{"id":15,"date":"2026-06-08T09:00:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T07:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/?p=15"},"modified":"2026-09-27T01:18:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T23:18:14","slug":"hog-lighting-console","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/hog-lighting-console\/","title":{"rendered":"Hog Lighting Consoles by High End Systems"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Born at <strong>High End Systems<\/strong> (now owned by ETC), the <strong>Hog<\/strong> 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 &#8220;Hog way&#8221; of working, and the platform still commands real loyalty among those who know it. This guide covers the Hog 4 family, the new-generation Hog consoles that have succeeded it (Tour Hog, Stage Hog, Flex Hog and Gig Hog, all running Hog OS), and where the platform fits today. For the wider landscape, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/professional-dmx-lighting-controller\/\">professional buyer&#8217;s guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Hog 4 family<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hog 4<\/strong> \u2014 the flagship of the Hog 4 generation for the largest shows, with the biggest surface of the family, external monitor outputs and MIDI, giving an operator plenty of surface and connectivity for a big rig.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Full Boar 4<\/strong> \u2014 two 15.6&#8243; touchscreens and four onboard DMX universes; the Hog 4&#8217;s power in a more compact, affordable package that still holds its own on serious shows.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Road Hog 4<\/strong> \u2014 a single built-in touchscreen (enlarged on the later Road Hog 4-21) and four onboard DMX outputs in a compact touring form, built to travel light without giving up the core workflow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All three run Hog 4 OS, so the workflow is identical across the range and a show file moves between them. There&#8217;s also a free PC version (Hog 4PC) that runs the same software on a computer for offline programming and practice. <!-- \u00c0 V\u00c9RIFIER : univers max du flagship, statut catalogue, prix. --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Hog workflow<\/h2>\n<p>What earns the Hog its devoted following is the feel of live operation. Operators describe the programming model as fast and intuitive for busking \u2014 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&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Value and the used market<\/h2>\n<p>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&#8217;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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Hog fits<\/h2>\n<p>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 \u2014 now sold under the ETC name, with a new-generation family (Tour Hog, Stage Hog, Flex Hog, Gig Hog) supporting 64 universes and the free Hog PC software. In Europe the installed base is smaller than MA, Avolites or ChamSys \u2014 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&#8217;re entering a US concert scene where it&#8217;s well represented, it remains a strong choice; if you need the broadest rider ubiquity, that crown now sits with grandMA. <!-- \u00c0 V\u00c9RIFIER : pr\u00e9sence r\u00e9gionale. --><\/p>\n<div class=\"faisceau-rating\">\n<h2>Le Faisceau Rating \u2014 Hog consoles<\/h2>\n<p>Rated with our <a href=\"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/le-faisceau-rating-method\/\">Le Faisceau rating method<\/a> (capacity 25% \u00b7 programming and workflow 30% \u00b7 ecosystem and networking 15% \u00b7 value for money 20% \u00b7 reliability and support 10%). Specs and prices sourced from manufacturer sites and specialist dealers.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Console<\/th>\n<th>Capacity<\/th>\n<th>Workflow<\/th>\n<th>Ecosyst.<\/th>\n<th>Value<\/th>\n<th>Reliab.<\/th>\n<th>Overall \/5<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Hog 4<\/strong> <em>(discontinued \u2014 current range: Tour Hog, Stage Hog, Flex Hog)<\/em><\/td>\n<td>4.7<\/td>\n<td>4.6<\/td>\n<td>4.3<\/td>\n<td>3.7<\/td>\n<td>4.5<\/td>\n<td><strong>4.4 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u00bd<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Full Boar 4<\/strong> <em>(discontinued \u2014 current range: Tour Hog, Stage Hog, Flex Hog)<\/em><\/td>\n<td>4.5<\/td>\n<td>4.6<\/td>\n<td>4.3<\/td>\n<td>3.9<\/td>\n<td>4.5<\/td>\n<td><strong>4.4 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u00bd<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Road Hog 4<\/strong> <em>(discontinued \u2014 current range: Tour Hog, Stage Hog, Flex Hog)<\/em><\/td>\n<td>4.3<\/td>\n<td>4.5<\/td>\n<td>4.3<\/td>\n<td>4.2<\/td>\n<td>4.5<\/td>\n<td><strong>4.4 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u00bd<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"ItemList\", \"itemListElement\": [{\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 1, \"item\": {\"@type\": \"Review\", \"itemReviewed\": {\"@type\": \"Product\", \"name\": \"High End Hog 4\", \"category\": \"Lighting console (DMX controller)\", \"disambiguatingDescription\": \"discontinued\"}, \"reviewRating\": {\"@type\": \"Rating\", \"ratingValue\": 4.4, \"bestRating\": 5, \"worstRating\": 1}, \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"LightingConsoleExpert\"}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"LightingConsoleExpert\"}}}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 2, \"item\": {\"@type\": \"Review\", \"itemReviewed\": {\"@type\": \"Product\", \"name\": \"High End Full Boar 4\", \"category\": \"Lighting console (DMX controller)\", \"disambiguatingDescription\": \"discontinued\"}, \"reviewRating\": {\"@type\": \"Rating\", \"ratingValue\": 4.4, \"bestRating\": 5, \"worstRating\": 1}, \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"LightingConsoleExpert\"}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"LightingConsoleExpert\"}}}, {\"@type\": \"ListItem\", \"position\": 3, \"item\": {\"@type\": \"Review\", \"itemReviewed\": {\"@type\": \"Product\", \"name\": \"High End Road Hog 4\", \"category\": \"Lighting console (DMX controller)\", \"disambiguatingDescription\": \"discontinued\"}, \"reviewRating\": {\"@type\": \"Rating\", \"ratingValue\": 4.4, \"bestRating\": 5, \"worstRating\": 1}, \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"LightingConsoleExpert\"}, \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"LightingConsoleExpert\"}}}]}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is the Hog 4 still current?<\/h3>\n<p>The Hog 4 family is still widely used, but ETC has since launched a new generation of Hog consoles (Tour Hog, Stage Hog, Flex Hog and Gig Hog) running Hog OS, alongside the free Hog PC software. If you are buying new, look at the current family; a used Hog 4 desk remains an affordable way into the platform. <!-- \u00c0 V\u00c9RIFIER : statut et roadmap. --><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I learn Hog on a computer?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes \u2014 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/dmx-controller-software\/\">control software guide<\/a>. <!-- AFFILIATE LINK : Hog consoles --><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hog or grandMA for touring?<\/h3>\n<p>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&#8217;ll need to hand the desk to.<\/p>\n<p class=\"lce-credit\" style=\"font-size:.85em;opacity:.7;margin-top:1.5em\"><em>Photo credit: Photo: High End Systems \/ ETC (etcconnect.com)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n    \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n    \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"Question\",\n            \"name\": \"Is the Hog 4 still current?\",\n            \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                \"text\": \"The Hog 4 family is still widely used, but ETC has since launched a new generation of Hog consoles (Tour Hog, Stage Hog, Flex Hog and Gig Hog) running Hog OS, alongside the free Hog PC software. 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This guide covers the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":108,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-console-guides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":239,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15\/revisions\/239"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lighting-console-expert.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}