Chases
A Chase is a sequence of scenes or steps that plays back automatically. Steps advance based on timing, BPM, or manually. Playback loops, bounces, or randomizes based on the selected mode.
What Is a Chase?
A Chase is built from a series of steps. Each step references a saved scene and has a configurable duration. The chase engine advances through the steps automatically and repeats according to the playback mode.
Chases are useful for repeating patterns, rhythm-based looks, and automated sequences that would be impractical to trigger manually.
Steps
Each step in a chase contains:
- A reference to a saved scene (the lighting state for this step).
- A step duration — how long this step holds before advancing to the next.
- An optional fade time — how long it takes to transition into this step.
Steps can use the same scene multiple times. Reusing a scene in different positions allows it to appear in the pattern at different moments.
Playback Modes
Steps advance forward through the sequence. After the last step, the chase returns to step 1 and repeats.
1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 1 → 2 → ...
Steps advance forward to the end, then reverse back to the start, then forward again — continuously bouncing.
1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 3 → 2 → 1 → 2 → ...
The next step is selected randomly from the available steps on each advance.
3 → 1 → 4 → 1 → 2 → 4 → ...
Timing and BPM
Step timing in a chase can be set in milliseconds per step or synchronized to BPM (beats per minute):
| BPM sync | Step duration calculated from the BPM value. One step per beat by default. |
| Tap tempo | Tap a button rhythmically to set the BPM from live input. |
| Subdivisions | Subdivide the beat: 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, etc. Faster step advance per beat. |
| Per-step duration | Override the global step time for individual steps. |
Fade Between Steps
Each step can have a fade time. When a step is triggered, the output transitions from the current state to the step's scene values over the configured fade duration.
Setting a fade time of 0 produces hard cuts between steps. Longer fade times produce smooth transitions. Fade time must be less than or equal to the step duration.
Practical Example
A 4-step color chase synchronized to music at 120 BPM:
| Step | Scene | Duration | Fade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Red Wash | 1 beat | 0 |
| 02 | Blue Wash | 1 beat | 0 |
| 03 | Green Wash | 1 beat | 0 |
| 04 | White Full | 1 beat | 0 |
Mode: LOOP. BPM: 120. Result: each color holds for one beat, cycling continuously.