Instrument Presets Reference

This page documents every setting for each of the 14 built-in instrument presets. Use it as a reference when creating custom instruments in the Chart Designer, or to understand why each instrument behaves the way it does.

ES NQ CL RTY MES MNQ MCL M2K SPY AAPL MSFT PLTR TSLA GME

How to read this page

Each instrument has two tables: Historical (candle generation - regime, drift, volatility, wicks) and Microstructure (tick engine - LOB, agents, Hawkes). The "Effect of Change" column tells you what happens if you increase or decrease that setting in the Chart Designer.

ES - E-mini S&P 500

The benchmark index future. Institutional-dominated, moderate volatility, smooth trends. Average daily range: 40-60 points (~$2,500-$3,750/contract).

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`chop duration`	30 bars	ES spends significant time consolidating between institutional order blocks	Higher = longer range-bound periods. Lower = faster transitions into trends.
`trend duration`	35 bars	ES trends are sustained by passive institutional flows (VWAP algos, rebalancing)	Higher = longer directional legs. Lower = choppier trend segments.
`impulse duration`	5 bars	News-driven spikes on ES are relatively contained vs NQ	Higher = longer spike events. Lower = sharper, shorter reactions.
`trend → chop`	0.35	ES trends often exhaust into rotation zones rather than reversing directly	Higher = trends end in consolidation more often. Lower = more direct reversals.
`trend → trend (reverse)`	0.50	ES frequently V-reverses off key levels (VWAP, prior highs/lows)	Higher = more V-reversals. Lower = more consolidation between moves.
`chop_sigma`	0.04	Low noise during consolidation; tight candle bodies in chop	Higher = wider ranging candles even in consolidation. Lower = flatter chop.
`trend_magnitude`	0.20	Moderate directional drift per candle during trends (~0.2pts avg per 1-min bar)	Higher = faster price movement during trends. Lower = more gradual trends.
`trend_sigma`	0.12	Some noise within trends but not excessive (institutional flow is steady)	Higher = more pullbacks within trends. Lower = cleaner, more linear moves.
`impulse_magnitude`	1.2	News/data spikes move ~1.2pts per candle (4-5 ticks)	Higher = larger spike magnitudes. Lower = smaller reactions to events.
`volatility chop`	0.8	Produces realistic 1-2pt candle ranges during consolidation	Higher = larger candle bodies/wicks in chop. Lower = tighter ranges.
`volatility trend`	1.5	Nearly 2x chop volatility during directional moves	Higher = wider candles during trends. Lower = tighter trend candles.
`volatility impulse`	3.5	Spike candles are ~4x normal size	Higher = more extreme spike candles. Lower = milder reactions.
`wick chop_ratio`	2.0	Long wicks in chop (rejection candles, indecision)	Higher = more prominent wicks. Lower = smaller wicks, more body-dominant candles.
`wick trend_ratio`	0.5	Short wicks in trends (clean directional candles)	Higher = more pullback wicks during trends. Lower = cleaner trend candles.
`global_bias`	0.01	Slight long bias reflecting long-term equity uptrend	Positive = net upward drift. Negative = net downward drift. 0 = neutral.

Microstructure (Tick Engine)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`spread_base`	1.0 tick	ES is the most liquid futures contract; spread is nearly always 1 tick	Higher = wider resting spread. Lower = tighter (may not be realistic).
`spread_vol_mult`	1.5	Spread barely widens even during volatile periods due to deep liquidity	Higher = spread blows out more during spikes. Lower = more stable spread.
`inst_rate`	0.015	Moderate institutional activity (lower than NQ due to steadier flow)	Higher = more large orders hitting the book. Lower = quieter order flow.
`inst_size`	10-80 lots	ES institutional clips are moderate (vs NQ which sees larger single orders)	Higher = more impactful individual orders. Lower = smaller footprints.
`inst_persistence`	0.90	Institutions tend to work orders in one direction for sustained periods	Higher = more sustained directional pressure. Lower = more random flow.
`retail_rate`	0.06	Moderate retail participation	Higher = more noise/random fills. Lower = cleaner institutional-driven ticks.
`momentum_rate`	0.03	Low momentum chasing (ES traders are more methodical)	Higher = more breakout acceleration. Lower = less follow-through on moves.
`hawkes_base`	0.12	Low base clustering intensity (ticks are more evenly spaced)	Higher = more tick clustering/bursts. Lower = more uniform tick arrival.
`hawkes_alpha`	0.4	Moderate self-excitation (activity begets activity, but contained)	Higher = stronger cascading effects. Lower = less reactive to prior activity.
`pool_strength`	0.25	Moderate attraction to S/R levels (price gravitates but doesn't stick)	Higher = stronger magnetism to key levels. Lower = more free-flowing price.
`pool_count`	3	Typically 3 major S/R levels in a session (open, prior high, prior low)	Higher = more levels to interact with. Lower = fewer attraction points.
`mean_rev_strength`	0.003	Moderate pull toward VWAP (institutional VWAP algos are active on ES)	Higher = stronger VWAP reversion. Lower = more deviation allowed.

NQ - E-mini Nasdaq 100

Tech-heavy, momentum-driven. Bigger moves, stronger trends, more volatile than ES. Average daily range: 200-400 points (~$1,000-$2,000/contract).

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`chop duration`	20 bars	NQ spends less time in consolidation than ES; moves quickly between regimes	Higher = more time ranging. Lower = faster regime transitions.
`trend duration`	40 bars	NQ trends run longer than ES (momentum begets momentum in tech names)	Higher = extended directional runs. Lower = shorter trend legs.
`impulse duration`	6 bars	Tech earnings/FOMC reactions last longer on NQ	Higher = prolonged spike events. Lower = quicker normalization.
`trend → chop`	0.30	NQ trends rarely die into consolidation; they usually reverse or accelerate	Higher = more exhaustion into chop. Lower = more continuation/reversal.
`trend → trend (reverse)`	0.50	NQ is prone to sharp reversals (tech rotation, sector switches)	Higher = more whipsaw reversals. Lower = more sustained one-way moves.
`impulse → trend`	0.50	NQ impulse moves often lead into sustained trends (breakout continuation)	Higher = spikes become trend starters. Lower = spikes fade quickly.
`chop_sigma`	0.15	NQ chop is noisier than ES (wider candles even when ranging)	Higher = messier consolidation. Lower = tighter, cleaner ranges.
`trend_magnitude`	0.8	Strong directional drift per candle (~3 ticks avg per bar during trends)	Higher = faster trending. Lower = more gradual moves.
`trend_sigma`	0.5	High noise within trends (NQ has deep pullbacks mid-trend)	Higher = more volatility within trends. Lower = smoother trend legs.
`impulse_magnitude`	4.0	Large spike moves (~16 ticks/bar during impulse)	Higher = more violent spikes. Lower = smaller reactions.
`volatility chop`	3.0	NQ 1-min candles are 5-10pts even in chop	Higher = larger ranging candles. Lower = tighter chop candles.
`volatility trend`	6.0	2x chop vol during trends; 15-25pt candles common	Higher = wider trend candles. Lower = more contained moves.
`volatility impulse`	12.0	4x chop vol during spikes; 30-50pt single candles possible	Higher = more extreme spike candles. Lower = milder reactions.
`global_bias`	0.02	Slight upward bias (Nasdaq has historically outperformed)	Positive = net bullish drift. 0 = neutral.

Microstructure (Tick Engine)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`spread_base`	1.0 tick	NQ is highly liquid; 1-tick spread during regular hours	Higher = wider spread (less liquid feel). Lower = not realistic.
`spread_vol_mult`	2.0	Spread widens more than ES during volatile moves (thinner relative book)	Higher = more spread blowout. Lower = more stable spread.
`inst_rate`	0.025	Higher institutional activity than ES (more aggressive algo participation)	Higher = more impactful orders. Lower = calmer flow.
`inst_size`	15-150 lots	Larger institutional clips on NQ (bigger notional per contract)	Higher = more market impact per order. Lower = smaller footprints.
`inst_persistence`	0.88	Slightly less persistent than ES (faster regime switches)	Higher = longer sustained pressure. Lower = more random direction.
`momentum_rate`	0.06	High momentum chasing (breakout traders, trend followers active on NQ)	Higher = stronger breakout acceleration. Lower = less follow-through.
`hawkes_base`	0.18	Higher clustering (NQ has burst-like tick patterns)	Higher = more tick bursts. Lower = smoother tick flow.
`hawkes_alpha`	0.7	Strong self-excitation (activity cascades quickly)	Higher = more volatile cascades. Lower = less reactive.
`pool_count`	4	More S/R levels (NQ has prior day high/low, weekly levels, round numbers)	Higher = more magnetic zones. Lower = fewer structural levels.
`mean_rev_strength`	0.002	Weaker VWAP pull than ES (NQ deviates more from VWAP)	Higher = stronger VWAP reversion. Lower = more trending away from VWAP.

CL - Crude Oil

Commodity future driven by geopolitics, supply/demand, and inventory reports. Choppy with sudden impulse moves. Average daily range: $1.50-$3.00 ($1,500-$3,000/contract).

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`chop duration`	35 bars	CL spends much time consolidating between news events	Higher = more dead zones. Lower = more frequent directional moves.
`trend duration`	25 bars	CL trends are moderate length; driven by order flow imbalances	Higher = longer directional runs. Lower = quicker mean reversion.
`impulse duration`	4 bars	EIA/OPEC reactions are sharp but brief	Higher = longer spike duration. Lower = faster normalization.
`chop → impulse`	0.40	CL is the most impulse-prone instrument (news-driven)	Higher = more frequent spikes from chop. Lower = calmer transitions.
`trend_magnitude`	0.012	Moderate drift in dollar terms (~1.2 cents/bar during trends)	Higher = faster directional moves. Lower = more gradual trends.
`volatility chop`	0.03	Tight 3-5 cent candles during quiet periods	Higher = wider ranging candles. Lower = flatter chop.
`gap prob`	0.08	Occasional gaps on geopolitical events (weekend risk, OPEC)	Higher = more gap events. Lower = fewer gaps.
`wick asymmetry`	0.15	Slight downside wick bias (panic selling is sharper than buying)	Higher = more lopsided wicks. 0 = symmetric wicks.

Microstructure (Tick Engine)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`spread_base`	1.5 ticks	CL is less liquid than index futures; wider natural spread	Higher = more slippage on entries. Lower = tighter fills.
`spread_vol_mult`	2.5	Spread widens significantly during news events	Higher = worse fills during volatility. Lower = more stable execution.
`inst_persistence`	0.85	Less persistent than index futures (fundamental-driven, less algo flow)	Higher = more sustained one-directional pressure. Lower = choppier flow.
`retail_rate`	0.05	Lower retail participation than equities	Higher = more noise. Lower = cleaner institutional-dominated flow.
`pool_strength`	0.30	Key levels (round numbers, prior settle) are significant for CL	Higher = stronger attraction to levels. Lower = more free-flowing price.
`mean_rev_strength`	0.003	Moderate VWAP pull; CL respects VWAP well intraday	Higher = tighter reversion. Lower = more trending behavior.

RTY - E-mini Russell 2000

Small-cap index. Choppier than ES/NQ, less liquid, wider effective spreads. Average daily range: 20-40 points (~$1,000-$2,000/contract).

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`chop duration`	25 bars	RTY chops frequently; small caps are sentiment-driven with mixed flows	Higher = more consolidation. Lower = faster trending.
`trend duration`	30 bars	RTY trends are moderate; less algo-driven than ES/NQ	Higher = longer directional legs. Lower = quicker reversals.
`trend_magnitude`	0.09	Moderate drift (~0.9 ticks per bar during trends on ~2100 price)	Higher = faster moves. Lower = more gradual trends.
`volatility chop`	0.4	Wider candles in chop vs ES (less institutional smoothing)	Higher = messier consolidation. Lower = tighter ranges.
`volatility trend`	0.85	~2x chop volatility during trends	Higher = wider trend candles. Lower = more contained trending.
`global_bias`	0.0	No directional bias (small caps don't trend up as reliably as large caps)	Positive = bullish bias. Negative = bearish bias.

MES - Micro E-mini S&P

Identical price action to ES. 1/10th the dollar value per tick ($1.25 vs $12.50). Same historical settings as ES. Designed for smaller accounts.

Note

MES, MNQ, MCL, and M2K use the exact same regime, drift, volatility, and wick settings as their E-mini counterparts. Only tick_value and margin differ.

MNQ - Micro Nasdaq

Identical price action to NQ. $0.50/tick vs $5.00. Same historical and microstructure settings as NQ.

MCL - Micro Crude Oil

Identical price action to CL. $1.00/tick vs $10.00. Same historical settings as CL.

M2K - Micro Russell 2000

Identical price action to RTY. $0.50/tick vs $5.00. Same historical settings as RTY.

SPY - S&P 500 ETF

The most liquid equity in the world. Mirrors ES but with penny ticks and massive volume. Average daily range: $4-6 on ~$560 price.

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`chop duration`	30 bars	Same institutional rhythm as ES (tracks the same index)	Higher = more consolidation. Lower = faster regime changes.
`trend duration`	35 bars	Sustained trends mirroring ES behavior	Higher = longer directional moves. Lower = choppier.
`trend_magnitude`	0.025	~2.5 cents per bar during trends (penny-tick instrument)	Higher = faster price movement. Lower = more gradual.
`volatility chop`	0.07	Very tight 1-min candles (5-10 cent range in chop)	Higher = wider candles. Lower = tighter consolidation.
`gap prob`	0.05	Small overnight gaps on earnings/macro (less than individual stocks)	Higher = more gaps. Lower = smoother opens.

Microstructure (Tick Engine)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`spread_base`	1.0 tick	Penny spread (most liquid equity on the planet)	Higher = unrealistic for SPY. Lower = not possible.
`inst_size`	50-500 shares	Huge institutional blocks (ETF creation/redemption, rebalancing)	Higher = more impact per order. Lower = less visible footprint.
`inst_persistence`	0.93	Very persistent (VWAP algos work all day in one direction)	Higher = more sustained flow. Lower = more random direction.
`mean_rev_strength`	0.004	Strongest VWAP pull of any instrument (VWAP is king for SPY)	Higher = tighter reversion. Lower = more deviation allowed.

AAPL - Apple

Mega-cap tech stock. Clear trends, moderate volatility, earnings-driven gaps. Average daily range: $3-5 on ~$215 price.

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`trend duration`	30 bars	AAPL trends are driven by sector rotation and institutional positioning	Higher = longer runs. Lower = choppier action.
`trend_magnitude`	0.016	~1.6 cents per bar drift during trends	Higher = steeper trends. Lower = more gradual.
`volatility chop`	0.045	Tight consolidation (AAPL is well-covered, less random noise)	Higher = wider ranging. Lower = tighter boxes.
`gap prob`	0.08	Regular overnight gaps (earnings, analyst upgrades, product launches)	Higher = more gaps. Lower = fewer gap opens.
`global_bias`	0.003	Slight bullish bias (AAPL long-term uptrend)	Higher = more bullish drift. 0 = neutral.

MSFT - Microsoft

Large-cap tech, similar to AAPL but slightly less volatile. Steady institutional ownership. Average daily range: $5-8 on ~$440 price.

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`trend duration`	32 bars	Slightly longer trends than AAPL (more institutional accumulation)	Higher = more sustained moves. Lower = more rotation.
`trend_magnitude`	0.045	Higher absolute magnitude (higher price = more cents per bar needed)	Higher = faster trends. Lower = more gradual.
`volatility chop`	0.14	Wider than AAPL/SPY in absolute terms due to higher share price	Higher = larger candles. Lower = tighter consolidation.
`gap prob`	0.06	Less gap-prone than AAPL (fewer catalysts outside earnings)	Higher = more gaps. Lower = smoother transitions.

PLTR - Palantir

High-beta momentum stock. Retail favorite with strong directional moves. Average daily range: $3-6 on ~$120 price.

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`chop duration`	15 bars	PLTR doesn't consolidate long; retail flow creates constant movement	Higher = more dead time. Lower = even more active.
`trend duration`	25 bars	Momentum-driven trends; retail FOMO creates sustained moves	Higher = longer runs. Lower = quicker reversals.
`trend → impulse`	0.35	Trends frequently accelerate into impulse (FOMO cascades)	Higher = more trend-to-spike. Lower = more orderly trends.
`impulse → trend`	0.50	Spikes often lead into sustained moves (breakout continuation)	Higher = spikes become trends. Lower = spikes fade faster.
`gap prob`	0.15	Frequent gaps (AI hype cycles, analyst coverage, Elon tweets)	Higher = more gap risk. Lower = smoother opens.

TSLA - Tesla

Highly volatile momentum stock. Strong trends, large gaps, retail-driven with institutional overlay. Average daily range: $7-15 on ~$250 price.

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`trend duration`	28 bars	TSLA trends run hard (sentiment-driven, crowded trades)	Higher = longer directional legs. Lower = more reversals.
`trend → chop`	0.25	TSLA rarely consolidates quietly; moves tend to reverse or continue	Higher = more quiet periods. Lower = more continuous action.
`trend → impulse`	0.30	Trends frequently accelerate (short squeezes, panic selling)	Higher = more acceleration events. Lower = steadier trends.
`impulse_magnitude`	0.28	Large spike candles (~$0.28/bar during impulse, ~$1.50+ in 5 bars)	Higher = more violent spikes. Lower = milder reactions.
`wick asymmetry`	0.20	Notable wick asymmetry (sharp selloffs create long lower wicks)	Higher = more directional bias in wicks. 0 = symmetric.
`gap prob`	0.20	Very gap-prone (earnings, Elon posts, delivery numbers, macro)	Higher = more gap risk. Lower = fewer overnight moves.

Microstructure (Tick Engine)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`spread_base`	2.0 ticks	Wider spread than mega-caps (lower relative liquidity despite high volume)	Higher = more slippage. Lower = tighter fills.
`spread_vol_mult`	3.0	Spread blows out significantly during volatile moves	Higher = worse fills during spikes. Lower = more stable execution.
`inst_persistence`	0.94	Very persistent institutional flow (large funds accumulate/distribute over days)	Higher = stronger sustained pressure. Lower = more mixed flow.
`momentum_rate`	0.07	High momentum chasing (retail + algo breakout traders)	Higher = more acceleration on breakouts. Lower = less follow-through.
`hawkes_alpha`	0.8	Strong tick clustering (bursts of activity on TSLA are extreme)	Higher = more volatile bursts. Lower = smoother tick flow.
`pool_count`	5	Many key levels (round numbers, options strikes, prior day levels)	Higher = more levels to react to. Lower = fewer structural points.

GME - GameStop

Meme stock. Extreme volatility, impulse-dominated, thin liquidity at times. Average daily range: $1-2.50 on ~$28 price (4-8%).

Historical (Candle Generation)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`chop duration`	12 bars	GME barely consolidates; constant retail flow creates perpetual motion	Higher = more dead time. Lower = non-stop action.
`trend duration`	20 bars	Trends are moderate length but intense (retail FOMO/panic)	Higher = longer runs. Lower = quicker reversals.
`chop → impulse`	0.40	High probability of sudden spikes from any state (news, social media)	Higher = more random spikes. Lower = calmer transitions.
`trend → impulse`	0.45	Trends frequently explode into impulse (short squeezes, capitulation)	Higher = more parabolic moves. Lower = steadier trends.
`impulse → trend`	0.60	Impulse moves lead into sustained trends more often than fading	Higher = spikes become trends. Lower = spikes mean-revert.
`gap prob`	0.25	Very high gap frequency (social media catalysts, after-hours trades)	Higher = more overnight risk. Lower = fewer gaps.

Microstructure (Tick Engine)

Setting	Value	Rationale	Effect of Change
`spread_base`	3.0 ticks	Thin liquidity; wide natural spread due to low institutional participation	Higher = more slippage cost. Lower = unrealistically tight fills.
`spread_vol_mult`	4.0	Spread explodes during volatility (liquidity evaporates on meme stocks)	Higher = brutal fills during moves. Lower = more stable execution.
`inst_persistence`	0.70	Very low persistence (no sustained institutional flow; all retail chaos)	Higher = more directional pressure. Lower = more random walk.
`retail_rate`	0.20	Extremely high retail participation (highest of any instrument)	Higher = more noise/random fills. Lower = calmer flow.
`momentum_rate`	0.10	Very high momentum chasing (FOMO-driven entries)	Higher = stronger breakout acceleration. Lower = less follow-through.
`hawkes_alpha`	1.0	Maximum self-excitation (activity cascades violently)	Higher = more extreme clustering. Lower = more uniform ticks.
`pool_strength`	0.40	Strong S/R (retail herds at round numbers and meme-significant prices)	Higher = more magnetic levels. Lower = free-flowing price.

Tuning Guide

When creating custom instruments in the Chart Designer, use these guidelines:

Want more trending sessions?

Increase trend duration (40+ bars for strong trending)
Decrease trend → chop transition (below 0.30)
Increase trend_magnitude (larger drift per bar)
Add impulse → trend transitions (spikes lead into trends)

Want more choppy/range-bound sessions?

Increase chop duration (30+ bars)
Increase trend → chop transition (0.60+)
Decrease trend_magnitude
Increase wick chop_ratio (more rejection candles)

Want more volatile/impulsive behavior?

Increase all volatility values proportionally
Increase impulse_magnitude
Increase chop → impulse and trend → impulse transitions
Increase hawkes_alpha in microstructure (more tick clustering)

Want wider spreads / worse fills?

Increase spread_base (2-4 ticks for illiquid instruments)
Increase spread_vol_mult (3-5 for thin books)
Decrease lob_base_size (less depth = more slippage)

Want more realistic S/R interaction?

Increase pool_strength (0.30-0.40 for sticky levels)
Increase pool_count (4-5 for instruments with many key levels)
Increase mean_rev_strength (for VWAP-dominated instruments)