BCC+ Audio Visualizer

The BCC+ Audio Visualizer effect is a graphics generator that produces an auto-animating visual graphical element, which reacts to frequency and amplitude changes based on input from an audio source.

How it works

The filter takes input from an audio source file and creates a visible audio waveform over the filtered source with an option to display the waveform using the frequency or time domain.

Audio frequencies are displayed across the horizontal (x) axis with lower frequencies to the left of the graph and higher frequencies are to the right. Audio amplitude is displayed along the vertical (y) axis with lower volume levels at the base of the graph and higher volume levels reaching toward the top of the graph.

A set of prebuilt and factory installed visualizer graphical elements, each of which have multiple elements that can be modified by the user, are available via the integrated FX Editor custom user interface. Animation of the visualizer graphic is handled by the audio input and does not require keyframe generation, however, keyframes can be added manually by the user should that be necessary to produce the desired result.

Mocha parameter tracking is included in the filter, which will enable the visualizer graphic to be pinned to an element in live action source footage or masked back to display only frequency ranges that are contained with the user defined mocha mask shapes.

Presets and the FX Editor

The FX Editor provides a convenient way to store and retrieve factory installed and/or user generated filter presets. To select a preset, open the FX Editor interface and pick one from the Presets panel. Click the apply button in the FX Editor to return to the host user interface.

To save a custom preset, click the “Create Custom Preset” icon in the top right corner of the parameter list, next to the filter name, set a name for the new custom preset in the dialog that appears and click done.

Filter Parameters

Mocha Mask: Click to launch the Mocha custom UI

The BCC PixelChooser provides a way for the user to select which pixels in the filtered source are actually going to be affected by the filter, via the generation of image based mattes, gradient mattes and vector shape masks. Mocha planar tracking and vector shape masking options are included in the PixelChooser, which allows for the generation of motion-tracked mask shapes as a hold-back mask.

For more information on the PixelChooser, Click Here.

Select Audio: The Audiovisualizer effect requires an audio source file to generate its result. In the After Effects host you can select an audio file directly from the host timeline but in all other supported hosts, audio files must be imported into the effect via the Select Audio Source button, which, when clicked, will open a system level browser where you can select an audio file to work with.

Host layer (After Effects only feature)
File browser (All hosts other than AE)

Channel: Allows for the selection of the audio channel used for the effect.

Mixed: Selects both the left and the right audio channel
Left: Selects the left audio channel
Right: Selects the right audio channel

The Generator Group

The Generator group is where we set the basic look and feel of the Audio Visualizer graph. In this group you’ll find controls for setting the display style as either dots or solid bars. The generated waveform can be displayed in the time or frequency domain with control over the resolution of the displayed waveform.

Included in this group are various addition style options, such as controls for increasing / decreasing select frequencies of the audio source, for instance boosting bass, mids, treble. This group also includes controls for adjusting the scale, density and roundness of the dots, a taper option which tapers the dots based on the audio Db levels, and a Peak Hold indicator with its own set of scale, color and falloff controls.

Audio Style: Selects the style of the generated display. There are two options:

Waveform: An audio waveform animation.
Frequency: A graph of the audio frequency.

Vertical Style: Sets the overall look of the Audio Visualizer effect

Bars: Represents the audio as a series of bars.
Dots: Represents the audio as a series of dots.
Single Dot: Represents the audio as a single dot that marks the highest point in the audio frequency.

Dot Style: Sets the look of the dot visualization. Not available when the Vertical Style Bars is set.

Rectangle: The default look of rectangular dots.
Ellipse: Rounded elliptical dots.
Circle: Circular dots
Half Circle: Half moon dots.

Resolution: Sets the sensitivity of the visualization. Higher values will result in a more detailed display. Available resolutions are:

Scale: Adjusts the overall size of the visualization elements. Higher values result in a larger graph.

Width: Adjusts the overall width of the visualization elements. Higher values result in wider bars. Only available when Bar visualization is selected

Height: Adjusts the overall height of the visualization elements. Higher values result in larger dots. Not available when Bar Visualization is selected.

Density: Adjusts the distance between the dots. Higher values result in a more compact look to the graph. Not available if Bar Visualization is selected.

Roundness: Adjusts the overall roundess of the bar graph. Higher values will result in a more eliptical top to the bar graph. Only available when Bar Visualization is selected, or when the dot style is set to rectangle.

The Taper Group

Enable: Toggles graph tapering on and off. When enabled Dot and Single Dot visualization will appear tapered. By Default, dots at the top of the graph will appear smaller than those at the bottom.

Relative: When enabled the taper effect will be relative to the height of the visualization regardless of the individual graph height.

Dual Axis: Available when the dot shape is set to Rectangle. When enabled the taper effect is applied to the X axis.

Invert: By default the taper effect is applied so that the top of the graph appears smaller than the bottom. When enabled this effect is reversed, and the bottom appears smaller than the top.

The Peak Hold Group

Enable: Toggles the Peak Hold effect on and off. When enabled, the top most position of the graph remains for a moment.

Scale: Adjusts the overall scale of the peak dot.

Scale X: Adjusts the overall scale of the peak dot along the X axis.

Scale Y: Adjusts the overall scale of the peak dot along the Y axis.

Falloff Time: Adjusts the length of time before the peak drops in seconds.

The Waveform Group

The Waveform Group controls the overall look of the graph when the visualization is set to waveform. It is not available when Frequency is enabled.

Style: Sets the overall look of the waveform visualization.

Absolute Value: Sets the visualization to represent the actual waveform pattern of the audio.

Range: Sets the visualization to represent the range between high values and lower audio values.

Duration (ms): Sets the duration of the waveform represented in the graph. Higher values will represent a longer duration in milliseconds.

Offset (ms): Sets the offset of the waveform representation in milliseconds.

The Frequency Tuning Group

Sub Bass (%): Adjusts the sensitivity of the sub bass visualization. Higher values represent increased sensitivity.

Bass (%): Adjusts the sensitivity of the bass visualization. Higher values represent increased sensitivity.

Mid-Range (%): Adjusts the sensitivity of the mid-range visualization. Higher values represent increased sensitivity.

Treble (%): Adjusts the sensitivity of the treble visualization. Higher values represent increased sensitivity.

Low Cutoff (dB): Adjusts the sensitivity of the low range cutoff. Higher values represent increased sensitivity and a lower frequency representation.

Min Frequency (Hz): Adjusts the range of the minimum represented frequency.

Max Frequency (Hz): Adjusts the range of the maximum represented frequency.

Smoothness (%): Adjusts the range between the maximum and minimum represented frequency.

Color: Used to set the color. In its default state it is white. By selecting a color with the color chip, the color can be set to any RGB value. With the eyedropper, the color can be selected directly from the image pixels.

The Gradient Group

The gradient group contains a user definable 3 color gradient that is overlaid on the generated graph. As well as control over the gradient colors and the overall size of the gradient, there are 4 corner pin controls so that you can accurately position the gradient over the generated graph.

Enable: Toggles the gradient effect on and off.

Color 1: Used to set the color of the first position. In its default state it is red. By selecting a color with the color chip, the color can be set to any RGB value. With the eyedropper, the color can be selected directly from the image pixels.

Color 2: Used to set the color of the second position. In its default state it is amber. By selecting a color with the color chip, the color can be set to any RGB value. With the eyedropper, the color can be selected directly from the image pixels.

Color 3: Used to set the color of the third position. In its default state it is green. By selecting a color with the color chip, the color can be set to any RGB value. With the eyedropper, the color can be selected directly from the image pixels.

Gradient Style Group

Type: Controls the direction of the gradient

Top-to-bottom: The direction of the gradient is from top to bottom.
Bottom-to-top: The direction of the gradient is from bottom to top.
Left-to-right: The direction of the gradient is from left to right.
Right-to-left: The direction of the gradient is from right to left.

Size: Adjusts the overall size of the gradient.

Angle: Adjusts the angle of the gradient

The grad can also be corner pinned by adjusting the Corner Pin sliders as well as dragging the four points on the corners of the screen.

Note: You may need to zoom the image out a bit to see the corner points. In addition, to see and adjust the corner points in After Effects, make sure that the effect title in the Effect Controls window is highlighted. For Final Cut Pro, you must activate the cross hair icon next to the corner position parameters to see and adjust the corner points on the screen.

Upper-Left: Controls the X and Y position of the Upper Left Point.
Upper-Right: Controls the X and Y position of the Upper Right Point.
Lower-Right: Controls the X and Y position of the Lower Right Point.
Lower-Left: Controls the X and Y position of the Lower Left Point.

The Pre Transform Group

The pre-transform group includes a full suite of 3D transform options including position xyz, tumble, spin, rotate shear xy and scale. As the name implies and its position in the filters UI control panel, this set of transforms does not take into account any of the effects that comes after it, such as mirror or polar warp.

Position X/Y: Adjusts the graph position along the X/Y axis.

Position Z: Adjusts the graph position in Z space.

Scale: Adjusts the overall scale of the graph.

Scale X: Adjusts the graph scale along the X axis.

Scale Y: Adjusts the graph scale along the Y axis.

Rotate: In addition to the standard position and scale controls, you can rotate. Positive values rotate clockwise and negative values rotate counter-clockwise.

Tumble: Adjusts the graph position by tumbling it along the anchor point. Positive values tumble forward, while negative values tumble backwards.

Spin: Adjusts the graph position by spinning it along the anchor point. Positive values spin forward, while negative values spin backwards.

Shear X: Skews the graph left and right.

Shear Y: Skews the graph up and down

The Mirror Group

The Mirror option reflects the generator along its horizontal axis.

Enable: Toggles the mirror effect on and off.

Center XY: Adjusts the position of the reflected generator along the XY axis.

Angle: Adjusts the angle of the reflected generator.

Edge Mode: Determines how edges of the filtered frame are handled.

No: No frames are repeated along the edge
Tile: Tiles edge pixels to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.
Reflect: reflects pixels back into the result to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.

The Polar Warp Group

The Polar Warp group contains a suite of very special controls that wrap the generated graph around itself along a circular path and includes an inner and outer radius along with a swirl feature, enabling the generation of truly beautiful and organic looking swirling results. Highly addictive.

Enable: Toggles the Polar Warp effect on and off.

Angle: Sets the angle of the warp effect.

Angle Repeats: Sets the number of times the warp effect angles back on itself. Higher values will create more complex warping.

Center XY: Sets the center point of the warp along the x/y axis.

Stretch X: Stretches the warped effect along the X axis.

Stretch Y: Stretches the warped effect along the Y axis.

Inner Radius: Adjusts the scale of the inner radius of the warp effect.

Outer Radius: Adjusts the outer scale of the warp effect.

Wrap X: Determines how edges of the warped effect are handled along the X axis.

No: No frames are repeated along the edge
Tile: Tiles edge pixels to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.
Reflect: reflects pixels back into the result to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.

Wrap Y: Determines how edges of the warped effect are handled along the Y axis.

No: No frames are repeated along the edge
Tile: Tiles edge pixels to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.
Reflect: reflects pixels back into the result to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.

Swirling Amount: Adjusts the amount of the swirling effect applied to the polar warp. Higher values will result in more intense swirling.

Swirling Radius: Adjusts the radius of the swirl. Higher values will increase the size of the effect.

The Global Transform Group

The Global Transform group is where we include a set of transforms that operate on the generated graph as a whole, bringing all of the effects in the chain that come before it along for the ride. In here you’ll find a full suite of 3D transform options including position xyz, tumble, spin, rotate shear xy and scale along with anchor controls, which set the point in 3D space around which the entire generated graph is transformed. This group also includes crop, corner pin positioning features and motion blur control.

Enable: Toggles the global transform effect on and off.

Crop

The image can be cropped by adjusting the various Crop parameters.

Top: Crops the image from the top down.
Bottom: Crops the image from the bottom up.
Left: Crops the image from left to right.
Right: Crops the image from right to left.

Corner Pin

The image can be corner pinned by adjusting the Corner Pin sliders as well as dragging the four points on the corners of the screen.

Note: You may need to zoom the image out a bit to see the corner points. In addition, to see and adjust the corner points in After Effects, make sure that the effect title in the Effect Controls window is highlighted. For Final Cut Pro, you must activate the cross hair icon next to the corner position parameters to see and adjust the corner points on the screen.

Upper-Left: Controls the X and Y position of the Upper Left Point.
Upper-Right: Controls the X and Y position of the Upper Right Point.
Lower-Right: Controls the X and Y position of the Lower Right Point.
Lower-Left: Controls the X and Y position of the Lower Left Point.

Position

Position can be adjusted by clicking and dragging an on-screen control in the center of the image.

Position X: The horizontal position.
Position Y: The vertical position.

Note: For Final Cut Pro, you must activate the cross hair icon next to the Position parameter.

Scale

The scale of the image can be changed by adjusting the vertical and horizontal scale parameters.

Scale X: The horizontal scale.
Scale Y: The vertical scale.
Gang Scale: The Scale X and Scale Y slider values can be ganged together. When enabled, the scale parameter will not display individual X and Y parameters.

Rotate

In addition to the standard position and scale controls, you can rotate. Positive values rotate clockwise and negative values rotate counter-clockwise.

Shear

In addition to the standard position, scale and rotation controls, you can shear, or skew, the image.

Shear X: Skews left and right.
Shear Y: Skews up and down.

Anchor

Anchor points determine the position along the X and Y axis upon which the position, rotation, scaling and shearing occur.

Anchor X: Defines the point on the X axis around which position, rotation, scaling or shearing takes place.
Anchor Y: Defines the point on the Y axis around which position, rotation, scaling or shearing takes place.

Edge Mode: Determines how edges of the filtered frame are handled.

Transparent: allows the edge of the result to become transparent.
Repeat: repeats edge pixels to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.
Reflect: reflects pixels back into the result to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.
Wrap: wraps pixels back into the result to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result

Film Glow

As one of the final stages in the effect, we’ve included a multi-stage FIlm Glow group, which as the name implies is used to add an overall filmic glow to the result.

Enable: This checkbox enables independent controls for the glow parameters.

Intensity: Use to control the intensity of the glow result. Higher values yield a stronger glow across the image while lower values restrict the glow intensity.

Color: Used to set the color of the glow. In its default state the glow is white. By selecting a color with the color chip, the glow can be set to any RGB value. With the eyedropper, the glow color can be selected directly from the image pixels.

Radius: Used to set the radius over which the glow spreads to surrounding regions. Higher values will result in a larger, more diffuse glow, while lower values will create a more restricted glow.

Radius X: Used to set the width of the glow along the X axis. Higher values will result in a glow that is stretched horizontally along the X axis, while lower values will restrict the glow horizontally along the X axis.

Radius Y: Used to set the width of the glow along the Y axis. Higher values will result in a glow that is stretched vertically along the Y axis, while lower values will restrict the glow horizontally along the Y axis..

Threshold: Used to set the pixel values that are affected by the glow – a setting of 0 will apply a glow to all of the pixels in the input clip, while a setting of 100 will not apply any glow to the image.

Glow From Alpha: The Glow From Alpha option generates the image glow from the alpha channel instead of or in addition to the color channels. The selection in the Glow From Alpha Mode determines how the alpha glow and the color channel glows are combined.

Boost Alpha: Adjusts the sensitivity of alpha selection.

Glow under Source: Generates the image glow underneath the source image.

Edge Mode: Determines how edges of the filtered frame are handled.

Transparent: allows the edge of the result to become transparent.
Repeat: repeats edge pixels to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.
Reflect: reflects pixels back into the result to generate opaque pixels along the edge of the result.

RGB Independent group

Red Scale: Used to set the scale of the red glow uniformly. Higher values will increase the scale along the X and Y axis.

Green Scale: Used to set the scale of the green glow uniformly. Higher values will increase the scale along the X and Y axis.

Blue Scale: Used to set the scale of the blue glow uniformly. Higher values will increase the scale along the X and Y axis.

Secondary Glow Group

Enable Secondary Glow: Toggles secondary glow controls.

Link Glow Intensity: Links secondary glow to the main glow intensity parameter.

Intensity: Use to control the intensity of the glow result. Higher values yield a stronger glow across the image while lower values restrict the glow intensity.

Radius: Used to set the radius over which the glow spreads to surrounding regions. Higher values will result in a larger, more diffuse glow, while lower values will create a more restricted glow.

Glow Desaturation: This function alters the glow result by adjusting the chroma values that are used for the input. At 0 the function has no effect on the result generating a traditional film glow, increasing the value in this parameter yields a result that looks colder and less saturated.

Glow under Source: Generates the image glow underneath the source image.

Color Correction

For the final polish phase of the effect, we’ve added a set of color controls, and you’ll find a slew of options, including hue, sat, brightness, contrast, gamma, temperature, cyan/magenta, red, green, and blue in this group to complete the look of the generated graphic.

Hue: Used to control the overall hue of the effect

Saturation: Used to control the overall saturation of the effect. Higher values create a more intense color saturation than lower values.

Brightness: Used to control the overall brightness of the effect. Higher values create more intense highlights than lower values.

Contrast: Used to control the overall contrast of the effect. Higher values create a more intense contrast between light and dark pixels than lower values.

Gamma: Used to control the overall gamma of the effect.

Temperature: Used to control the overall temperature of the effect. Moving the Temperature slider to the left (negative values) will yield a cooler result, while moving the slider to the right will warm up the shot.

Cyan/Magenta: Used to control the overall amount of cyan/magenta in the image. Moving the slider to the left (negative values) will add a cyan tint, while moving the slider to the right will add a magenta tint.

Red: Used to control the overall value of the red color channel. Higher values increase the overall influence of the red color channel than lower values.

Green: Used to control the overall value of the green color channel. Higher values increase the overall influence of the blue color channel than lower values.

Blue: Used to control the overall value of the blue color channel. Higher values increase the overall influence of the red color channel than lower values.

The Background Group

The Background group is where you can set the graphic to composite over transparency, solid color, a user defined gradient or even the filtered source. You’ll also find a set of over 20 blending modes to complete the composite.

Background Mode: Allows for the selection of the background compositing.

None: No compositing. The visualization appears over black with no source image beneath.
Source: Composites the visualizer over the source image.
Solid Color: Composites the visualizer over a solid color
Gradient: Composites the visualizer over a gradient.

Color: Sets the color of the background when the mode is set to solid. In its default state it is black. By selecting a color with the color chip, the color can be set to any RGB value. With the eyedropper, the color can be selected directly from the image pixels.

Gradient Group

Color 1: Used to set the color of the first position. By selecting a color with the color chip, the color can be set to any RGB value. With the eyedropper, the color can be selected directly from the image pixels.

Color 2: Used to set the color of the second position. By selecting a color with the color chip, the color can be set to any RGB value. With the eyedropper, the color can be selected directly from the image pixels.

Color 3: Used to set the color of the third position. By selecting a color with the color chip, the color can be set to any RGB value. With the eyedropper, the color can be selected directly from the image pixels.

Gradient Style Group

Type: Controls the direction of the gradient

Top-to-bottom: The direction of the gradient is from top to bottom.
Bottom-to-top: The direction of the gradient is from bottom to top.
Left-to-right: The direction of the gradient is from left to right.
Right-to-left: The direction of the gradient is from right to left.

Size: Adjusts the overall size of the gradient.

Angle: Adjusts the angle of the gradient

The grad can also be corner pinned by adjusting the Corner Pin sliders as well as dragging the four points on the corners of the screen.

Upper-Left: Controls the X and Y position of the Upper Left Point.
Upper-Right: Controls the X and Y position of the Upper Right Point.
Lower-Right: Controls the X and Y position of the Lower Right Point.
Lower-Left: Controls the X and Y position of the Lower Left Point.

Blend Mode: This pop-up is used to set the apply mode that the filter uses to composite the effect over the input image. The default apply mode is “Normal”.

Mix with Original: Used to blend the filtered result with the unfiltered source.

GPU Rendering: allows for the selection of GPU or CPU software rendering.