Effects Reference

The lighting system supports a variety of effect types, each with specific parameters and use cases.

Effect Types

Static Effect

Sets fixed parameter values for fixtures. Useful for solid colors, fixed dimmer levels, or any unchanging state.

Parameters:

  • color: Color name (e.g., "red", "blue"), hex (#FF0000), or RGB (rgb(255,0,0))
  • dimmer: Dimmer level (0-100% or 0.0-1.0)
  • red, green, blue, white: Individual color channel levels (0-100% or 0.0-1.0)
  • duration: Optional duration after which effect stops (e.g., 5s, 2measures)

Example:

@00:05.000
front_wash: static color: "red", dimmer: 80%

@00:10.000
back_wash: static red: 100%, green: 50%, blue: 0%, dimmer: 60%, duration: 5s

Color Cycle Effect

Cycles through a list of colors continuously. Colors transition smoothly or instantly based on transition mode.

Parameters:

  • color: Multiple color values (e.g., color: "red", color: "green", color: "blue")
  • speed: Cycles per second, or tempo-aware (e.g., 1.5, 1measure, 2beats)
  • direction: forward, backward, or pingpong
  • transition: snap (instant) or fade (smooth)
  • duration: Optional duration

Example:

@00:10.000
movers: cycle color: "red", color: "blue", color: "green", speed: 2.0, direction: forward, transition: fade

Strobe Effect

Rapidly flashes fixtures on and off at a specified frequency.

Parameters:

  • frequency: Flashes per second (Hz), or tempo-aware (e.g., 8, 1beat, 0.5measures)
  • duration: Optional duration (e.g., 3s, 4measures)

Example:

@00:15.000
strobes: strobe frequency: 8, duration: 2s

@01:00.000
all_lights: strobe frequency: 1beat, duration: 4measures

Pulse Effect

Smoothly pulses the dimmer level up and down, creating a breathing effect.

Parameters:

  • base_level: Base dimmer level (0-100% or 0.0-1.0)
  • pulse_amplitude or intensity: Amplitude of the pulse (0-100% or 0.0-1.0)
  • frequency: Pulses per second (Hz), or tempo-aware (e.g., 2, 1beat)
  • duration: Optional duration

Example:

@00:20.000
front_wash: pulse base_level: 50%, pulse_amplitude: 50%, frequency: 1.5, duration: 5s

Chase Effect

Moves an effect pattern across multiple fixtures in a spatial pattern.

Parameters:

  • pattern: linear, snake, or random
  • speed: Steps per second, or tempo-aware (e.g., 2.0, 1measure)
  • direction: left_to_right, right_to_left, top_to_bottom, bottom_to_top, clockwise, counter_clockwise
  • transition: snap or fade for transitions between fixtures

Example:

@00:25.000
movers: chase pattern: linear, speed: 2.0, direction: left_to_right, transition: fade

Dimmer Effect

Smoothly transitions dimmer level from start to end over a duration.

Parameters:

  • start_level or start: Starting dimmer level (0-100% or 0.0-1.0)
  • end_level or end: Ending dimmer level (0-100% or 0.0-1.0)
  • duration: Transition duration (e.g., 3s, 2measures)
  • curve: Transition curve - linear, exponential, logarithmic, sine, cosine

Example:

@00:30.000
all_lights: dimmer start_level: 100%, end_level: 0%, duration: 3s, curve: sine

Rainbow Effect

Generates a continuous rainbow color cycle across the color spectrum.

Parameters:

  • speed: Cycles per second, or tempo-aware (e.g., 1.0, 1measure)
  • saturation: Color saturation (0-100% or 0.0-1.0)
  • brightness: Overall brightness (0-100% or 0.0-1.0)

Example:

@00:35.000
all_lights: rainbow speed: 1.0, saturation: 100%, brightness: 80%

Common Effect Parameters

All effects support these optional parameters for advanced control:

  • layer: Effect layer - background, midground, or foreground (for layering)
  • blend_mode: How effect blends with lower layers - replace, multiply, add, overlay, screen
  • up_time: Fade-in duration (e.g., 2s, 1beat)
  • hold_time: Duration to hold at full intensity (e.g., 5s, 4measures)
  • down_time: Fade-out duration (e.g., 1s, 2beats)

Example with crossfades:

@00:05.000
front_wash: static color: "blue", dimmer: 100%, up_time: 2s, hold_time: 5s, down_time: 1s