Vibralizer is a real-time music visualizer that reacts to whatever audio is playing on your computer — Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Ableton, your DJ software, your microphone, anything that makes sound. We've gathered the questions we get most often below. If yours isn't here, come say hi on Discord or email hello@vibralizer.com.
The basics
Who is Vibralizer for?
Vibralizer is for anyone who wants to see the music they're already listening to. That includes:
- Music lovers and audiophiles who want a deeper, more visual experience of the songs they love
- Hosts who want their next party to feel like a venue
- Coders, writers, and creatives with beats in their ears and a spare monitor
- Twitch streamers and content creators who want a unique, always-on visual layer
- Musicians and live producers looking for a reactive visual companion to their sets
- VJs who need a reliable, low-latency audio-representative visualizer that drops into a Spout pipeline
- Mindfulness practitioners using microphone input to visualize breath
- People with hearing loss (like one of our founders!) who want to perceive the richness of music even when they can't hear every frequency
If you loved WinAmp, Windows Media Player visualizations, the lights at a great show, or a really good lava lamp, you're in the right place.
What does Vibralizer actually do?
Vibralizer turns the audio playing on your computer into real-time visuals. Hit play in Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Ableton, a DJ set — whatever you've got going — and Vibralizer reacts to it on screen.
How it works
Does Vibralizer work with Spotify?
Yes! And Apple Music, Tidal, YouTube, SoundCloud, VLC, SiriusXM, Ableton, your DJ software, any browser tab playing audio, or any other app that makes sound on your computer. Vibralizer reads the audio your computer is playing — not a specific app — so it works with effectively any music source.
Why does Vibralizer need permission to capture system audio?
That's how Vibralizer "hears" what's playing on your computer. System audio capture (sometimes called audio loopback) is the trick that lets Vibralizer react to Spotify, YouTube, your DJ software, or anything else playing through your speakers. Without that permission, there's nothing for Vibralizer to react to.
And important to say up front: all of that processing happens on your device. No audio data — content, frequencies, waveforms, levels, or metadata — ever leaves your computer.
Is the sound from my computer transmitted anywhere?
Nope! All audio processing happens 100% on your device. Vibralizer doesn't record, upload, transmit, or store audio of any kind. We don't have user accounts, we don't track what you're listening to, and we don't sell any kind of audio or listening data — because we never collect it in the first place. Full details in our Privacy Policy.
Does Vibralizer work offline?
Yes. Once Vibralizer is installed, you don't need an internet connection to use it. It runs locally on your computer.
Does Vibralizer work with a microphone?
Yes. You can point Vibralizer at your microphone input instead of system audio — useful for live music, room ambience, breath and biofeedback work, or visualizing instruments and voices directly.
What makes Vibralizer different
What makes Vibralizer different from other music visualizers?
- Real-time, not pre-rendered. Vibralizer reacts to your audio with a delay of less than 0.004 seconds. There's no track upload, no offline render, no waiting.
- Audio-representative, not just audio-reactive. Most of our Vibes are built from real-time spectrum analysis, so the visuals genuinely reflect the music — frequencies, dynamics, structure — rather than just pulsing on the beat.
- Hand-crafted, no AI-generated imagery. Every Vibe is designed and tuned by humans. We don't use generative AI for art or visuals. Vibralizer is by humans, for humanity.
- Buy once, use it. No subscription. The version you bought is yours, including the updates we ship to it. We may release additional Vibe packs or premium content as separate purchases later.
- Standalone software. Not a plugin, not a browser tab. That makes it more reliable, lower-latency, and less likely to break when your music app updates.
- Built for VJs too. Vibralizer outputs to a Spout pipeline so you can route it into Resolume, TouchDesigner, OBS, or anything that accepts Spout. Syphon support for macOS is planned.
- Built by people who actually care. Kate has a PhD in audio analysis (her dissertation was on birdsong evolution) and personal experience with hearing loss. Nick has shipped award-winning real-time games on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, mobile, and VR over the last 20+ years. Not vibe-coded.
Who makes Vibralizer?
Two people in Nashville, Tennessee, working under Vibralizer LLC: Kate Snyder, PhD (audio analysis, Grateful Dead enthusiast, fire-hooping aficionado) and Nick Pettit (20+ years shipping real-time apps and games). More about both of us on the home page.
Pricing, platforms, and system requirements
How much does Vibralizer cost?
Vibralizer launches into Early Access on May 20, 2026 at an introductory $4.99 — a thank-you to the people who jump in early. Same price on Steam and itch.io. That price is going up: we'll bump it as we add more Vibes and features during Early Access, and the full app is planned at $11.99 when we leave Early Access. Buy now and the version is yours for good, every update included.
What platforms does Vibralizer run on?
At Early Access launch, Vibralizer runs on Windows 10 or later (64-bit). macOS and Linux support are on our roadmap.
You can buy Vibralizer on Steam or itch.io — same price on both.
What are the system requirements?
Minimum requirements (Windows):
- 64-bit processor and operating system
- Windows 10 or later
- Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD FX-9590 (or equivalent)
- 8 GB RAM
- GPU with 4 GB VRAM (e.g., GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon RX 460)
- DirectX 11
- 500 MB of available storage
If your computer can comfortably play a recent game, it can run Vibralizer.
Does Vibralizer work on Steam Deck?
Vibralizer is a Windows application, so it can run on Steam Deck via Proton — but we haven't completed Steam Deck Verified review yet. That means performance, audio capture, and controller compatibility on Deck aren't officially supported at Early Access launch. If you're playing with it on Deck, we'd love to hear how it goes.
Can I get Vibralizer on my phone, tablet, smart TV, or refrigerator?
Not today. The way system audio is routed on phones, tablets, smart TVs, and most appliances doesn't allow third-party apps to react to what other apps are playing. We wish it did, and maybe one day device makers will open this up.
A mobile companion app that reacts to microphone input (rather than system audio) is something we're exploring, so you'd be able to point your phone at music in the room and visualize it.
But I really want it on my TV.
The simplest path is to run Vibralizer on a computer and connect that computer to your TV via HDMI, using the TV as a second display. Most modern laptops, mini PCs, and home theater PCs can do this with a single cable.
Why do the visuals look sluggish or behind the music when I use a projector?
Many projectors have a much slower refresh rate than a typical monitor. That's fine for movies and slide decks, but it can really change the experience of a low-latency visualizer like Vibralizer.
Most projectors have a high-refresh-rate mode — often called Game mode, Low latency mode, or Fast mode — that trades a little resolution or color processing for speed. Turning that on usually fixes the lag. Projectors marketed for gaming are typically a solid choice out of the box.
Vibes, customization, and roadmap
How many Vibes does Vibralizer ship with?
Nine hand-crafted Vibes at Early Access launch — the six from the demo plus three new ones: Galaxy, Corona, and Static. We add new Vibes and features approximately every two weeks during Early Access.
Why only nine Vibes? Can't you generate hundreds with AI?
We could, and the result would look like every other generative visualizer. We don't want that.
Each Vibe starts as a little corner on our Miro vision board — a piece of inspiration, a sketch, a note, a proposed architecture. Then it gets built piece by piece, tested against real songs across genres, and tuned manually until it actually feels like the music. Sometimes that tuning takes a long time. It's a human-centric creative process, like making music. Quality over quantity is the point.
Will there be Vibe customization?
Yes! Customization is on our Early Access roadmap and we'll roll it out piece by piece. We genuinely want to hear which knobs you'd reach for first — tell us on Discord or by email. When we hear the same request from a lot of people, that's a strong signal and it moves up the list.
Will I get future updates for free?
Yes, for the version of Vibralizer you bought. We may release additional Vibe packs or premium content as separate purchases later, but core updates and improvements are included.
Streaming, live performance, and VJing
Can I use Vibralizer on Twitch or YouTube streams?
Yes! Throw it on your stream, drop it into a video, share clips on TikTok or Instagram — we genuinely love seeing what people make with Vibralizer. Personal and creator use, including monetized streams, is permitted under our standard Early Access license. Full terms in the EULA.
Can I use Vibralizer at gigs, concerts, or VJ sets?
During Early Access, yes. We're permitting commercial live use during Early Access because we want to learn how people are using Vibralizer in real-world VJ and live-performance workflows, and frankly because it's exciting to see.
Heads-up for the future: we're considering a separate Pro tier later that would include a dedicated commercial license for things like paid VJ gigs and branded events. So the commercial terms here may evolve as we approach full release. If that happens, we'll give plenty of notice, and the standard license will continue to cover personal and creator use.
If you're a VJ, please tell us how you're using it — drop a note at hello@vibralizer.com or in Discord. That feedback shapes what the Pro tier becomes.
Does Vibralizer integrate with VJ software like Resolume or TouchDesigner?
Yes. Vibralizer outputs its visuals via Spout on Windows, so you can route it into Resolume, TouchDesigner, OBS, vMix, MadMapper, or anything else that takes Spout as a source. Syphon (the macOS equivalent) and NDI are on our roadmap.
Accessibility and safety
How is Vibralizer accessible for people with hearing loss?
Vibralizer was built in part because our co-founder Kate developed hearing loss in her late 20s and realized that, with the right visualization, she could still perceive nuances in music she could no longer hear. The Vibes use real-time spectrum analysis, so frequencies, dynamics, and structure show up visually — not just beat pulses. That makes it easier to perceive the texture and structure of music when some frequencies are missing.
We're continuing to develop this thoughtfully and welcome feedback from the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. You can reach us at hello@vibralizer.com.
Is Vibralizer safe for people with photosensitive epilepsy?
Like many visualizers, games, and animated media, Vibralizer produces fast-moving lights, flashing patterns, and rapid color changes that may trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. If you or anyone in your family has a history of seizures, please consult a doctor before using Vibralizer. Stop using it immediately if you experience dizziness, altered vision, eye or muscle twitches, disorientation, or any involuntary movement.
Buying, support, and refunds
How do I get a refund?
Refunds are handled by whichever store you bought from. On Steam, the standard Steam refund policy applies — refunds within 14 days of purchase if you've played less than 2 hours, requested through your Steam account. On itch.io, refunds are handled by us directly — email hello@vibralizer.com and we'll take care of it. Either way, if something went wrong that we could've fixed, we'd love to hear about it before you go.
How do I get support or report a bug?
Fastest way is our Discord — Kate or Nick usually replies within a day. You can also email hello@vibralizer.com. Screenshots or a short screen recording help a ton, especially for visual bugs.
Where can I follow updates?
- Newsletter — sign up on the home page
- Discord
- Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky — all @vibralizer
- Steam page