SUPERNOVA
by OVNI Audio · Visualizer · Particle visual synth
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SUPERNOVA is a free, open-source visual synth for macOS that turns an image or video into 262,144 GPU particles which move, glow and burst with the audio.
It runs as VST3, AU and a standalone app that can visualise the whole Mac's audio, and exports MP4 video with sound.
Best for: Sound Design, Mix Bus. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic.
Keywords: free, open source, video export, audio visualizer, VJ & live visuals, standalone app, MIDI-controllable, sound design.
What it does
SUPERNOVA is OVNI Audio's audio-reactive visual synth: drag in a photo, a photo sequence or a video, and it becomes a field of 262,144 GPU particles driven by your track.
- Worlds: 50 presets that change physics, geometry and colour in one click, and an Intensity fader that sets how strongly everything reacts.
- Control domains: Movement (flow, chaos, gravity), Matter (size, trails, plexus links, glyphs), Camera (3D depth, rotate, orbit) and Color.
- Color Lab and 3D: 17 colour ramps built in OKLab, and a rotatable 3D cutout of the subject.
- Triggers and LFOs: MIDI notes fire explosions or directional rays; four LFOs with 12 targets sync to 21 beat divisions or run free in Hz.
- Output: a window, fullscreen on any display, or Syphon into OBS or Resolume; MP4/H.264 export with in-sync audio, four aspect presets and lengths from 1 to 600 seconds.
- Standalone: captures the Mac's system audio without extra drivers; in the plugin, audio passes through bit-exact.
SUPERNOVA is free and open source (AGPLv3). OVNI's site lists version 0.4.0 and says these free versions have no deadline, though later OVNI products may be paid.
Source: OVNI Audio product page
When to use it
SUPERNOVA is the pick when you want striking, artwork-based visuals for free: drop in the cover image and let it burst into particles for a quick release clip. Compared with Photism it is narrower (one particle engine with 50 worlds rather than 24 different scene types), but it costs nothing and is open source. Next to SEER, the other free option here, it has no meters, but its particles and MIDI triggers are far more dramatic.
- Best for: turning cover art or a photo into a reactive clip, and particle visuals for live streams via Syphon.
- Genres: electronic, ambient and cinematic music.
- Look elsewhere if: you want lyrics and text (Visual Lab Pro).
- Tip: map MIDI notes from a drum track to the explosion triggers so bursts land on the beat.
Where to buy
- OVNI Audio: Free
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