a dedicated master-playback fader pair; ten definable motorized faders, with 30 pages of control; 999 cue lists; 200 active playbacks; 300 submasters; and four pageable force-feedback encoders. The Gio's sophistication also includes Virtual Media Server Control with stock content (user images may be imported). Easily handling conventional and moving lights, LEDs, and media servers, Gio will adapt to today's rigs in theatre, TV studios, academic institutions, houses of worship, corporate productions, exhibits, special events and touring - any venue or production that is looking for complete control sized right. ![](/std_images/blank.gif)
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