BeatDetect enables you to synchronize some aspect of PCStage's operation with the bass beats in an audio source, usually music. Any command can be sent to PCStage when a beat occurs: the most common application is to step one or more chasers with StepChasers.

The plugin's main window contain various controls and indicators:

• Block size is the size of the data blocks used to monitor the audio stream. Smaller values reduce the response time (latency), whereas larger values increase reliability. Use the smallest which gives reliable results on your PC.
• Threshold is the audio waveform level at which a beat is detected. Adjust this to the highest value which gives reliable results, since too low a value may result in false detection.
• Guard Time is the minimum accepted time between beats; this helps to prevent false detection. The best value depends on the tempo of your music, but at 120bpm (a beat every 500ms) 400ms would be about right.
• Command is the command sent to PCStage when each beat is detected.
• Enabled enables sending of the command to PCStage; uncheck it to temporarily disable this.
• The large black block at the bottom flashes red when a beat is detected

Clicking Show Wave brings up a real-time display of the audio waveform and current threshold levels. It uses a significant amount of CPU time, so avoid having it open when not required.

BeatDetect uses the default Sound Recording input device specified in the Windows Control Panel. Typical soundcards have only one input device, and the audio mixer applet is used to determine how it is derived from the card's various audio sources (microphone, line in, wave, CD etc).