How Do I Trigger Fireball Visuals with Music?
Open EXPLOSIONS in BeamTracer Visualizers and play your music. Under TRIGGER, choose MODULATION and check the source below TRIGGER LEVEL. The default Beat pulse route starts each burst. Adjust THRESHOLD to control which rises ignite it and COOLDOWN to space those ignitions, then shape the fireball under BURST.
Hi, I'm Trina with BeamTracer.com. Explosions turns a trigger into a fireball that expands, cools and fades. The default look already has music routes assigned, so you can start listening and adjust one timing control at a time.
The Orbital Perlin Blob demo track drives the factory look. Beat pulse starts the bursts; this preview is silent.
How do I make the fireballs follow a song?
Use MODULATION under TRIGGER, with a rhythmic source assigned to TRIGGER LEVEL. Beat pulse is already assigned in the default look. Play the demo track or load your own audio file and watch the trigger meter. An incoming rise must reach THRESHOLD before the next fireball can ignite.
- Open Explosions under SIMULATION.
- Start the demo track or load your song through Audio settings.
- Expand TRIGGER and choose MODULATION.
- Check that TRIGGER LEVEL has the Beat pulse source assigned.
- Adjust THRESHOLD and COOLDOWN while watching several beats.
- Open BURST to adjust DURATION, then use RENDER → RENDER VIDEO → SAVE VIDEO to save an MP4 or WebM.
If you cleared the route, use Assign modulation below TRIGGER LEVEL to choose a source again. A continuous high signal produces one ignition; the source needs to fall and rise again for another. Leaving the level high does not keep creating fresh bursts.
Start with the trigger meter
If music is playing but nothing ignites, check the source assignment and meter before changing the colors. Lower THRESHOLD if the signal never reaches it. Shorten COOLDOWN if nearby hits are being skipped.
What is the difference between threshold, cooldown and duration?
THRESHOLD sets the level a trigger must reach. COOLDOWN sets the minimum time between accepted ignitions. DURATION sets how long each fireball expands and dissolves after ignition. Lengthening a burst changes its decay; it does not lower the trigger threshold.
The default look uses a threshold of 0.58, a cooldown of 0.70s, and a duration of 3.6s. Treat those as a starting point for your track. A busy rhythm may need more space between bursts; a sparse section may leave each fireball visible through its whole decay.
How can I compare short and long bursts without music?
Choose PREVIEW LOOP under TRIGGER and set LOOP INTERVAL to 5.0s. Pause the music, then compare DURATION at 1.5s and 5.8s under BURST. The interval controls when another burst begins; the duration controls how long its flame and smoke remain visible.
DURATION 1.5s: a brief flare followed by a dark pause. LOOP INTERVAL stays at 5.0s.
DURATION 5.8s: the fireball stays visible much longer before the next ignition. The interval is unchanged.
Return to MODULATION when you want the song to trigger bursts again. PREVIEW LOOP runs on its own interval even when the audio is paused.
How do bass, mids and highs change the shape?
In the default look, Bass modulates EXPANSION, Mid modulates TURBULENCE, and High modulates BILLOW DETAIL. These routes shape the burst after its trigger. Expansion spreads the volume, turbulence changes the rolling breakup, and billow detail changes the smaller parcels within the fireball.
Keep the trigger source fixed while comparing these controls. The Bass, Mids and Highs guide explains how to choose another source or edit its response. The Explosions reference lists the color, smoke and framing controls when you want to change the look further.
How do I export the result with my music?
Load a replayable audio file, open RENDER, choose MP4 · H.264 or WEBM · VP9, and leave INCLUDE AUDIO on for a soundtrack. Press RENDER VIDEO, wait for completion, then SAVE VIDEO. For a short check, expand TEST RANGE and enable RENDER A SHORT RANGE before rendering.
Live audio needs recording
Offline rendering needs a loaded track. A microphone or live stream cannot be replayed from its beginning. See the video export guide for loaded files and live recording options.
For a composition with artwork behind the fireball, continue with the album-motion tutorial. Load your song in Studio when following that separate composition workflow.