Stage Lighting and MIDI to DMX

My band is in the process of putting together a relatively DIY light setup that we can take with us put together at shows. Right now our plan is to purchase a few LED lights strips and use those to illuminate the stage. Additionally, we're are interested in the possibility of having these LEDs react to MIDI signals from our instruments.

My question is this: Does anyone have experience with stage lighting and have you encountered an affordable strategy for converting our MIDI signals into DMX signals and outputting them to our LEDs?

Ideally the system would allow us to identify the separate MIDI signals by channel and filter the different MIDI parameters to control light intensity, color, and fade time, etc...

Now, I've got a good working knowledge of Max/MSP 5 so I could probably, with a little reading up about the DMX protocol, build exactly the custom patch I require. I may very well end up doing this. What I will then need is a USB to DMX interface so that I can send the DMX signals out of my computer. I found the Anyma uDMX which is roughly $250(!) and the ChamSys MagicDMX which is waaay more affordable but their FAQ suggests that it has some proprietary nonsense which will not allow me to use it without their lightning software. Does anyone know of a good, affordable, alternative?

Went ahead and found the UltraDMX Micro which is affordable and seemingly easy to use. Has anyone used this before? Any experience using it for Mac? I realize that WATMM may not be the best place for lighting advice.

I've been interested in experimenting with stuff like this for a bit. I have some random dmx controlled lights, and this weird box, and about a million feet of the 4 or 5 pinned xlr cable. I picked it all up from my old job for a steal and I've always been interested in lighting. I want to buy a couple entry level laser units and program some fun dmx stuff.

if you're not averse to DIY, look at Arduino... you can get some good stuff out of it without hardcore coding... lots of easy examples around..

it's also quite easy to make it listen to MIDI, and then you can e.g. use relays to switch high-voltage stuff, or use some actuators... dunno, stuff like controlling mirros with servo motors etc..

but it helps having a friend who can solder / has some electronics experience..

There's a DMX shield for arduino, if your comfortable with max I'd learn arduino and communicate with one via usb/serial. Max->arduino->dmx->lights

I've done proprietary light shows for art installations this way, is fun.

Not really looking to reinvent the wheel anymore than I have to. That is, I'd rather not learn how to program an Arduino and I'd rather not have to practice soldering hardware. The less I have to learn and obsess over the better. I'm still trying to master music and I decided a while ago that building my own tools, although exciting, can ultimately be a tremendous distraction from the act of making music. I'd rather go with existing tools.

well... sounds like you're a bit lazy wrt aesthetics. so just quit.

i would go for something like an

I've haven't experimented with this stuff at all... but your question reminded me of Auvi - the max/msp software that Kurt Ralske from Ultra Vivid Scene made.. & I think it's free.. might help you out, or be completely wrong thing for you.

Good luck!