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High End Updates Their Flagship Console to Hog 4-18 and OS V3.11

ETC/High End Systems latest announcement about the Hog 4-18 brings some significant changes to the flagship console and the future of the desk. While not a terribly long press release, it still manages to pack a fair bit of new changes for the console. Such as the inclusion of Capture previz software, larger touchscreens, eight 5-pin XLR outputs, an increase to 12 universes of output for Hog 4 PC and of course, Hog 3.11 OS software. Seems meager, but these slight changes means that High End Systems is listening and making the changes to help bring the hog back to its glory days. Remember, how do you eat an elephant, one bit at a time.

ETC Opens Up Registration for Their Summer CUE Sessions

Do you love everything ETC/High End? Want to get so deep into the company that you need to know everything about it and their product line? You should think about heading to Madison, WI in late July then. Specifically July 19-21, 2019! CUE is a professional development conference that ETC host every other summer to help theatre professionals advance their career and get hands on training of ETC/High End Products. Get your credit card ready and book your trip to Madison this summer!

More from the ETC Press Release

Every other summer ETC and High End Systems host CUE, a professional development conference in Madison, WI. This conference is geared toward ETC and High End Systems live entertainment professionals of every level.

This summer marks the fifth CUE conference and registration is now open.

For the first time this year, console training will take part as a pre-event to the conference, freeing up three days for additional breakout sessions, keynotes, masterclasses, and events. Register now for the pre-event console training, and then stay for the Backstage on CUE track that covers products, troubleshooting, maintenance, and system layout.

If you’re already an experienced programmer looking to take your skills to the next level, register for the Eos on CUE or Hog on CUE tracks. Learn strategies to take your career to the next level of speed and efficiency and expand your approach to prepping and programming. Some of the best Eos and Hog programmers and developers in the world will be in Madison, Wisconsin for this event.

Register early, seats are expected to fill quickly! Early bird registration prices good through March 17^th.

To read more and register go to etcconnect.com/CUE

HES Hosting Events in Vegas and San Fran During June

Wanna check out some of High End Systems latest gear and/or get some training? High End has announced two events happening this month. (Wow, we are in June already?!?) Here are the details from HES:

The activities begin June 12 & 13, 2012 with a Wholehog training session held at the ESP Vision headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada. This introduction course covers the Wholehog Control Software, which is used on the Wholehog 3 Console, Road Hog, Road Hog Full Boar, the Hog iPC and Hog 3PC. Students will learn on Road Hog Full Boar consoles connected to ESP Vision. Full seminar description and registration information is available here.

The Wholehog training will be followed by an open house event to be held on June 14, 2012 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, also in Las Vegas, Nevada. Products on display will include intellaspot, Technospot, TechnoArc, trackspot Bolt, DLV and Road Hog Full Boar consoles. Hands-on demonstrations from industry professionals allow attendees the opportunity to get up close and personal with all the technology. Full details on the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino event can be found here.

If you are attending InfoComm, which just HAPPENS to be during the same time. If you can find time to peal away from the show floor, try and swing by.

After the Las Vegas events, High End System will again present a Wholehog seminar and open house in San Francisco, California. The open house will be held on June 20, 2012 at the Ruby Skye. nightclub Products on display will again include intellaspot, Technospot, TechnoArc, trackspot Bolt, DLV and Road Hog Full Boar consoles. Customers will also have opportunities for hands-on demonstrations from industry professionals. Full details on the San Fran event can be found here.

Wholehog training will occur at the same location in San Francisco on June 19 and 20. The seminar will feature Road Hog Full Boar consoles connected to ESP Vision to allow for a complete training experience. Full seminar description and registration information is available here.

High End Systems Offers a Six Pack Deal on Trackspot Bolt & DLV

Looking for a deal on some of the latest products from High End Systems? Perfect timing then! Through June 29th, 2012, High End is offer a bundle package on either their Trackspot Bolt or their new DLV.

The first offering is a six-pack of trackspot Bolt moving mirror luminaires. The LED trackspot Bolt provides designers with unprecedented light output, large feature set, and extremely fast movement – all in a compact fixture design. With a three year warranty and no need to ever change the lamp, the trackspot Bolt is a very economical choice. Now when customers purchase five fixtures, the sixth is free!

More details are available here: www.highend.com/sixpack

The new DLV Digital Light is also available for purchase in bulk. The DLV is a compact digital light outputting 4000 lumens. Based on the same engine as the renowned DL.3 Digital Light, the DLV has the same capabilities and large content package. Now until June 29, 2012 when customers purchase four DLV fixtures they will receive a Road Hog lighting console free of charge! The Road Hog console is a full featured Wholehog console capable of controlling 2048 DMX channels.

More details are available here: www.highend.com/DLVbundle

Also available through June 29, 2012, High End Systems is offering a special reduced purchase price for select replacement stepper motors. This special is limited to quantities on hand and partial shipments must be accepted. Customers can receive this parts special directly through their High End Systems representative.

High End Systems Celebrates 10 Years in 2012

Were does the time go? It has already been 10 years since High End Systems stepped into the Digital Lighting Arena. Now don’t let this 10 year anniversary confuse you with when High End opened shop… that happened in the late 80’s!

Just 10 short years ago, High End released to the market, a media server… something revolutionary and forward thinking… the Catalyst. It was shortly followed by a digital projector and a media server mounted into a moving yoke, the DL.1.

Through June, High End will be celebrating their 10 years in the digital lighting arena by holding a 10 year digital lighting promotion. All you have to do is fill out the form and High End will contact you with more details.

Wanna know more about the history of digital lighting from High End?

The first DMX controlled media server and Orbital Mirror Heads were sold in 2002 and the digital lighting revolution began. Back then, the Catalyst media server provided designers with the ability to control and manipulate media content from any lighting console. Prior to the release of Catalyst, video control from a lighting console was merely a dream for most designers.

Within a year after the first product was sold, the DL.1 Digital Light was released. This self contained unit was a video projector on a yoke with a direct connection to a Catalyst media server located away from the moving head. Suddenly designers were able to incorporate their own “fixture” and move away from using large video projectors with moving mirrors. But High End Systems had bigger plans for a fully integrated digital light.

2004 marked the release of the innovative DL.2 Digital Light. This unit truly defined the digital light moniker by providing designers with a single product that included a video projector and media server packaged together in a lighting fixture. With no additional connections required, the DL.2 fixtures could be installed and operated just like any other lighting fixture.

Development of the DL.2 software led to the release of the Axon Media Server in 2006. This new media server provided the playback and manipulation power of the DL.2 to be used with any type of video device. Furthermore, 2006 also saw the release of the updated Catalyst V4 Media Server.

In early 2008, High End Systems released the DL.3 Digital Light that provided higher output and new software features. In addition, every DL.3 was outfitted with a built-in camera and infrared illuminator. The purchase of High End Systems by Barco in mid 2008 added the DML-1200 Digital Light to the product line.

Since the release of the DL.3, High End Systems has continued to add software features to the digital line such as the collage generator, increased layers, digital shutters and more. In 2010 the DML-1200 was upgraded to use the Axon Media Server, and it too received a host of new features.

High End Systems continues to grow as a leader in the digital lighting market with the release of the DLV Digital Light in early 2012. This new, small unit retains most of the capabilities of the full sized DL.3, yet at a smaller size and reduced cost.

High End Systems Releases Wholehog Software v3.2.0

All you Hog fans, get your download on and prepare your jump drives for some software goodness. High End Systems, a Barco Company, has just released the latest version of the Wholehog software, version 3.2.0. Here is more from High End Systems:

High End Systems, a Barco company, is pleased to announce the release of version 3.2.0 software for the Wholehog operating system. This software provides many enhancements and improvements to the popular platform, which includes the Wholehog 3, Road Hog Full Boar, Road Hog and Hog iPC consoles as well as Hog 3PC software.

The eagerly awaited v3.2.0 software’s main highlights include Network Tracking and Failover, Color Coding, Keystroke Macros and more. The new features – requested by programmers – have passed extensive industry testing for stability and reliability.

“We are pleased to release v3.2.0 with a multitude of new features,” stated Robbie Bruce, High End Systems Director of Software Development. “This version not only adds features, but also strengthens our core system and allows us to develop at a faster pace. We included many under-the-hood enhancements that will aid in future software development.”

Additional features included in v3.2.0 include USB saving for Wholehog 3 consoles, selective show merging, fixture schedule search, direct value entries and improved GUI throughout. With such a large number of enhancements, High End Systems again called on their loyal beta testers to ensure the software met the needs of the customers.

“Version 3.2.0 represents another huge leap forward in the software’s lifecycle. There is almost too much to digest here all at once. I’m sure many users will share my appreciation for many of the enhancements,” said Ross Williams, renowned UK lighting programmer and designer. Williams has been an active beta tester through many versions of Wholehog software.

Version 3.2.0 also marks the first software version that is no longer compatible with the discontinued DP2000. Users are advised to take advantage of a trade in offer towards the purchase of a DP8000, which is available through July 31, 2011.

Version 3.2.0 software, release notes, and an updated manual are now available free of charge at www.flyingpig.com.

Barco/High End Readying to Release Wholehog V3.2.0

Hog users rejoice. Barco/High End Systems is on the verge of releasing their latest version of the Wholehog 3 operating system. Here is a blurb from the website:

Software version 3.2.0 for Wholehog products is on the verge of being released. Professionals in our Wholehog Beta-Testing Program are all abuzz about the new features and enhancements, whose main highlights include Network Tracking and Failover, Color Coding, Keystroke Macros and more. The new features – requested by programmers – have passed industry testing for stability and reliability.

The v3.2.0 software benefits those using our current product line of Wholehog 3, Road Hog, Road Hog Full Boar and Hog 3PC systems, as well as the discontinued Hog iPC.

Features and enhancements in version 3.2.0 include:

Network Tracking and Failover
Color Coding
Keystroke Macros
USB Saving for Wholehog 3 console
Improved GUI Throughout
Selective Show Merging
Fixture Schedule Search
Direct Value Entry on Encoder Toolbar

Version 3.2.0 is right around the corner. Make sure to get instant gratification by signing up for release notification from Barco/High End by getting on the mailing list. Learn more about the up coming release by visiting their website at www.highend.com.

Sunday YouTube Videos

LEDs can be so much fun. ESPECIALLY when used as eye candy! One perfect example of an LED fixture that excelles at eye candy is the Barco/ High End ShowPix fixture. On top of eye candy, the ShowPix is able to produce some pretty amazing colors in an even field. Take a look at the demo reels from High End Systems on the ShowPix to see what it can do. Then, if you have enough of them lined up, why not play a little pac-man?

Richard Belliveau Tears into the XT-1 at LDI 2010

Check it out, The master mind behind Barco/High Ends Systems, Mr. Richard Belliveau was front and center at the Barco/High End booth at LDI tearing a Intellaspot XT-1 fixture apart! I really have to hand it to Mr. Belliveua and Barco/High End on this. Not only is the fixture super easy to take apart and service, but the developer and genius behind the mover was right there giving them demo him self!

Thanks Mr. Belliveua!

Barco Starts Shipping New intellaspot XT-1 Moving Light

Not to long ago, Barco/High End Systems announced their latest moving light, the intellaspot XT-1. Good news, Barco/High End Systems has just begun shipping the fixture to customers. Here’s more info from Barco’s updated press release:

Digital and automated lighting pioneer Barco/High End Systems announced today that it is now shipping the intellaspot XT-1, an innovative, full-featured hard-edged moving yoke light offering a new benchmark in a price/performance ratio. The intellaspot XT-1 features remarkable innovations in optics, lamp configuration, high lumen output, energy efficiency, zoom range and more for a highly economical price.

The intellaspot XT-1 features a powerful optical system, producing an extreme 20,000 lumens output from the 850w HID lamp, while also providing clear projections with a large zoom range of 11°- 55°. It features a fast mechanical iris, variable soft edge, and electronic strobing, in addition to smooth CMY color mixing and variable CTO. A fixed color wheel allows instant color choices via easily exchangeable dichroic filters. Two rotating Lithopattern® wheels, each with seven patterns plus open, provide a large number of output patterns and images. The output can be further enhanced with a rotating prism and an animation wheel.

Built on an entirely new platform, the intellaspot XT-1 is an exceptionally energy-efficient fixture that conforms to modern “greening” principles. A battery-controlled full color LCD menu system enables fixture addressing without having to power up the unit. Low ambient noise, Remote Device Management (RDM), Art-Net, and wireless DMX capabilities make the intellaspot XT-1 the professional choice for a wide variety of applications.

Check out more details about the intellaspot XT-1 by visiting Barco/High End Systems website, www.barco.com.

Friday Flickr Lighting Porn: Main Light

This weeks randomly selected Friday Flickr Lighting Porn Photo comes from Main Light in Wilmington, Delaware. The photo was taken during their recent Barco/High End Open House showcasing the High End Intellaspot XT-1 and the Barco DML-1200 along with some other High End Systems lighting fixtures. You really have to love aerials, I could stare at them all day!

Check out Main Lights Flickr Set. They have plenty more photos from their High End Open House earlier this month. Thanks Main Light for adding the photos to the pool!

Want to see your photos added to the iSquint Friday Flickr Lighting Porn Pool? Every Friday, I randomly select a photo from the Flickr Pool and feature it here on iSquint. Add your photos to the Friday Flickr Lighting Porn Pool as often as you like, the more the merrier! Thanks everyone for adding your great lighting design photos to the pool, keep it up!

High End Discontinues Repair Service of Wholehog 2 Consoles

Late in the week, I got a note from a good friend and industry insider about the High End Wholehog 2 desk. It looks like High End has stopped supporting repairs of the desk. Starting August 11, 2010, Barco / High End Systems has discontinue their repair service for the Wholehog 2 hardware.

The Hog2 has been one of the most sought after desk in the industry due to it’s form factor, control capabilities and of course, the ease of programing and reliability. It is a sad day to hear that repair support from the factory has stopped. There are still a bunch of these desk out in the wild producing some pretty amazing lights.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. If you still own and operate a Wholehog 2, check with your local Barco / High End dealer for repair services at the dealer level. Some dealers may still may offer some sort of support in repairing your desk. Albeit, that it may become difficult to find parts as many of them have been discontinued as well.

There is also one last glimmer of hope with your Hog2. Barco / High End has extended their console trade in program through August 31, 2010. Your Hog2 can proudly serve you one more time by going back home and saving you money on upgrading to a new Hog desk. For full details on the trade in program, contact your local Barco / High End dealer for details.