FutureTech Featuring ETC - ETC's 8-Port DMX Gateways Debut

0:19 All right, welcome back to another future tech episode with Geezers of Gear. Today we're diving into ET CS latest drop, the new 8 port DMX gateways. Chris, I don't know about you, but when this press release landed in my inbox, high density DMX basically screamed at me. Yeah, high density and compact footprint are like magic words for anyone who's ever stared down a rack that's stuffed to the gills, right? ET CS Response MK2 Gateway family is getting these full width and half width 8 port models, one with all XLRS, one with terminals. For those who've not followed along, that's 8 outputs squeezed into either a classic full rack or this much smaller half rack style with terminals and. Help me out Chris.

1:05 So terminal connections instead of XLRS means you're wiring direct, no bulky cables. Exactly, spot on. XLRS are still super handy, but when you're packing a lot of runs into a rack, think LED coves, architectural installs, or a big concert tour. Terminal strips are brilliant. The clincher here is that the half width terminal version is exactly the same size as ET CS old 4 port Gateway. But now you get twice as many connections in that space. Twice as many? I mean, that's massive. That is wild. I'm picturing those crazy racks backstage where it's like you've got to squeeze another device in with a crowbar. So if you can double up your DMX lines without doubling up your gear, that's kind of a dream, no? Oh, totally.

1:49 Let me tell you, back in the day we'd have these ginormous racks just stuffed with DMX gear and every extra output felt like a commitment. You'd run out of rack space before you ran out of ideas for what to control. With these 8 port gateways, especially being able to mix and match XLR or terminals, you save a ton of space and also cut down on cost. More outputs, less physical headache. And they didn't skimp on the network options either. The mounting is flexible. Network ports are repositionable so you can slot these anywhere in the chain instead of planning your whole rig around like where the doors open. That used to drive me mad. The flexibility is key, and as someone who's not exactly rewiring these racks myself, I'll just say anything that brings more DMX outputs into a smaller, easier footprint.

2:36 The whole team's going to be grateful. No arguments there. It's a small change with a big impact. Makes life a bit easier and lowers cost too. As Kirk from ETC put it, this kind of trusted DMX control just opens up more options whether it's a permanent install or a big concert tour. Actually we talked a bit about that teams maximizing value when we covered gear shares AI driven rental platforms a couple episodes back. This is another chapter in the Do more with Less story. Yeah, it really all ties together. All right, so let's dig even deeper into what happens when you actually start stacking these things in your rack and look at the real world cost savings. So this is my favorite part from the release. You can get 16 outputs out of a single one U rack space by stacking 2 half width gateways.

3:26 That's that's a lot for one little bit of real estate. I know, right? Picture 2 half width terminal gateway sitting side by side, just one unit tall in your rack, but giving you 16 DMX outputs? Even five years ago that would have sounded like wishful thinking. Usually you'd need what, 21-U4 port boxes? Or a big clunky array. And don't forget about the tangle of power leads and network cables. ET CS really streamlined it. Just slap them both in an existing rack mount kit, screw them down, and you're ready. It's a huge deal for budgets too. You get twice the density and it's actually less expensive according to ETC. So now you can allocate more money to things people actually see on stage, instead of spending it all on infrastructure hidden behind a curtain. Right.

4:14 And think about the ripple effect. Less rack space means lighter racks, easier to move, cheaper to ship, especially for touring groups or anyone who's worried about freight costs. And you know those fun surprises when you go overweight at the airport. I'm not going to say it's as cool as a brand new moving light or a next Gen. console, but honestly when you were in the trenches your backbone gear matters most. Yeah, nobody's flashing their gateway stacks and Instagram posts, but man, it matters behind the scenes. And honestly, seeing these kinds of efficiency improvements makes me hope more companies go this route. Like, remember how that ETCF Dr. RX we talked about a few episodes back centralizes LED drivers?

4:57 This feels like the same playbook. Smarter, denser, lower maintenance, and totally scalable for the future. Absolutely, future proofing counts and ET CS really listening to the pain points this time. A little thing like mounting 2 boxes instead of four changes your whole approach to system design. Anyway, I think that's a wrap for today's DMX hardware deep dive. If you want the visuals, you can check out ET CS site for all three Gateway photos for now. Thanks for tuning in everyone. We'll be back with more news and fresh gear updates. Chris, I'll see you next time. Always a pleasure Laci, and thanks to everyone out there listening. Stay tuned for the next one. Sure Tech is here.

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