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Beam 2

2.1.0​

September 1, 2026

New features and improvements​

Generic Effect​

Added Generic Effect: a new device that transforms the modulation parameters of an incoming lighting signal, either for all fixtures at once or for individual fixtures, at any point in the signal chain.

Key Features:

  • Set a parameter to a fixed value, or scale and offset the value already present in the signal. Parameters the device is not pointed at pass through untouched.
  • Works like the Generic Instrument, but on a signal that already exists. Any number of Generic Effects can be chained, at any position.

Generic Instrument​

Previously known as "Generic".

  • The expandable dial grid interface has been replaced with a more compact fixed list view of 16 "numboxes" (numeric input fields) and dropdowns, matching the interface of the newly introduced Generic Effect. This saves horizontal space, gives a better overview of the parameters a device controls, and avoids the confusing rearrangement of parameter slot positions when changing the number of displayed parameters.
  • The modulation of the first envelope is now set to "dim" / Intensity by default. This avoids having to select it manually every time a new device is added, just to be able to turn fixture intensities on using MIDI notes.

Monitor​

  • Grid view: fixture and channel names are now displayed.
  • Bars view: added X/Y axes with tick marks and grid, making it easier to interpret the displayed data.
  • In both views, hovering over the channel regions of a displayed universe where fixtures are patched now displays a tooltip that shows full fixture and channel names, patching range, and channel value as raw DMX and percentage.
  • Added a "Show All" mode to the Bars view. When enabled, the Monitor displays all available Input/Output universes, stacked vertically.
  • The Monitor in the main window and the External Monitor window can now each display a different Input/Output universe independently. Previously, the two windows always shared the same universe selection, so changing the universe or the Input/Output tab in one also changed it in the other.
  • The Monitor windows now remember their view mode (Grid/Bars) after switching to another view, closing the window, or quitting and reopening Beam.

Other improvements​

  • Adjusted the appearance of checkboxes, numeric input fields, dropdowns, and fixture items with cells/children in the Fixture Patch for more visual consistency with the rest of the interface.

Fixes​

Monitor​

  • Text no longer renders in the wrong font when the Monitor view is opened for the first time.
  • Fixed a bug where parts of the interface could go blank or stay blurry when moving the window between Retina and non-Retina displays.
  • During a trial pause, the Monitor now keeps displaying Input universes when "Input" mode is selected, rather than temporarily showing zeroes or "No Input".
  • The Monitor now displays Input universes only for inputs that are present in the Inputs/Outputs list. Previously, universes would persist even after their inputs were removed.

Other fixes​

  • Fixed a crash when starting Beam by opening an .sbp fixture patch file on macOS.