Hog Lighting Consoles by High End Systems

Born at High End Systems (now owned by ETC), the Hog line is a long-standing live-events platform, especially strong in the United States. Generations of concert and touring operators have built their careers around the “Hog way” of working, and the platform still commands real loyalty among those who know it. This guide covers the Hog 4 family and where it fits today. For the wider landscape, see our professional buyer’s guide.

The Hog 4 family

• Hog 4 — the flagship for the largest shows: three monitor outputs, MIDI in/out, eight USB ports and two Fast Ethernet ports, giving an operator plenty of surface and connectivity for a big rig.
• Full Boar 4 — two 15.6″ touchscreens and four onboard DMX universes; the Hog 4’s power in a more compact, affordable package that still holds its own on serious shows.
• Road Hog 4 — a 22″ touchscreen and four onboard universes in a compact touring form, built to travel light without giving up the core workflow.

All three run Hog 4 OS, so the workflow is identical across the range and a show file moves between them. There’s also a free PC version (Hog 4PC) that runs the same software on a computer for offline programming and practice.

The Hog workflow

What earns the Hog its devoted following is the feel of live operation. Operators describe the programming model as fast and intuitive for busking — building and firing looks on the fly during a concert rather than running a fixed cue stack. That hands-on immediacy is a different philosophy from the strict cue-based approach of theatre desks, and it’s exactly what a concert LD wants when the set list shifts and the band goes off-script. Once the Hog way clicks, people tend to stay loyal to it, which is a large part of why the platform has held a place in US touring for so long even as the wider market has moved.

Value and the used market

Because the Hog 4 family has been in service for years, a healthy second-hand market has built up around it, and a used Full Boar 4 or Road Hog 4 can be an affordable route into a real touring platform. That maturity cuts both ways: the hardware is proven and well understood, but you’re buying into a platform whose newest rivals have moved on, so factor in how long you plan to keep the desk and whether the shows you chase still call for it. For an operator already fluent in the Hog way, the calculus is easy — the workflow is the value, and staying on a familiar platform is worth a great deal. For someone starting fresh, weigh that comfort against the broader rider ubiquity of grandMA before committing, and remember that free Hog 4PC lets you test the waters at no cost first.

Where Hog fits

Hog has a solid following in live events and touring, particularly in the US. Since ETC acquired High End Systems in 2017, the line has continued under that umbrella. In Europe the installed base is smaller than MA, Avolites or ChamSys — worth weighing for operator availability and support, because a platform is only as convenient as the pool of people who can step in and run it. If you already work in the Hog world, or you’re entering a US concert scene where it’s well represented, it remains a strong choice; if you need the broadest rider ubiquity, that crown now sits with grandMA.

FAQ

Is the Hog 4 still current?

The family is mature and still in use, though it predates the latest flagship generations from rival makers. It has a loyal base and continues under ETC ownership, but weigh its long-term direction if you’re investing today.

Can I learn Hog on a computer?

Yes — Hog 4PC is free and runs the full software on a PC, so you can learn the workflow and pre-program shows without tying up a hardware desk. See our control software guide.

Hog or grandMA for touring?

Hog for its fast busking workflow and loyal US concert following; grandMA for the widest rider-standard ubiquity on the largest tours. The right answer depends on the scene you work in and who you’ll need to hand the desk to.

Photo credit: Photo: High End Systems / ETC (etcconnect.com)

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