Hello Steve,
Well I'm a lampie as well as a sound engineer, and started in
music playing drums, hence why I have a DTX.
I used to use MIDI controlled lighting, the drums and bass for
the band I was with was sequenced, and I ran the lights from the same
sequence.
I started with a unit called 'Ryger M2L' (has a guess at what
the M2L stood for), worked fine, the velocity of the note controls the lamp
brightness. It also had scenes that could be recalled from MIDI program change
messages.
I later got hold of a BCK Liteshow unit, similar system, but
it had a few extra features. It had a few in-built light chases that could be
recalled via program change messages, and it also had fade in / out's, which
where very smooth.
I've still got them kicking around some where.. I now
work with a totally live band, no MIDI! I have a Pulsar controller, and dimmer
packs, and some intelligent lighting run via a laptop.
As to using it from a drum kit, it would work, but you would
need to increase the note gate times..
I believe program change messages are also possible from DTX
pads, so you could recall light scenes as well.
Word of note:
You'll be better off using PAR 56 type lights run form the
above units (the liteshow was designed to do that), both units have 8 outputs
and 8 X 500 Watts (PAR 64) if all lamps are full on will cause melt down of
cable, and unit.
;
the Sonic Energy Authority - a sound
investment