Hog Lighting Consoles in 2026: Tour Hog, Stage Hog and Flex Hog

If you last looked at Hog consoles when a Road Hog 4 or a Full Boar 4 was the default rental choice, the range has moved on. The entire Hog 4 family is now legacy, and ETC sells a new lineup built around three consoles, two wings and a rack processor. This guide walks through the current Hog range, what each model is for, and where the free Hog PC software fits in. It is based on ETC’s published specifications and on user feedback, not on a hands-on test.

A quick history: from High End Systems to ETC

Hog consoles were developed under the High End Systems name. Barco bought High End Systems in 2008, and ETC acquired the company from Barco in April 2017. Today the old highend.com address redirects to etcconnect.com, and Hog sits in ETC’s console catalog next to Eos and ColorSource.

That matters for buyers in two ways. First, support, training and dealer networks now run through ETC. Second, the product names changed: the numbered “Hog 4” branding is gone from the current catalog, replaced by Tour Hog, Stage Hog, Flex Hog, Gig Hog, Tour Wing and HPU+.

The current Hog range at a glance

All three consoles share the same core: Hog OS, 64 universes, four 5-pin DMX outputs and ten pageable, motorized, RGB-backlit master playbacks. What changes is the screen real estate and the size of the surface.

Model	Type	Universes	Displays	DMX outputs	Weight
Tour Hog	Flagship console	64	23.8″ articulating multitouch + 2 x 12.5″ dashboard	4	35.0 kg / 77 lb
Stage Hog	Mid-size console	64	2 x 12.5″ dashboard + 6 function key displays	4	21.0 kg / 46 lb
Flex Hog	Compact console	64	6 function key displays (external monitors)	4	12.3 kg / 27 lb
Gig Hog	Programming wing for Hog PC	12 with Hog PC	External monitors	2	5.4 kg / 12 lb
Tour Wing	Playback wing	12 with Hog PC	n/a	4	9.6 kg / 21 lb
HPU+	Rackmount processor	64 (32,768 parameters)	8″ multitouch	8	6.8 kg / 15 lb

Pricing for the Hog range varies by dealer and region, so treat all of these as price on request.

Tour Hog

The Tour Hog is the one to look at for arena and festival work, and it’s the model people usually mean when they search for “tour hog”. Its signature feature is the built-in 23.8-inch articulating multitouch display, flanked by two 12.5-inch dashboard displays. At 35 kg it is a true front-of-house desk, not something you carry to a club gig. If you are used to a Full Boar 4 on a touring rider, the Tour Hog is its natural successor in the current catalog.

Stage Hog

The Stage Hog keeps the same 64-universe engine and the same ten motorized playbacks, but drops the big central touchscreen. You get the two dashboard displays plus six full-color function key displays, and you add external monitors for your programming views. At 21 kg it suits theaters, houses of worship, corporate staging and one-off concerts where a full-size touring desk would be overkill.

Flex Hog

The Flex Hog is the smallest console in the lineup at 12.3 kg. It has no built-in main screen, only the six function key displays, so plan on bringing external monitors. It still offers the full 64 universes, which makes it an interesting option for fly-in gigs, festival guest desks and rental stock where you want the same show file capacity in a lighter case.

Wings, HPU+ and Hog PC

Hog PC is free

Hog PC is ETC’s free software version of Hog OS. On its own it is ideal for learning the syntax, prepping show files offline and running a visualizer session before load-in. For live DMX output from a laptop, you pair it with Hog hardware. ETC also notes that the paid ETCnomad USB key unlocks Hog PC, which is handy if your venue already runs Eos software. If you are weighing Hog against other free-software ecosystems, our overview of DMX lighting control software puts it in context.

Gig Hog and Tour Wing

The Gig Hog is a programming wing: plug it into a computer running Hog PC and you get 12 universes (6,144 addresses) and two DMX outputs in a 5.4 kg package. It is the budget entry point into the Hog workflow and a sensible backup or pre-programming surface for owners of the bigger consoles.

The Tour Wing is a playback wing. With Hog PC it also delivers 12 universes and has four DMX outputs; next to a console it adds more physical playbacks for busking-heavy shows.

HPU+

The HPU+ is a rackmounted console and DMX processor with a built-in 8-inch multitouch display, eight 5-pin DMX outputs and 32,768 parameters (64 universes). Use it as a processing and output hub at the dimmer world, as a tracking backup, or as a compact standalone system in a rack.

What about the Hog 4 family?

The Hog 4-18, Full Boar 4, Road Hog 4, HedgeHog 4, Hoglet 4, Hog 4 PC, the original HPU and the widgets are all legacy products. You will still find them on the used market and on older riders, and they remain capable desks. But they are not a new purchase recommendation in 2026: parts and long-term support are the key questions to ask any seller. Our Hog 4 review covers that generation in detail.

Which Hog should you choose?

• Touring LD or large FOH position: Tour Hog, optionally with a Tour Wing for extra playbacks.
• Theater, church or corporate venue: Stage Hog, with external monitors sized to your booth.
• Rental stock, fly-in dates, small footprint: Flex Hog.
• Students, freelancers, pre-programming: free Hog PC first, then a Gig Hog when you need real faders and DMX.
• Rack systems and backup: HPU+.

Hog’s reputation has always rested on fast, playback-oriented busking. If your work leans toward cue-heavy theater, compare it carefully with Eos in our ETC vs Hog comparison. For a broader view of the brand, see our main Hog lighting console page, and if you are still deciding between manufacturers, start with how to choose a DMX lighting console.

Bottom line

The current Hog range is simpler than it looks: one operating system, one 64-universe engine, and three console sizes from 12.3 kg to 35 kg. Pick the Tour Hog for big shows, the Stage Hog for fixed venues, the Flex Hog for portability, and use the free Hog PC to learn and prepare shows before you commit to hardware.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hog 4 still in production?

No. The whole Hog 4 family, including Road Hog 4, Full Boar 4 and HedgeHog 4, is listed as legacy by ETC. The current range is Tour Hog, Stage Hog, Flex Hog, Gig Hog, Tour Wing and HPU+.

How many universes does a Tour Hog handle?

ETC specifies 64 universes for the Tour Hog, and the same 64 universes for the Stage Hog and Flex Hog. The difference between them is the surface and the screens, not the output capacity.

Is Hog PC free?

Yes, Hog PC is a free download from ETC. For live DMX output you connect Hog hardware such as the Gig Hog wing, which gives 12 universes with Hog PC.

Who makes Hog consoles today?

ETC. It acquired High End Systems from Barco in April 2017, and highend.com now redirects to etcconnect.com.

Sources — ETC – Hog family tech specs, ETC – Hog product family, Wikipedia – High End Systems, ETC – ETCnomad features.

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