The Delay Node (DelayNode) is a stateful numeric delay line and multi-tap sequence generator. It captures the temporal history of an incoming scalar signal and outputs both a delayed scalar value and an ordered multi-tap sequence suitable for driving tagged fixture groups.

⏳ Concept & Signal Architecture

While traditional LFO chasers generate purely mathematical wave offsets, DelayNode records real-time temporal history. Any dynamic motion—such as a live manual fader bump, an envelope follower pulse, or an unpredictable audio spike—travels down the delay line across multiple fixtures like a physical ripple through water.

Outputs

  • Delayed: The single scalar value from exactly Delay steps ago.
  • Sequence: A multi-tap sequence array structured as: 
    [current, value(-Delay), value(-2 * Delay), value(-3 * Delay), ...]

    Spans up to Length taps (1–64) with tap spacing configured by Delay (0–1024 steps). When Delay = 0, all taps reflect the current real-time value.

⏱️ Clock Modes

The delay clock defines when a historical step is recorded into the buffer:

  • Updates Mode:
    • A sample is pushed into history every time an input request is delivered to the Value socket, even if the numerical value has not changed.
    • Continuous generators (such as oscillators) advance the buffer at their own render rate.
    • Manual UI faders or MIDI controls advance the buffer only while they are being moved. When the fader stops moving, the buffer pauses.
    • Adjusting the Delay or Length knobs resizes the buffer dynamically without polluting history.
  • Frames Mode:
    • The delay line samples the latest input exactly once per node-graph frame tick, locked to the project's shared frame rate clock (40+ Hz).
    • A single momentary flash or button tap will continue propagating forward through all sequence taps over time, even after the input source has become idle.

🌡️ Warm-Up Modes

Configures how history is initialized before sufficient samples have arrived:

  • Zeros (Default): Unpopulated historical steps are filled with 0.0. Ideal for intensity pulses where lights should remain dark until the signal arrives.
  • First Value: The unpopulated buffer is pre-filled with the first received sample value. Ideal for pan/tilt positioning or color parameters to prevent fixtures from jumping to zero on graph startup.

Note

Delay history is maintained purely in runtime memory and is not serialized into project files. History is automatically flushed when the graph starts, is toggled on/off, or when the clock or warm-up mode is altered.

💡 Lighting Design Workflows

1. Manual Fader Ripple Chaser

Connect a manual fader (Value Node) to DelayNode.Value with Length = 12 and Delay = 3 in Frames mode. Route DelayNode.Sequence to the Dimmer channel of a 12-fixture Tag. Snapping the fader up and down sends a cascading wave of light traveling down the line of fixtures.

2. Temporal Echo Delay

Connect an envelope trigger or LFO into Value and tap the scalar Delayed output to synchronize delayed secondary actions (e.g. flashing backlight blinders 200ms after downstage strobes).

🔌 Sockets Reference

Socket Direction Data Type Description
Value Input Number Scalar input signal to sample and record.
Delay Input Number Number of delay steps between taps (integer 0 – 1024).
Length Input Number Number of sequence output taps (integer 1 – 64).
Delayed Output Number Historical scalar value from Delay steps ago.
Sequence Output Sequence Multi-tap historical array [t0, t-d, t-2d, ...].