Introducing The Unbreakable Gio
It was definitely one of those “what the” moments during November’s LDI trade show in Orlando. In the middle of a demonstration of ETC’s new GIO control console ETC’s field service Engineer Josh Selander picked up the console by its articulating 12.1” LCD multi-touch displays and proceeded to shake it vigorously. Nothing broke! Nothing stopped working. Then before any of the open mouths had time to shut he grabbed a coin and proceeded to gouge away at the face panel. Marks naturally appeared but to everyone’s amazement with a rub of the finger the scratches vanished again leaving the panel looking as new. Now this is not recommended treatment for your new Gio console but it does give you a pretty good idea of what market ETC had in mind when they designed the newest member of the award winning EOS console family.
Since July (when ETC gave their end-users at their CUE conference in Madison, Wisconsin an exclusive first look) there has been much discussion 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.”
Lightweight and portable, Gio introduces new technologies to the Eos line-up that make it the perfect touring solution. 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 the two articulating 12.1” LCD multi-touch displays, allowing these screens to be positioned flat for shipping and angled for programming according to preference. This means that no matter 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. Perfect for tight set up times on tour.
Not only is Gio tough enough to survive anything you can throw at it but it’s feature packed. Gio offers 10,000 channels (devices); 2048, 4096, 6144, or 8192 outputs/parameters; a dedicated master-playback fader pair; ten definable motorised faders, with 30 pages of control; 999 cue lists; 200 active playbacks; 300 submasters; and four pageable force-feedback encoders. Gio features the EOS family’s powerful software for sophisticated effects – like pixel mapping and media server control -- as well as the instantly recognisable ETC syntax. Programmers familiar with other theatrical consoles will immediately settle in with Gio, and novice users will quickly master the direct, intuitive operational style.
Don’t let the compact size fool you however. Fully networked with ETC’s ACN-based Net3™, Gio can act as a primary console, a synchronised back-up, or a client integrated within an Eos or an Ion system making it a powerful and versatile piece of inventory for any rental operation. 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. All Eos and Ion accessories work with Gio.
Transition will be smooth for clientele familiar with former 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. The Gio’s sophistication also includes Virtual Media Server Control with stock content (user images may be imported).
Tough, portable and 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. The perfect solution for any venue or production company that is looking for complete control sized just right.
