What affordable software/hardware can I use to program and rnm my DMX lights?

I very intrested in this as well also do you think it would be safe to run a dmx pc light controller while playing songs of the pc.

I've worked with someone who uses a laptop to controll 6 vrx's 2 mac 500 and 2 mac 250 as well as the fogger, I was most impressed.

He said you need a Dongle to connect the laptop up costing about a grand and then you need the software. this is serious stuff.

I wouldn't have thought using the laptop for music as well was a good idea,as the rule is "a laptop is for music and music only"

The guy was just playing with the laptop all night just doing the lights, he wasnt even doing the dj'ing

Hope this helped. im not too clued up on this it's just what he told me when showing off.

Ive been looking into using a laptop to controll my lighting and it is fairly expensive. For a half decent program plus a USB to DMX interface you are looking at at least £500. I was thinking of getting Martin lightjockey untill i realised it was the best part of £1000!

Would not reccomend running lighting and sound from a laptop though, you want as few background programs running as poss when doing sound from a laptop to reduce the chances of crashing.

im sure i posted a reply to this yesterday, but its not here now!!
so i will try again.
I have been running a pc to control all my lights (quite a few) for about 18 months now with no problems.
A friend of mine brought the martin version and has had nothing but trouble and it cost him over £1000, so when i showed him the software i use then told him it was only about £300 he was gutted,and has since brought the same !
You can download the software for free the only part you need to pay for is the dongle (i have not posted the web address or name as i dont want another telling off , if i am allowed o i will do).

the most important thing i have found it for it i can hire extra lighting when i need it, for band setups or anything like that and in 15-30 mins have it all programed in to the pc and running as part of the show or have a dedicated band button, this is also usefull with smike machines or the low fog (dry ice) which i have also hired and used (never again!!)

if you want to ask any questions or if your near my neck of the woods and would like to see it running im sure it could be arranged.

Actually I think you are fairly safe with this one Chris. The dongle is not something Chris would be selling at the present time as he is still in his babywalker with his laptop

I certainly would be interested in more information on this.

Spin

well spin here goes (just dont want another telling off !)
go to www.daslight.com
the software is free as i said you just have to buy the dongle and i think ther is only a couple of suppliers, if you need a contact then e-mail me..
I would never look back, this is a great bit of kit if you want total control of your lighting, at the press of a key (if you set up ya hot keys) the show can turn red, blue, green or whatever colour you have in ya lights, same goes for gobo's.
Have you ever had the time when the client has said NO STROBE lighting, easy.i have 3 buttons on my hot keys 1 for slow flash strobe,2 for medium,3 for fast. If i dont push them my lights WONT strobe !!!, unlike most pre programed sound to light lighting ..

Wow! I was about to post the details of three PC to DMX software/hardware solutions, but the two which I had prices for are way over the cost of 500 Euros for the solution.

It sounds like a good idea, but I would definately use a separate laptop/PC to drive the lighting. Not for the lightings benefit, but purely to keep the laptop for the sound/mixer software as clear as possible.

well i use my pc purely for the lights, its only a 600mhz machine nothing fancey and it even runs the 3d envioment (this can be set up to show a 3d pic of where your lights are and what they are doing, so you dont have to plug in all or any of your lights to program them !!). i am thinking of making up another pc to run some software with mp3s and to catalogue my music, just as a back up mainly..
whilst im on the subject i am starting to use cd trustee to catalogue my music, does anyone use anything else?? that may be better or easier..

Hey All,

Im a DJ From Australia and discovered your forum, best one ever.
Anyway, I run everthing on pc's using PCDJ Red and Lighting with DMX Creator.
I spent $200aus on a LPT to DMX interface, thats nuffing in uk money ($83) and the software is free and the guy who makes it will help you out wit any problems.

If you guy want any other info let me know, buy the way how good is a pioneer DJM-300? So guy offered one to me for $370aus, thats $154 pounds.

Ajay