Chase Tempo: BPM, Sound or Manual

Every chase has its own “motor” — what drives it to the next step. There are three options, and the icon of the chosen mode is shown right on the chase card in the list.

📍 Where: the chase editor (05.01) → the sync block; the mode icon — on the chase card on the “Chases” tab.
Mode What drives the steps When to choose it
BPM (to tempo) The program’s global tempo — a steady computed beat (10.01) By default: the chase runs to the music’s beat
To sound (beat) Every beat actually caught (the kick) A hard tie to the beats: a step strictly on the “boom”
Manual (GO) Only you: the GO → button on the chase card or the ←/→ keys Theater/script: a step on command, not on time

Step speed (÷ slower / × faster). You don’t have to step on every beat — set a divider:

  • ÷2, ÷4… — a step every 2nd, 4th beat (slow changes over fast music);
  • ×2… — several steps per beat (frantic flicker for strobe effects).

The editor shows the calculation right away: “At 120 BPM → 1 step every 0.50 sec”. The divider icon is also visible on the chase card.

💡 Tip: the global tempo is one for the whole program (set by TAP, from sound or via MIDI), but the divider is per chase. So a slow wash chase (÷4) and a fast runner (×1) come from the same beat but at different speeds — and it all stays in time together.
💡 Tip: in Live there’s also a “Speed” knob (×¼…×4) — it temporarily speeds up/slows down all chases on top of their settings, without changing the chases themselves.
⚠️ Note: a manual chase (GO) doesn’t step on its own — if it seems like “the chase is stuck”, check whether it’s set to “Manual” mode (the icon on the card).
Fig. 05.02.1 — Sync and step-speed settings
Fig. 05.02.1 — Sync and step-speed settings