Basic DMX setup for guitar/vocalist advice

[Speni]

I'm a guitar/vocalist, at the moment using an iPod to play my backing tracks (while I play guitar & sing).

 

I need to incorporate a small (as portable, small & light as possible) lighting rig into my act, and want to hit 1 play button, that will start the backing track audio, and the lights at the same time, in sync.

 

Is it best to use a laptop, or is there an external unit I can buy (laptop seams to be cheapest option).

 

If I go down the laptop route, what do I need to programme the lights (external DMX controller?), and what software should I use, to programme each song individually?

 

I'm a complete DMX newbie, so want to keep it was easy as possible. But I'd rather spend the time programming than using basic sound to light.

 

At the moment, I just have 2x American DJ Mega Bar 50RGB RC units.

 

I don't plan on getting much more, maybe 2 more of the same or similar, so you can see it's not so complex a setup. If you recommend any other American DJ things to go with these, please let me know. I'm in Japan, so this brand is easy to buy.

 

Any help greatly appreciated for this dummy.

[peza2010]

have a google for dmxis.

it works inside most audio software such as reaper which is free/cheap for commercial use.

 

if you can get a dmxis to japan I would certainly go down this route.

 

with reaper you can setup markers with keyboard shortcuts to triggeer each song.