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VST3 · AU · Standalone

Photism in any DAW.

Photism sits on an audio track like an EQ and turns whatever plays through it into audio-reactive visuals. The plugin window is the visualizer. Fullscreen it, throw an output window onto a second display or projector, or send it straight into Resolume, OBS, VDMX or TouchDesigner over Syphon on Mac and Spout on Windows (beta).

NOT A MUSIC PRODUCER? NO DAW NEEDED.

Get Photism · $29Try it in your browser

Contains flashing lights that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. What this means.

Three ways to run it

macOS 11 or later (signed and notarized installer, Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows 10 or later. One purchase covers every format and the browser player.

Works in your DAW

Ableton Live
Yes, as a VST3 in every edition of Live, Intro and Lite included, or as an Audio Unit on a Mac, with no Max for Live needed. Switch on Use VST3 Plug-In System Folders in Settings, Plug-Ins, click Rescan, and drag Photism onto the Main track. Click the wrench icon to open the plugin window, which is the visualizer.
FL Studio
Yes, as a VST3 on Windows and as a VST3 or Audio Unit on a Mac. Load Photism in an effect slot on the Master mixer track, since it is an effect and belongs in the Mixer. If it is missing, open Options, Manage plugins and click Find installed plugins.
Logic Pro
Yes, as an Audio Unit. Insert Photism in an Audio Effect slot on the Stereo Out channel strip and open its window. Logic Pro loads Audio Units only, so the AU is the version it lists.
GarageBand
Yes, as an Audio Unit in GarageBand on the Mac. Click Master in the Smart Controls menu bar, click Output, and add Photism to an empty plug-in slot. If it is missing, select Enable Audio Units in Settings, Audio/MIDI and reopen GarageBand.
Bitwig Studio
Yes, as a VST3 on macOS and Windows. Add Photism to the Master track with the Add Device button in the Device Panel, then open its window. If it is missing, check Dashboard, Settings, Locations for the Photism folder under Plug-in Locations.
REAPER
Yes, as a VST3 on Windows and as a VST3 or Audio Unit on a Mac. Click the Master track's FX button and add Photism. If it is missing, open Preferences, Plug-ins, VST and click Re-scan.
Cubase
Yes, as a VST3 on macOS and Windows. Open the MixConsole with F3 and load Photism in an insert slot on the Stereo Out. If it is missing, open Studio, VST Plug-in Manager and click Scan for new and blocked plug-ins.
Studio One
Yes, as a VST3 on Windows and as a VST3 or Audio Unit on a Mac, in Studio One and Fender Studio Pro alike. Load Photism in the Inserts rack of the Main Out. Fender Studio Pro picks up new plug-ins in its startup scan, so reopen it after you install.
Pro Tools
Yes, with the Photism standalone app running beside Pro Tools, which loads AAX plugins only. On macOS 14.2 or later, tick Listen to what's playing on this computer in the app's Audio Settings and it hears the Pro Tools mix with no virtual cable. On older macOS use BlackHole, and on Windows, where Pro Tools plays through ASIO, pick your interface's loopback input under audio in.
Reason
Yes, as a VST3 in Reason 12.5 or later, on macOS and Windows. Load Photism in the Master Section's Insert FX from the Effects palette of the Device Palette. Reason scans for plugins at startup, so reopen it after you install.
LUNA
Yes, as an Audio Unit on a Mac and a VST3 on Windows. Load Photism in an insert slot on the Main Output track. If it is missing, open Manage Plug-Ins from the three dots at the top left of the LUNA window and click New Plug-Ins.
Maschine
Yes, as a VST3 or Audio Unit on a Mac and a VST3 on Windows. Click the MASTER tab and load Photism in a Plug-in slot to see the whole beat. To change scenes from a Pattern, put it on a Group, where Maschine can modulate its parameters.
MPC
Yes, in the MPC desktop software 3.5 or later, as a VST3 on macOS and Windows. Load Photism in an insert slot on the main output. With standalone MPC hardware, connect it in controller mode and the desktop software runs Photism while you play the pads.
Waveform
Yes, as a VST3 in Waveform Free or Pro, plus an Audio Unit on a Mac. Right-click the area that reads Drop Master Plugins Here, choose Add new plugin, and pick Photism. Photism records the video itself, so Waveform Free covers the whole job.
Cakewalk Sonar
Yes, as a VST3 in Cakewalk Sonar on Windows. Right-click the Master bus FX Rack, choose Insert Audio FX, and pick Photism. Sonar is the replacement for Cakewalk by BandLab and opens your existing .cwp projects.
Mixcraft
Yes, as a VST3 in Mixcraft 10 on Windows. Click the Master button above the track list, click the Master Track's fx button, and pick Photism from the Select An Effect menu. If it is missing, add the VST3 folder under File, Preferences, Plug-Ins and rescan.
rekordbox
Yes, with the Photism standalone app running beside rekordbox. Tick Listen to what's playing on this computer in the app's Audio Settings (Windows, or macOS 14.2 and later) and it hears your set with no virtual cable. On older macOS or with a controller that takes over the output, use BlackHole, VB-Cable, or REC OUT into an audio interface instead. The same setup works for Serato, Traktor, and VirtualDJ.
Any other VST3 or AU host
Yes, as a VST3 in any VST3 host and as an Audio Unit in any AU host on a Mac. Put Photism on an audio track as an effect, with the master bus as the best default, and open the plugin window. Rescan plugins if your DAW does not list it yet.
No DAW
Yes, with the standalone app or Photism Online in your browser. Click audio in (SOURCE in Online) and pick your microphone, audio interface, or a modeler's USB output, and a guitar or a voice drives the visuals directly.

Each host name opens its full setup guide.

What it does

  • Every scene listens to the full frequency spectrum live. Kicks change the structure, not just the brightness.
  • Record takes straight from the plugin, sound baked into the file, at any length.
  • Save stills, cycle recording aspects for reels and squares, and drive looks from your own images.
  • Presets save whole looks, and your library follows you across the VST, the AU, and the standalone app.

Keys

  • shift+tab scenes, shift+g controls, shift+p palettes
  • shift+r record, shift+s still, shift+o output window

Shift keeps the keys clear of notes when you play a MIDI keyboard. The standalone app uses the bare keys.

Already own Photism?

The plugin is included with every purchase, including every purchase before it existed. Open your download link, or get it back at photism.app/redownload, and pick your format.