The **Step Animation Editor** is Unilighter's engine for creating sequential chases, rhythmic color pulses, alternating strobe bursts, and multi-scene step sequences. Unlike continuous keyframe timelines, Step Animations operate on discrete lighting states (steps) that hold for a defined duration or musical beat before crossfading to the next step. ![Step Animation Editor](https://unilighter.cc/info/docs/animations/step/screen_step_animation_baa137e8.png) --- ## ⚙️ Global Animation Settings Each Step Animation features global properties that govern playback order, priority layering, and color blending: ### 1. Name & Control Priority - **Name**: A descriptive title (e.g., `Odd/Even Wash Chase`, `RGB Strobe Pulse`). - **Priority (`-100` to `100`)**: Sets the animation's authority in the Unilighter [Priority System](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/priorities.md). An animation set to priority `15` will seamlessly override static background scenes (`Priority: 0`), while allowing manual faders on the [Live Dashboard](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/dashboard.md) (`Priority: 100`) to take precedence when touched. ### 2. Repeats & Infinite Playback - **Infinite Checkbox**: When checked, the animation loops continuously until stopped or superseded by another cue. - **Repeats**: If unchecked, define a precise number of cycles (e.g., `3` cycles for a brief strobe burst) before the animation automatically halts. ### 3. Playback Order Choose how the engine iterates through your sequence of steps: - **Forward**: Steps sequence strictly from start to finish (`1 → 2 → 3 → ... → N → 1`). - **Reverse**: Steps run backward (`N → ... → 3 → 2 → 1 → N`), ideal for reversing beam sweep directions. - **Ping-Pong**: Steps bounce back and forth smoothly (`1 → 2 → 3 → 2 → 1`), creating natural pendulum or waving movements. ### 4. Color Transition Modes When steps feature contrasting fixture colors, Unilighter provides four mathematical transition algorithms: - **Direct (Shortest Path)**: Straight-line RGB/CMY interpolation through vector color space. Fastest and most efficient for rapid color bumps. - **Hue (Linear HSV)**: Rotates around the perimeter of the HSV color wheel. Colors travel smoothly through adjacent spectral shades (e.g., Red to Green travels through Orange and Yellow). - **Via White**: Interpolates color intensity through peak white saturation before reaching the destination hue. Produces a punchy, flash-style transition popular in electronic music sets. - **Via Black**: Fades fixture dimmer down to complete blackout before bringing up the target color. Prevents muddy intermediate colors and creates classic theatrical cut transitions. ### 5. Bulk Timing Tools - **Common Hold (`ms`)**: Global hold duration applied across all steps. - **Common Fade (`ms`)**: Global crossfade time applied across all steps. - **Apply to all steps**: Single-click button that stamps `Common Hold` and `Common Fade` into every step in the list, saving tedious manual typing. ### 6. Transport & Live Auditioning - **Transport Bar**: Dedicated buttons for **Play**, **Pause**, **Stop**, and **Restart**. - **Live Edit**: When checked, any adjustments made to step parameters or fixture sliders immediately stream to physical DMX outputs, letting you dial in positions and colors live on stage. - **Show Changes**: Toggle real-time hardware preview without altering the main stage playback state. --- ## 🪜 Managing Animation Steps The lower half of the editor contains the step sequence: ### Adding & Reordering Steps - **Add Step**: Appends a new step to the end of the sequence. - **Reorder (`↑` / `↓`)**: Move steps earlier or later in the chase. - **Preview Step (`Light` icon)**: Solo-audition a specific step on stage fixtures without running the entire animation loop. - **Step Name**: Assign custom labels (e.g., `All Odd On`, `Even Blinders`, `Strobe Drop`). - **Delete (`Trash` icon)**: Remove redundant steps. ### Step Timing Parameters Each step contains independent timing controls: - **Hold Time (`ms`)**: The duration the step remains static after fading in. - **On Beat Checkbox**: When checked, hold time automatically locks to **1 musical beat** (`0 ms` hold offset) synchronized with the master BPM clock. As tempo changes during a live performance, the chase automatically speeds up or slows down in perfect lockstep. - **Fade Time (`ms`)**: The crossfade transition time taken to morph from the previous step's values into this step. Set to `0` for instantaneous snap cuts (strobe/blinder chases), or higher values (`200ms - 2000ms`) for gentle ambient morphing. ### Embedded Scene Editor Clicking any step opens an embedded Scene Editor containing: - **Device Selector Chips**: Enable or disable specific fixtures (`Rear Beam 1`, `Stage Wash 2`, `Stage Par 3`) in this step. - **Parameter Controls**: Adjust Dimmer faders, RGB/CMY color wheels, Pan/Tilt position crosshairs, and indexed gobo/prism wheels. - **Selective Overrides**: Only active channels within a step are sent to DMX. Untouched channels pass through signals from lower-priority layers. --- ## 🪄 Rapid Creation with Animation Generator Instead of programming steps by hand, use the built-in **Generator** tab: ![Animation Generator](https://unilighter.cc/info/docs/animations/step/screen_animation_generator_67be514c.png) 1. **Select Devices**: Click fixtures from the device list to include them in the chase. 2. **Order Devices**: Arrange physical left-to-right, center-out, or circular ordering using the `↑`, `↓`, and remove buttons. 3. **Select Preset**: - **Odd / Even**: Creates an alternating 2-step chase where odd-numbered fixtures illuminate in Step 1 and even-numbered fixtures illuminate in Step 2. - **One by One**: Creates an $N$-step sequence illuminating exactly one fixture at a time in sequence across the array. - **Fill**: Sequentially accumulates fixtures step-by-step until all heads are illuminated, then snaps off and repeats. 4. **Hold & Fade Times**: Specify default hold time (or enter `0` for beat-synchronized playback) and fade time. 5. **Generate Animation**: Click the button to automatically bake all steps and scenes into a new Step Animation ready for playback. --- ## 🎛️ Live Performance Integration Once saved, Step Animations can be triggered seamlessly: - **[Function Widget on Dashboard](https://unilighter.cc/info/for-ai/docs/dashboard/widget-function.md)**: Map the animation to a touch button for instant cue firing. - **Resync Beat**: Click **Resync Beat** in the console header at any time to instantly phase-align running chases to the DJ's downbeat.