Open Source Audio Visualizer: 6 Projects Compared
Open Source Audio Visualizer: 6 Projects Compared
The best-known open-source audio visualizers are projectM (MilkDrop-compatible, LGPL-2.1), Butterchurn (MilkDrop in WebGL, MIT), cava (terminal bars, MIT) and audioMotion-analyzer (a JavaScript spectrum analyzer, AGPL-3.0). Sonic Visualiser (GPL-2.0) is the open-source pick for analysing recordings rather than making visuals. All of them are free to use; the licence decides what you may do when you build on them.
If you only want a finished music video and do not want to compile or code anything, a ready-made web studio such as Shimga is quicker. This guide is for people who want the source.
Photo: Al Nahian on Pexels
Quick answer
- MilkDrop-style visuals on desktop: projectM.
- MilkDrop-style visuals in a web page: Butterchurn.
- Visualizer in your terminal: cava.
- Spectrum analyzer for your own web app: audioMotion-analyzer.
- Analyse and annotate recordings: Sonic Visualiser.
- Stream with visuals: OBS Studio plus a visualizer source.
- Just need a video for a song: a hosted tool such as Shimga (no code, free standard exports up to 4K/60 fps, as of October 2026).
The projects compared
Licences and activity were checked on GitHub on 27 October 2026.
| Project | What it is | Language / platform | Licence | Recently active? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| projectM | MilkDrop-compatible visualization library | C++, cross-platform | LGPL-2.1 | Yes (commits Oct 2026) |
| Butterchurn | WebGL implementation of MilkDrop | JavaScript, browser | MIT | Yes (commits 2026) |
| cava | Console audio visualizer (bars) | C, cross-platform | MIT | Yes (commits Oct 2026) |
| audioMotion-analyzer | Real-time spectrum analyzer module | JavaScript, browser | AGPL-3.0 | Yes (commits 2026) |
| Sonic Visualiser | Visualisation, analysis and annotation of recordings | C++, desktop | GPL-2.0 | Yes (commits Oct 2026) |
| OBS Studio | Live streaming and recording | C/C++, desktop | GPL-2.0 | Yes (commits Oct 2026) |
What each project is good for
projectM
The open-source heir to MilkDrop, the Winamp visualizer. It reads MilkDrop presets, so thousands of community presets work. Use it for party screens, live backdrops or as a library inside your own app. LGPL-2.1 lets you link it from closed-source software if you follow the licence's conditions.
Butterchurn
MilkDrop in the browser via WebGL. Developers use it to add MilkDrop visuals to web players. MIT is permissive: you can use it in commercial projects with attribution.
cava
A cross-platform console visualizer. It draws bars in your terminal from system audio. Beloved on Linux desktops, also handy on macOS and Windows.
audioMotion-analyzer
A dependency-free JavaScript module for high-resolution spectrum analysis, with many display modes. Note the AGPL-3.0 licence: if you use it in a network service, you must offer your source code under the same terms.
Sonic Visualiser
Not for pretty videos. It is a research-grade tool for looking inside recordings: spectrograms, pitch tracks and annotations. Excellent for learning what spectrum analyzers actually show.
OBS Studio
Not a visualizer itself, but the standard free tool for streaming. Add a visualizer as a source to show audio-reactive graphics on stream. See music visualizer for Twitch and DJ streams.
Photo: Nemuel Sereti on Pexels
Open-source licences in plain English
| Licence | Can I use it commercially? | Must I share my source? |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | Yes | No, keep the copyright notice |
| LGPL-2.1 | Yes | Only changes to the library itself, and users must be able to swap the library |
| GPL-2.0 | Yes | Yes, if you distribute a program that includes it |
| AGPL-3.0 | Yes | Yes, including when users interact with it over a network |
This is a summary, not legal advice. Read the licence file in each repository.
Open source vs a hosted visualizer studio
| Open-source project | Hosted studio (e.g. Shimga) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free standard exports; Pro optional |
| Setup | Install, build or code | Open a web page |
| Customisation | Unlimited, if you code | Presets, layers, templates |
| Output | Live visuals, or whatever you build | MP4 in 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 |
| Branding (cover art, title, logo) | You build it | Built in |
| Support | Community | The developer |
Choose open source if you want to learn, run visuals live, or embed a visualizer in your own app. Choose a studio if you need a music video for a release this week.
Make a video without writing code
- Open shimga.app/studio.
- Pick a preset or community template.
- Add your song.
- Change colours, background, cover art and text; add the Time element for a progress bar.
- Export MP4. Standard exports up to 5 minutes need no account and carry no watermark.
How to try projectM or Butterchurn quickly
- Pick the right one. Butterchurn if you are a web developer; projectM if you want a desktop app or a C++ library.
- Read the README. Both projects document their builds and front-ends on GitHub; look for current release downloads before compiling.
- Get presets. Both use MilkDrop presets, and large preset packs are shared by the community. Check each pack's licence.
- Route audio. Desktop visualizers usually listen to a system audio device; on Windows you may need to choose the right input.
- Decide your output. Real-time on a screen works out of the box. For a video file, you will need a capture tool, which is where a studio that exports MP4 directly saves time.
What to check before relying on an open-source visualizer
- Activity. Look at recent commits and open issues. A project with commits this month is more likely to work on current operating systems and browsers.
- Releases. Prebuilt downloads save you from compiling. If there are none, budget time for a build.
- Licence of presets and assets. The code licence does not automatically cover community presets, shaders or images. Check each one.
- Platform support. Some projects are Linux-first; others target the browser. Match it to where you will run it.
- Community. A Discord, forum or active issue tracker is where you will get help.
FAQ
Is there an open-source audio visualizer?
Yes. projectM, Butterchurn, cava and audioMotion-analyzer are all open source, under LGPL-2.1, MIT, MIT and AGPL-3.0 respectively.
Is MilkDrop open source?
MilkDrop-compatible visuals are available as open source through projectM (desktop and library) and Butterchurn (browser).
What is the best open-source visualizer for Linux?
cava for the terminal, projectM for full-screen MilkDrop-style visuals.
Can I use an open-source visualizer to make YouTube videos?
You can, but most are built for real-time display, so you would need to screen-capture or build an export pipeline. A studio that exports MP4 directly is simpler.
Is Shimga open source?
No. Shimga is a hosted web app, not an open-source project. You use it in the browser; there is no library to embed in other software.
Can I use audioMotion-analyzer in a commercial website?
Its AGPL-3.0 licence allows commercial use, but requires you to make your source available to users of the network service. Check the licence and the author's terms.
Related reads
- Best music visualizer for Windows
- GLSL shaders for music visualization
- Privacy and local processing in audio visualizers
Last updated: October 2026. Licence and activity data from GitHub, checked 27 October 2026.