Manual Run Mode vs Auto Run Mode

Every transition runs in one of three modes: Auto, Mixed or Manual. The difference between them is a single question: who owns the timing?

In Manual Run Mode (needs a license*), you do. The crossfader is the clock. Move it where you want, when you want, and the fusor follows: slowly through the middle of the transition, quickly through the end, backwards to repeat a phrase, or not at all. The transition takes exactly as long as you take.

In Auto Run Mode, the clock does. The transition's bars and BPM define a timing window, and the fusor runs at the pace needed to finish at the end of it. You can pause it, and you cannot speed it up or slow it down by hand.

In Mixed Run Mode (needs a license*), the clock owns the first part and you own the rest. The run is on the clock up to the fusor's mix point (Middle, or End on a fusor with an effect tail), then stops. Every parameter holds and the decks play on. When your crossfader reaches the stop position, the run resumes and follows the crossfader to the end. The stop is not a takeover: the outgoing deck's end-of-run settings still apply. Your DJ app's soft takeover holds the crossfader until your hand reaches the stop position.

All three modes advance the transition from 0% to 100% and modulate the same authored parameters on the way. They differ only in what drives progress.

*In Fusor Studio Lite the Manual and Mixed positions are dimmed and every transition runs in Auto. Pressing and holding Manual mid-run is refused too. See Licensing for the rest of what Lite holds back.

Choosing a mode

Manual is the safer default when you're unsure: you can run a steady Auto-style transition by hand.

Channel Fader runs a fusor by hand, Auto Run Mode runs it on the clock, and Wash Out runs one in Mixed. Manual and Mixed Run Mode need a license.

Reading the fusor's intent

A fusor's author can describe how they meant it to be used in the fusor's notes field, reachable from the expand arrow in the toolbar:

Move crossfader to center and hold until you wish to begin fade out of background while keeping vocals in foreground. Last 20% of transition adds echo and cuts vocals: let it play out.

Notes like that imply a mode. This one all but requires Manual Run Mode, because it asks for a deliberate hold. A fusor authored as one uninterrupted sweep reads as Auto. The author's intent is not binding: any fusor runs in Auto or Manual. The notes usually say which one it was built for.

Switching modes

Manual is the default, and your last choice is remembered across sessions. The Run Mode switch and its states are in Transport Controls.

Mixed is available only while the loaded fusor's mix point is Middle, or End with an effect tail. With a mix point of Start, End without a tail, or none, the Mixed position is dimmed. If you load such a fusor while the switch is on Mixed, the switch moves to Auto. It moves the same way if the fusor loses its tail before the run.

To hand over earlier or later than halfway, load a Middle fusor and set the bar count in Mixed. The bars time only the automatic part, which ends at half of the bars set, and you finish by hand for as long as you like. On an 8-bar transition, 4 bars stops the run at bar 2 and leaves the next 6 bars to you; 12 bars stops it at bar 6 and leaves the last 2. See Mix Points.

You can switch modes while a fusor is loaded but not yet running. Once a transition starts the mode is locked, with exceptions for an Auto run or a Mixed run before its stop, each by pressing and holding a position on the Run Mode switch for about 0.4 seconds. Holding Manual takes the run over while Online, converting it to manual from that point on. Holding Mixed during an Auto run adds the stop at the mix point, and holding Auto during a Mixed run before the stop cancels it. Manual to Auto mid-transition is not possible. See The Run Mode switch for the switch and Manual takeover for the mechanics.

For the lifecycle all modes share, arming and the start trigger and pausing and completion, see Arming and Running a Transition.