Phrase Modes¶

forgegen divides a track into phrases — structural segments of roughly equal length — and assigns each phrase a mode. The mode determines how the motion curve is shaped within that phrase.

How modes are detected¶

Modes are assigned automatically based on two signals measured across the beats in each phrase:

Average energy — the mean energy of all beats in the phrase (normalised 0.0–1.0)
BPM — the track tempo at that phrase
Energy trend — whether energy is rising, stable, or falling across the phrase

Mode	Detection rule
break	Average energy < 0.15
tease	Average energy < 0.30
edging	Energy is rising (trend ≥ 0.15) AND average energy ≥ 0.35
fast	BPM ≥ 140
slow	BPM ≤ 75
steady	Everything else

You can override any auto-detected mode on the Details tab.

Mode reference¶

break¶

Amplitude: 12% of peak range

The quietest mode. Nearly all motion is suppressed. Use for true silence sections, device cooldown, or structural pauses between high-energy segments.

The device still moves slightly (not completely still) to maintain position feedback.

tease¶

Amplitude: 38% of peak range

Restrained, narrow strokes. The device moves but doesn't travel far. Builds anticipation. Use for intro sections, pre-drop buildups, and quiet verses where energy is present but low.

slow¶

Amplitude: 95% of peak range

Full deep strokes at a slow tempo. High amplitude combined with low BPM means each stroke is long and deliberate. Use for slow, heavy sections where every movement should be felt.

steady¶

Amplitude: 78% of peak range

The default mode. Standard strokes at the detected BPM. Most of a typical track will be in steady mode. It's the baseline from which other modes diverge.

fast¶

Amplitude: 70% of peak range

Rapid stroking at high BPM. Amplitude is intentionally reduced (vs. steady) to make fast stroking physically viable — full amplitude at 140+ BPM can exceed device velocity limits. The reduction keeps the motion comfortable while preserving the energy of the section.

edging¶

Amplitude: Builds progressively from 50% to 100% across the phrase

The most dynamic mode. At the start of the phrase the curve is restrained (50% amplitude). By the end it reaches full range. This creates a building tension — the sensation intensifies as the phrase develops, ending at maximum just before the next phrase begins.

Use for climax builds, pre-drop tension, or any section where the energy is visibly rising through the phrase.

Choosing overrides¶

Most tracks need few or no overrides — the auto-detection handles typical song structures well. Override when:

A quiet intro or outro is detected as steady instead of tease or break
A loud section with slow tempo is detected as steady instead of slow
A pre-chorus is detected as fast when you want an edging build
A breakdown is any mode other than break

When in doubt, listen to the section, look at the energy chart on the Generate tab, and compare the auto-detected mode to the table above.