Installation

Windows

  1. Download the installer from the download page
  2. Double-click Cymatik Setup 1.0.0-pre.2.exe
  3. Windows SmartScreen may appear — click "More info" then "Run anyway" (beta is not yet code-signed)
  4. Follow the installer wizard. Default installation is recommended.
  5. Launch Cymatik from your Start Menu or Desktop
Note: Cymatik requires Windows 10 or later with a WebGPU-compatible GPU (most NVIDIA/AMD cards from 2015+).

First Run

When you first launch Cymatik, the app will:

  1. Initialize the WebGPU renderer (takes 2–3 seconds)
  2. Load the default preset (Bioluminescent)
  3. Listen for audio input

You'll see a canvas with geometric visuals moving slowly. To see real reactivity, connect audio.

Audio Setup

Choosing an Audio Input

In the Perform tab, you'll see an Input dropdown. Cymatik supports three audio sources:

🎤 Microphone

Your computer's built-in mic or an external USB microphone. Good for live performances or picking up ambient sound.

Input: Microphone (or your USB device name)

🔊 Desktop Audio

Captures system audio — perfect for visualizing Spotify, YouTube, Twitch, etc. Click the ↺ Refresh button to rescan devices. If Desktop Audio doesn't appear:

  • Windows 10/11: Enable "Stereo Mix" in Sound Settings (may require driver update)
  • Alternative: Use VB-Cable or VirtualAudio to route audio

Testing Your Audio

Click the 🔊 Test button to see a live input level meter for 3 seconds. Green bar = audio is being detected.

Adjusting Sensitivity

Use the Level slider to adjust how loud the input needs to be to trigger visuals. Lower = more sensitive.

Interface Guide

Perform Tab

This is where you control what Cymatik is currently doing.

Audio Input

Select your mic, desktop audio, or file. The Level slider controls sensitivity. Reactivity scales how much audio influences the visuals (higher = more dramatic).

Shape

Choose from 14 different 3D geometric forms. Each shape responds to audio differently. Try a few to find your favorite.

Preset

Pre-configured color, motion, and effect combinations. Click Apply to load.

Auto-Play

Automatically cycles through parameters on beat. Useful for live settings where you want hands-off randomization. Expand Automations to control which parameters change.

BPM & Tempo

Cymatik detects your audio's BPM automatically. Tap Tempo lets you tap along to manually set it. BPM Lock freezes the tempo so it doesn't re-detect.

Snapshots

Save the current look to one of 8 slots. Press 1–8 to recall, or Shift+1–8 to save.

Looks Tab

Fine-tune how Cymatik renders.

Motion

Rotation speed, depth, zoom, and complexity. These affect camera movement and shape detail level.

Color & Glow

Choose color palette, shift hue, adjust glow intensity, and line weight.

Effects

Trail = motion blur persistence. Bloom = light diffusion. Fog = atmospheric depth. Width Fill = line thickness.

Post FX

Advanced effects pipeline: chromatic aberration, vignette, depth of field. These run on the GPU for high performance.

Advanced (Collapsible)

The full parameter set: yaw/pitch/roll, geometry mix, physics, emitters, particle systems, and more. Explore here once you're comfortable with basics.

System Tab

App-level controls.

Resolution & FPS

Choose export resolution (up to 4K) and frame rate (30 or 60 fps). This only affects video export, not live playback.

Performance

Quality slider (lower = better performance, higher = better visuals). Adjust if you're getting frame drops.

Show FPS Counter

Displays real-time frame rate, frame time, and memory usage in top-right corner. Useful for monitoring performance.

Export

Record your visualization to a WebM video file. Start Export begins recording, Stop Export finishes and offers download.

Snapshots & Slots

Save and load 8 named looks. Use the dropdown to pick a slot, then Store to save or Recall to load.

Snapshots & Presets

What's the Difference?

Preset Snapshot
Built-in starting points (Grand Climax, Bioluminescent, etc.). Cannot be modified. Your custom saves. 8 slots. Can be overwritten anytime.
Click in Perform tab, then Apply. Press 1–8 to load, Shift+1–8 to save.

Workflow: Create a Custom Look

  1. Start with a preset you like (e.g., "Northern Lights")
  2. Tweak parameters in the Looks tab until it's perfect
  3. Press Shift+1 (or any 1–8) to save to snapshot #1
  4. Now you can recall it anytime with 1
Pro tip: Snapshots are stored locally. Back them up by exporting the snapshot data (System tab).

Export & Recording

Exporting a Video

  1. In System tab, set your desired resolution and FPS
  2. Connect audio and let it play for a few seconds to prime the visuals
  3. Click Start Export
  4. The app will record to a WebM file as your audio plays
  5. Click Stop Export when done
  6. Click the Download link to save the video

Tips for Great Exports

  • Use fullscreen mode (F): No UI elements in the render
  • Pre-set your audio: Get the exact section you want to export playing
  • 4K takes time: A 30–60 second 4K export can take 2–5 minutes
  • Format: WebM is well-supported by YouTube, Twitch, and most editors

Streaming Setup

OBS / Streamlabs

  1. Open Cymatik and set it up the way you want
  2. In OBS, add a new source: Window Capture
  3. Select the Cymatik window
  4. Position and scale in your scene as desired
  5. If using Desktop Audio input in Cymatik, your audio will react live on stream

Keyboard Control While Streaming

Press F to toggle fullscreen/windowed. In fullscreen, use:

  • H = hide UI (clean visuals only)
  • 1–8 = recall snapshots
  • Shift+1–8 = save snapshots

MIDI Control

Connecting a MIDI Controller

  1. Plug in your MIDI device
  2. In Cymatik, click Enable MIDI (in the UI)
  3. Select your device from the dropdown

Mapping Controls

Currently, MIDI learns mappings automatically. Twist a knob on your controller while hovering over a Cymatik parameter, and it will map. (Full custom mapping coming soon.)

Popular Setups

🎚️ Mixer / 8 Faders

Map each fader to Motion, Intensity, Color, Effects, etc. for live tweaking.

🎛️ DJ Controller

Use HPF/LPF knobs to control frequency-based parameters. Map pads to snapshot recall.

📟 Pad Controller

Map 8 pads to your 8 snapshot slots for instant scene switching.

Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

Key Action
F Toggle fullscreen
H Toggle UI Hidden (fullscreen only)
Escape Exit fullscreen / show UI
1–8 Recall snapshot in slot #
Shift+1–8 Save current state to snapshot slot #
M Toggle meter display (audio levels)

Shape Descriptions

Default

Clean grid geometry. Great for subtle, mathematical aesthetics.

Sphere

Geodesic sphere with radial symmetry. Pulsates with bass.

Tunnel

Infinite corridor effect. Depth perception drives motion forward.

Vortex

Spiraling tornado. Treble frequencies tighten the spiral.

Crystal

Faceted gemstone. Reflects light across many vertices.

Torus Pulse

Donut shape that pulses radially with beat detection.

Helix Tunnel

Double-helix DNA structure spiraling forward.

Petals Bloom

Organic flower-like shape that opens and closes.

Trefoil Knot

Mathematical knot topology. Hypnotic and complex.

Möbius Strip

One-sided surface twisted continuously. Mesmerizing.

Lissajous

Parametric curve creating complex loops. Frequency-dependent.

Lorenz Storm

Chaotic attractor. Organic, flowing, unpredictable motion.

Wave Ribbon

Ribbon surface undulating with audio frequencies.

Ripple Field

Radial wave interference pattern. Like dropping stones in water.

Troubleshooting

❓ "No audio input available"

Solution: Check Windows Sound Settings. If using Desktop Audio, enable Stereo Mix. If it's not available, your driver may not support it — try a VB-Cable virtual audio cable instead.

❓ Frame drops / stuttering

Solution: Lower the Performance slider in System tab. 4K export is CPU-intensive; if recording, close other apps. Check Task Manager to see if something else is maxing your GPU.

❓ SmartScreen warning on launch

Solution: This is expected for unsigned beta software. Click "More info" → "Run anyway". The app is safe (source code is available).

❓ MIDI device not detected

Solution: Plug it in before launching Cymatik. If still not showing, try clicking the refresh button or restarting the app.

❓ Audio reactivity is slow or unresponsive

Solution: Increase the Reactivity slider in the Perform tab. Lower the Level slider to catch quieter sounds. Enable Beat Detection for tempo-based reactivity.

❓ Export file is huge / won't play

Solution: Cymatik exports WebM format. If your player doesn't support it, use VLC or convert with FFmpeg: ffmpeg -i video.webm video.mp4

❓ Something other issue?

Solution: Check the in-app logs or contact support. Beta feedback is valuable — let us know what broke.

Getting Help

Cymatik is in active development. If you find a bug or have a feature request:

  • Discord: Join our community and ask questions
  • Email: Support at Sensory AV
  • GitHub: File an issue (source code is available)

Beta users' feedback directly influences what gets built next. Your voice matters.