When we walk customers through the app after installation, we cover the basics: pick a colour, choose a pattern, turn it on and off. Most people leave with those three skills and use them happily for years.

But the app does a lot more than that. Here are the five features most customers discover only by accident — and that change how they use their lights entirely.

Feature 01

Smart Scheduling

You can set your lights to turn on and off automatically at specific times — including sunset-relative triggers that adjust as the days get longer and shorter through the year.

Most customers set a schedule like: On at sunset, dim to 40% at 10:30pm, off at midnight. Once it's set, you don't touch it again. The lights are on when you pull into the driveway at 6pm in December and off before you go to sleep. You genuinely forget that lights need to be managed.

How to set it up: App → Settings → Schedules → Add Schedule → Choose days, On time (or "Sunset"), Brightness change time, Off time.
Feature 02

Music Sync Mode

The controller uses your phone's microphone to detect beat and rhythm and pulse your lights in time with music. It works with any audio source — speakers, a party outside, TV audio, or your phone playing directly.

The effect is genuinely impressive at outdoor parties. Set your roofline to a warm colour and let the lights pulse with the bass from your speakers. It draws a crowd every time at Calgary Stampede backyard parties and Christmas Eve celebrations.

How to enable it: App → Patterns → Music Sync → Choose a base colour → Sensitivity slider (start at 50%) → Allow microphone access when prompted.
Feature 03

Zone Control

Your roofline can be divided into independent zones. Most Starise installs have 2–4 zones: front roofline, garage, back/side, etc. You can run completely different colours and patterns in each zone simultaneously.

A popular setup: front of house runs a festive pattern for guests, while the back of the house runs steady warm white for the deck area. Or run red and white on the main roofline for Canada Day while keeping the garage in plain white so your driveway doesn't look like a firetruck.

How to access it: App → Home → Tap the zone dropdown → Select "All Zones" or a specific zone → Set colour/pattern for that zone only.
Feature 04

Custom Scene Builder

You can build and save complete "scenes" — combinations of colour, pattern, speed, brightness, and zone settings — with a custom name. Once saved, switching to that scene takes one tap.

Most power users build 5–8 scenes: "Christmas," "Canada Day," "Halloween," "Stampede," "Party," "Relaxed Evening," "Away," and "Off." Every holiday and event is a single tap away. No remembering settings, no hunting through menus.

How to build a scene: App → Scenes → + New Scene → Set all your preferences → Name it → Save. The scene appears on your home screen for one-tap access.
Feature 05

Vacation Mode

Vacation mode randomly varies your lighting while you're away — turning on and off at slightly different times each night, occasionally changing brightness or colour slightly. To a passerby, it looks like someone is home and using the lights normally.

This feature is underused but surprisingly valuable as a home security measure. Empty-looking houses are more attractive to opportunists. Lights that appear to be manually controlled suggest occupancy. Calgary Neighbourhood Watch groups have actually started recommending permanent lighting with this feature to their members.

How to enable it: App → Settings → Vacation Mode → Enable → Set start and end dates → Choose a base scene to vary from.

One bonus: firmware updates

The controller receives over-the-air firmware updates automatically when connected to Wi-Fi. New patterns, performance improvements, and features are added periodically — without you doing anything. Customers who installed 3 years ago have access to patterns that didn't exist at the time they bought the system. It's one of the hidden benefits of a connected smart lighting system.

Frequently asked questions

Does the app work when my Wi-Fi is down?
Yes. The app communicates with the controller directly over your local network. If your internet goes down but your local Wi-Fi is still up, the app works normally. If your Wi-Fi goes down completely, the lights will continue running whatever pattern they were last set to — they don't turn off.
Can multiple family members control the lights?
Yes. The app supports multiple devices connected to the same controller. You can give your partner, teenager, or housesitter access without sharing passwords. Each person can set their own favourites independently.
Does the app work with Alexa or Google Home?
Yes. Starise integrates with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home. You can say "Alexa, set the lights to Christmas mode" or "Hey Google, turn on the roofline lights" without opening the app. Setup takes about 5 minutes and is documented in the app settings.

Get the most out of your permanent lighting

Get a free quote for your Calgary home and we'll walk you through every feature on install day.

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