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TUAW Tip: Control the iTunes visualizer

by Cory Bohon Oct 3rd 2008 at 11:00AM

By now you've probably had the opportunity to play around with the new iTunes Visualizer in iTunes 8. It's pretty cool, eh? Just like the previous visualizer, you can control this one with a few, simple key strokes. By pressing "?" while the visualizer is running, you are presented with a list of keys that customize the visualizer.

  • ? - Shows/hides the help screen
  • M - Changes the mode
  • P - Changes the color palette
  • I - Displays the track information for the currently playing song
  • C - Toggles "auto-cycle" (which is turned on by default)
  • F - Toggles the "freeze mode"
  • N - Shows/hides the "smoke" in the background
  • L - Toggles camera lock
Know of any more cool key combos for iTunes visualizers? Be sure to tell us in the comments!

Thanks to Luke and others for the tip!


Want more tips and tricks like this? Visit TUAW's Mac 101 and TUAW Tips sections.

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By now you've probably had the opportunity to play around with the new iTunes Visualizer in iTunes 8. It's pretty cool, eh? Just like the...
 

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John Harrison

Here's a free iTunes visualizer that is very reactive to your music: Manifesto Visualizer.

December 20 2008 at 12:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to John Harrison's comment
John Harrison

Link was removed from previous comment:
http://blog.insightvr.com/?p=47

December 20 2008 at 12:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
I_Love_TUAW

This was on another website a while ago. Macworld, I think...

October 03 2008 at 7:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ryan Joseph

Anyone know of a way to keep the current Album art/song info on the screen? I love the visualizer, but I often let it play while I'm across the room and I like being able to see what song is playing without getting up and walking over.

October 03 2008 at 5:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tony

@JC

Yes you can. Simply press Command-Shift-3. This takes a whole picture of the screen. Or you can do Command-Shift-4. This lets you select a part of the screen. Or you can do Command-Shift-4-Spacebar and you can select a window/s. Hope this helps!

-TB

October 03 2008 at 4:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gabriel Radic

Yeah, those black hole globes looks like balls on a bulldog.

October 03 2008 at 2:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Alexander

Pressing "A" adds more particles, I believe "S" removes some again...

October 03 2008 at 2:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Alexander's comment
JC

Is there any way to capture a still image of the visualizer in action? Sometimes you get to a really cool combination that would be nice to save as a background or whatever...

October 03 2008 at 3:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JoshK

When will Apple send these visualizers to my AppleTV? This would look so sweet on my HDTV....come on!!!! Do it already

October 03 2008 at 1:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
4 replies to JoshK's comment
MoD

Pressing "+" and "-" changes the size or contrast of the particles.

October 03 2008 at 12:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Woody Sabran

Anyone know how to display the frame rate?

October 03 2008 at 11:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joshua Ochs

Shame there's no option to turn off those black "globes". The original Magnetosphere didn't have them, and looked much better to me.

Anyone else agree/disagree?

October 03 2008 at 11:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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