Over the past few months we have been hinting numerous times about the long rumored replacement of the ETC Express Console (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)  .  This finally confirms the rumor.

Directly from the Middleton:

Industry professionals have been asking for an ETC lighting control console designed expressly for modest rigs and maximum hands-on fader control. In response, we are introducing the new ETC Element™ consoles. We will unveil them tomorrow at USITT in Cincinnati, Thursday, March 19th, 2009.

ETC defined the basic lighting controller when the Express™ console was introduced in 1995. We’ve seen over time that the basic lighting rig has changed. With Element, we’ve redefined what ‘basic lighting console’ means, without losing the ease of use of Express. Element comes in two hardware versions, based on fader count (the Element 40 or the Element 60). Each supports a full two universes of DMX output and either 250 or 500 channels.

Element is directed at smaller venues like schools and houses of worship who depend on single console operators or volunteer staffers. It is designed to handle rigs outfitted predominantly with conventional fixtures, while also accommodating some LED fixtures and/or a small number of simple moving lights. We based Element on the Eos® control system but with a simplified feature set in a stand-alone console. Integral faders, a single cue list and command prompts echoing those of the Express console make operation of an Element console simple and direct.

Element navigates basic accessory, LED and moving-light control. At the press of a button, the console’s On Demand ML Controls appear on screen with tools designed to control smaller numbers of non-intensity equipment like scrollers, gobo rotators and mirror heads for conventional fixtures. Element’s color and gel-picker tools simplify the process further, applying just the right colors to LEDs and color-mixing accessories and fixtures.

ETC plans to begin shipping the Element this summer.  Pricing has not been released. If you are attending USITT in Cincinnati, make sure to stop by ETC’s booth, 1100 , for the offical release.