Unilighter features a dual-engine animation system designed to handle everything from punchy, tempo-locked rhythmic chases to fluid, multi-parameter theatrical sweeps and complex moving head choreography.
🎭 Three Animation Paradigms
Depending on whether your lighting cues require discrete stepped states, continuous parametric motion curves, or 2D spatial surface mapping, Unilighter provides three dedicated animation engines:
| Feature | 🏃 Step Animations | 🎞️ Keyframe Animations | 🌐 Choreography Animations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Discrete steps / chase sequences | Continuous multi-track parametric timeline | 2D spatial canvas & emitter pixel mapping |
| Interpolation | Hold duration + step crossfade | Bézier curves, easing transitions, linear ramps | Frame-to-frame raster morphing & procedural LFOs |
| Best For | Rhythmic chases, color bumps, strobe hits | Fluid pan/tilt sweeps, ballyhoos, theatrical fades | LED bars, stage sweeps, radial ripples, pixel arrays |
| Timing | Millisecond hold or 1-beat snap (On Beat) |
Milliseconds (ms) or musical beats (beats) |
Musical beats (beats) or milliseconds (ms) |
| Generators | Step Generator (Odd/Even, One by One, Fill) | LFO wave generator curves per track | 2D spatial generators (Sweep, Wave, Radial, Noise) |
| Creation | Step list with embedded Scene Editors | Multi-track timeline with keyframe marquee | 2D pixel paint suite (Pencil, Shapes, Lasso, Fill) |
⚡ Core Engine Features
1. Tempo & BPM Synchronization
All animations in Unilighter run in sync with the console's master tempo engine:
- Master BPM: Set the tempo via numerical entry or tap tempo (
TAP). - Beat Snapping: Step animations can bind their step intervals to music beats (
On Beat). Keyframe and Choreography timelines can operate entirely in musical beat fractions (1/1,1/2,1/4,1/8,1/16). - Tempo Multipliers: Scale keyframe playback on the fly (
8x,4x,2x,1x,/2,/4,/8) without altering programmed keyframes. - Resync Beat: One-click beat alignment (
Resync Beat) re-synchronizes all active phase counters to the downbeat during live DJ sets.
2. Priority Layering
Animations output signals through Unilighter's hierarchical Priority System:
- Base Ambient Animations (
Priority: 0 - 10): Gentle color cycles, slow wave washes, and background atmospheric motion. - Dynamic Action Cues (
Priority: 10 - 50): Rhythmic fixture sweeps, chorus chases, spatial matrix ripples, and keyframe motion tracks. - Accent & Strobe Bursts (
Priority: 50 - 90): High-priority blinders and strobe chases that temporarily override active animations and scenes. - Manual Live Faders (
Priority: 100): Live faders on the Dashboard always retain ultimate control when busked manually.
3. Live Dashboard Integration
Once designed, animations are launched and modulated directly from the performance desk:
- Function Widget: Trigger any Step, Keyframe, or Choreography animation instantly with dedicated touch buttons.
- Keyframe Animation Widget: Live transport panel featuring play/pause, scrub slider, loop toggle, and real-time playback indicator.
🪄 Rapid Creation Tools
- Animation Generator: Instantly bake multi-fixture chases (Odd/Even, One-by-One, Fill) across patched devices.
- Spatial Generators in Choreography: Generate mathematical wave crests, directional sweeps, and circular ripples across 2D arrays in real time.
📖 In-Depth Guides
Explore the detailed operation manuals for each engine:
- 🏃 Step & Chase Animation Editor: Master discrete chase sequences, color transition geometries, hold/fade times, step reordering, and live auditioning.
- 🎞️ Keyframe Animation Timeline: Master continuous multi-track timelines, easing curves, marquee selection, keyboard shortcuts, and master aggregation tracks.
- 🌐 Spatial Matrix & Choreography Editor: Master 2D emitter mapping, pixel canvas drawing, raster motion paths, and procedural spatial wave generators.