Lighting Designer Richard Larkum Brings ETC's Stage Hog on Tour with Biffy Clyro

	"The software is familiar enough that you look at it and it still feels comfortable," he says, "but there are so many new things to get excited about -- the dashboards are an especially nice addition," says Larkum. Photo: Richard Larkum

Lighting designer Richard Larkum has spent nearly two decades working with the Hog platform, bringing its control capabilities to concert stages around the world. Most recently, Larkum took the new Stage Hog console on a 27-date European tour with Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro, including stops in Berlin, London, and Amsterdam.

Larkum's story with Hog began over 20 years ago, as he was starting to break into arena shows and larger concert venues. Around that time, he felt that the consoles he had been using weren't powerful enough to handle the bigger shows he was beginning to take on. To decide on his next desk, Larkum did a shoot-out with all the major consoles of the time, as well as a soon-to-be-released beta console. Ultimately, he settled on a Hog IPC in Hog 2 mode as his new desk.

Over the years, Larkum transitioned to Hog 4 systems, including a full-size Hog 4 and later a dual-console Road Hog 4 setup, giving him expanded screen space while maintaining the workflow he had perfected. As touring schedules became increasingly international, he also developed a portable Hog configuration using a Hoglet, an HPU, and a 21.5" monitor, all compact enough to travel in a 28-kg Pelican case. "The ability to take my rig anywhere, by train, plane, or otherwise, is invaluable," he says.

The Stage Hog offered the next evolution in his workflow. Outfitted with two 24" monitors and integrated dashboards, the console allowed Larkum to manage both house rigs and traveling production systems depending on venue size. Despite the transition to new hardware, he found the move seamless. "The software is familiar enough that you look at it and it still feels comfortable," he says, "but there are so many new things to get excited about -- the dashboards are an especially nice addition."

Screen real estate and clear feedback have always been central to Larkum's workflow and are among the reasons he originally adopted Hog. With the Stage Hog, he can maintain full control across multiple displays while touring, making it the perfect next-generation desk for his needs. Reflecting on his long-term use of the platform, he adds, "It lets me make lights flash how I want them to flash, and that's what a Hog has always done."

To learn more about the Hog family of consoles, visit www.etcconnect.com/Hog.