LED Par36

These are really simple multicolour LED DMX lights. I got mine off of eBay UK from China (try searching for "DMX LED"). In traditional stage lighting terms they are 'PAR36' which means they are not particularly bright. However, they are fine for studio or arts installation work, especially since they are low-power and produce no heat. You can get a 60 degree (wash) or 18 degree (spot) version. I have four of the wash versions.

You set the base DMX address on the back using the switches and then simply plug in to your DMX interface via the built-in 3-pin DMX connector. In the Max/MSP patch below I am assuming that you are starting at address 1 and using the 'dmxusbpro' Max object.

The colour mixing is done via 48 each of red, green and blue LEDs. DMX channels 1, 2 and 3 control the RGB mix and channel 4 sets the overall brightness (or strobe effects for values over 127). My example patch allows you to set the output colour using a colour picker.

I have used these in shows, but they are most useful in the studio. You can play with interactive lighting ideas without a bulky rig using up power and generating heat. A few of the blue LEDs have gone on one of my units (but it doesn't stop it working) and they are quite 'plasticy', but I'd still recommend them. They're also very responsive. Brighter PAR64s are also available which I assume work in the same way, but cost a bit more and are housed in 'proper' metal cases.