Ok, some concerns as Eos get going, and the console development team works on the trickle down replacements for Expression/Insight/Express etc..
1) I've used the Congo off-line editor (struggled with it would be a better word - it's nowhere near as intuitive as Expression OL) and am aware that both the Congo and Eos consoles support, in theory, the importing of USITT-ASCII cue files. I have also seen in print a comment that Eos (that was the console being discussed) needs better support to directly read cues, especially partial cues (I'm assuming they were taliing about Obsession support).
As a long time user of Express (now with an Emphasis server), as well as a regular user of Emphasis OL and Express/ion OL, It's imperative that ETC duplicates the Emphasis's ability to import a defined range of cues, as well as macro's, submasters, as well as Lightwright 4 patch (I believe that's included - just can't make it work) etc... This ability in Emphasis is extraordinarily useful, and is a feature I use all the time. Likewise, there needs to be an ability to readily create Express/Ion and Obsession show files right out of the existing console. Note that I am a road house that sees 20 or more events per year that have cues created in some form of Express/ion format and can now readily load/merge into Emphasis a disk without having to convert thru the ASCII process. As there are something like 10,000 Express consoles in existence (quoting David Fox), as well as (I'm guessing here) another 2,000 -3,000 Expression and Insight consoles ?, one would hope that maintaining this ease of backwards compatibility is a top priority for any new consoles. In a nutshell, simply providing ASCII support doesn't cut it, especially if you have a feature in an existing console line (Emphasis), why disable or not include it in a new console line.
2) I'm really hoping that any new consoles based on the Eos OS will have more fader handles then the 2x20 fader wing(s) currently available for Eos and as available on Congo and Congo Jr. There is a desperate need for an Insight sized console, as well as replacements for the 2 scene Express consoles. Strand is doing this with the Sub Pallette and I don't want to have to go to Strand for a replacement for my Express/Emphasis.
In short, I'm sincerely hoping that whatever ETC develops in the new console series will be better in every sense of the word and that existing legacy console features, some noted above, doesn't get left behind.
Thanks for listening
Steve Bailey
LD - Brooklyn College