| name | album-art-visualizer |
| description | The Library Browser ART-mode visualizer — 30 Core Image GPU effects that transform album artwork based on audio. Use when adding/editing visualizer effects, intensity, keyboard shortcuts, or the ART-mode lifecycle. |
Album Art Visualizer
GPU-accelerated effects that transform album artwork based on audio.
Accessing
- Open Library Browser window
- Switch to ART mode (click ART tab)
- Visualizer activates automatically when music plays
- Right-click for visualizer context menu
Effects (30 Total)
All effects use Core Image filters for GPU acceleration and respond to audio levels (bass/mid/treble).
Rotation & Scaling
Psychedelic, Kaleidoscope, Vortex, Spin, Fractal, Tunnel
Distortion
Melt, Wave, Glitch, RGB Split, Twist, Fisheye, Shatter, Stretch
Motion
Zoom, Shake, Bounce, Feedback, Strobe, Jitter
Copies & Mirrors
Mirror, Tile, Prism, Double Vision, Flipbook, Mosaic
Pixel Effects
Pixelate, Scanlines, Datamosh, Blocky
Controls
Keyboard:
- Click / ← → — Previous/Next effect
- ↑ ↓ — Decrease/Increase intensity
- R — Toggle Random mode (changes effect on beat hits)
- C — Toggle Cycle mode (advances at intervals)
- F — Toggle Fullscreen
- Escape — Exit fullscreen / Turn off visualizer
Context Menu:
- Next/Previous Effect
- Random Mode, Auto-Cycle Mode, Cycle Interval (5s/10s/20s/30s)
- All Effects submenu
- Intensity (Low/Medium/Normal/High/Extreme)
- Fullscreen / Turn Off
Technical
- Rendering: Core Image filters with Metal GPU
- Frame Rate: 60 FPS animation timer
- Audio Reactivity: spectrum bands (bass/mid/treble)
- Auto-Stop: effects pause after ~0.5s of silence
- Intensity Range: 0.5×–2.0× effect strength
Key Files
Visualization/AudioReactiveUniforms.swift — audio data struct for shadersVisualization/ShaderManager.swift — Metal pipeline managementVisualization/ArtworkVisualizerView.swift — MTKView renderingWindows/ArtVisualizer/ArtVisualizerWindowController.swift — window controllerWindows/ArtVisualizer/ArtVisualizerContainerView.swift — window chrome
Troubleshooting
Effects not showing: ensure ART mode in Library Browser; music playing; try clicking to cycle.
Performance: lower intensity; some effects (Feedback) are more demanding.
