diff --git a/examples/pioasm_neopixel.py b/examples/pioasm_neopixel.py
index 00ced1f..0c043d5 100644
--- a/examples/pioasm_neopixel.py
+++ b/examples/pioasm_neopixel.py
@@ -8,19 +8,22 @@
 import microcontroller
 import adafruit_pioasm
 
-# NeoPixels are 800khz bit streams. Zeroes are 1/3 duty cycle (~416ns) and ones
-# are 2/3 duty cycle (~833ns).
+# NeoPixels are 800khz bit streams. We are choosing zeros as <312ns hi, 936 lo>
+# and ones as <700 ns hi, 556 ns lo>.
+# The first two instructions always run while only one of the two final
+# instructions run per bit. We start with the low period because it can be
+# longer while waiting for more data.
 program = """
 .program ws2812
 .side_set 1
 .wrap_target
 bitloop:
-  out x 1        side 0 [1]; Side-set still takes place when instruction stalls
-  jmp !x do_zero side 1 [1]; Branch on the bit we shifted out. Positive pulse
-do_one:
-  jmp  bitloop   side 1 [1]; Continue driving high, for a long pulse
-do_zero:
-  nop            side 0 [1]; Or drive low, for a short pulse
+   out x 1        side 0 [6]; Drive low. Side-set still takes place before instruction stalls.
+   jmp !x do_zero side 1 [3]; Branch on the bit we shifted out previous delay. Drive high.
+ do_one:
+   jmp  bitloop   side 1 [4]; Continue driving high, for a one (long pulse)
+ do_zero:
+   nop            side 0 [4]; Or drive low, for a zero (short pulse)
 .wrap
 """
 
@@ -35,7 +38,7 @@
 
 sm = rp2pio.StateMachine(
     assembled,
-    frequency=800000 * 6,  # 800khz * 6 clocks per bit
+    frequency=12_800_000,  # to get appropriate sub-bit times in PIO program
     first_sideset_pin=NEOPIXEL,
     auto_pull=True,
     out_shift_right=False,
diff --git a/examples/pioasm_neopixel_bg.py b/examples/pioasm_neopixel_bg.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3ec39a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/pioasm_neopixel_bg.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022 Jeff Epler, written for Adafruit Industries
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+
+"""Demonstrate background writing with NeoPixels
+
+The NeoPixelBackground class defined here is largely compatible with the
+standard NeoPixel class, except that the ``show()`` method returns immediately,
+writing data to the LEDs in the background.
+
+Writing the LED data in the background will allow more time for your
+Python code to run, so it may be possible to slightly increase the refresh
+rate of your LEDs or do more complicated processing.
+
+The demonstration code, under ``if __name__ == '__main__':`` is intended
+for the Adafruit MacroPad, with 12 NeoPixel LEDs. It shows a cycling rainbow
+pattern across all the LEDs.
+"""
+
+import struct
+import adafruit_pixelbuf
+from ulab import numpy as np
+from rp2pio import StateMachine
+from adafruit_pioasm import Program
+
+# Pixel color order constants
+RGB = "RGB"
+"""Red Green Blue"""
+GRB = "GRB"
+"""Green Red Blue"""
+RGBW = "RGBW"
+"""Red Green Blue White"""
+GRBW = "GRBW"
+"""Green Red Blue White"""
+
+# NeoPixels are 800khz bit streams. We are choosing zeros as <312ns hi, 936 lo>
+# and ones as <700 ns hi, 556 ns lo>.
+_program = Program(
+    """
+.side_set 1 opt
+.wrap_target
+    pull block          side 0
+    out y, 16           side 0      ; get count of NeoPixel bits
+
+bitloop:
+    pull ifempty        side 0      ; drive low
+    out x 1             side 0 [5]
+    jmp !x do_zero      side 1 [3]  ; drive high and branch depending on bit val
+    jmp y--, bitloop    side 1 [4]  ; drive high for a one (long pulse)
+    jmp end_sequence    side 0      ; sequence is over
+
+do_zero:
+    jmp y--, bitloop    side 0 [4]  ; drive low for a zero (short pulse)
+
+end_sequence:
+    pull block          side 0      ; get fresh 16 bit delay value
+    out y, 16           side 0      ; get delay count
+wait_reset:
+    jmp y--, wait_reset side 0      ; wait until delay elapses
+.wrap
+        """
+)
+
+
+class NeoPixelBackground(  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
+    adafruit_pixelbuf.PixelBuf
+):
+    def __init__(
+        self, pin, n, *, bpp=3, brightness=1.0, auto_write=True, pixel_order=None
+    ):
+        if not pixel_order:
+            pixel_order = GRB if bpp == 3 else GRBW
+        elif isinstance(pixel_order, tuple):
+            order_list = [RGBW[order] for order in pixel_order]
+            pixel_order = "".join(order_list)
+
+        byte_count = bpp * n
+        bit_count = byte_count * 8
+        padding_count = byte_count % 2
+
+        if bit_count > 65536:
+            raise ValueError("Too many pixels")
+
+        # backwards, so that ulab byteswap corrects it!
+        header = struct.pack(">H", (bit_count - 1) & 0xFFFF)
+        trailer = b"\0" * padding_count + struct.pack(">H", 3840)
+
+        self._sm = StateMachine(
+            _program.assembled,
+            auto_pull=False,
+            first_sideset_pin=pin,
+            out_shift_right=False,
+            pull_threshold=16,
+            frequency=12_800_000,
+            **_program.pio_kwargs,
+        )
+
+        super().__init__(
+            n,
+            brightness=brightness,
+            byteorder=pixel_order,
+            auto_write=auto_write,
+            header=header,
+            trailer=trailer,
+        )
+
+    def _transmit(self, buf):
+        self._sm.background_write(np.frombuffer(buf, dtype=np.uint16).byteswap())
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import board
+    import rainbowio
+    import time
+
+    NEOPIXEL = board.NEOPIXEL
+    NUM_PIXELS = 12
+    pixels = NeoPixelBackground(NEOPIXEL, NUM_PIXELS)
+    i = 0
+    while True:
+        pixels.fill(rainbowio.colorwheel(i := (i + 1) % 256))
+        time.sleep(0.01)