About

About this Project

After spending hours setting up lights for a mutual friend's band the founders of Lucid Labs decided that there must be a better option than expensive, difficult-to-setup analog DMX lighting control boards. We conducted some research and discovered an abundance of great free or low-cost DMX lighting control software; we just needed a USB to DMX interface. Unfortunately existing products weren't durable enough to handle the rigors of the road, and were far more expensive than they needed to be. We set out to create a cost effective, durable solution for DMX lighting control. After creating our fully isolated professional model, so many friends were interested in DMX lighting control that we decided to branch out and make a more economical hobby model, the Cipher Lite, as well. Both models are capable of controlling 512 Channels of DMX lighting, the difference being that the professional model is fully isolated and features a much more durable enclosure.

Cipher Pro Model

Lucid Labs Professional USB-DMX Interface

Allows Control of 512 Channels of DMX lighting

Fully isolated circuit, computer is protected from surges

Heavy Duty, powder coated aluminum enclosure stands up to harsh environments and abuse

USB 2.0 to DMX 3 Pin Interface

Cipher Lite

Lucid Labs Hobby USB-DMX Interface

Allows control of 512 Channels of DMX lighting

Laser cut acrylic enclosure

USB 2.0 to DMX 3 Pin Interface

Sample Uses

Band Stage Lighting

This video was taken using our very first prototype. In under 15 minutes we were able to hook up several RGB PAR lighting fixtures and turn band practice up a notch

Architectural Lighting

Professional Applications

Using a Lucid Labs USB-DMX converter and 85 different light fixtures, this sequence was programmed for a local night club by Lucid Labs. This is a prime example of just how expandable DMX lighting is. From one fixture to hundreds with only a bit of extra programming.

Software

There is a ton of great Free DMX software available that will work with your Lucid Labs USB-DMX interface

Recommended

DMX Lighting Explained

DMX is a standardized communication protocol used to control stage lighting and other effects. Lighting, or effects fixtures are given an address and connected in a daisy-chain fashion. This allows users to control every light individually without complex wiring. Individual lights only respond to messages addressed to them and repeat the signal to the rest of the attached fixtures.

Easy-to-use software like DMX Freestyler allow you to easily program effects sequences and send them to the attached light fixtures.

DMX Fixture types

A number of different fixture types exist. Some common fixtures include

RGB DMX Par 64 LED Fixture

Robotic Moving Head Fixtures

Effects Light Fixtures

Fog Machines

Scanners

RGB LED Strip with Additional DMX Decoder

Why We need your Help

Electronics are very expensive to manufacture in smaller quantities. Kickstarter support will allow us to reach the minimum economical quantities to have printed circuit boards manufactured and assembled. Enclosure manufacturing costs also reduce significantly when produced in quantity.