New Aeon visualizer from SoundSpectrum enlivens iTunes
iTunes is loaded with features - some we love and some we don't. One feature that I really like for parties is the iTunes Visualizer, the trippy light show that plays in-sync with your music. The folks over at Sound Spectrum have released a new visualization tool called Aeon. There are three versions of Aeon: Free, Gold and Platinum.
The free version will run on both Mac and Windows. What you get is a set of default visualizations and the ability to customize the settings to create your own visualization. Not bad for free.
The two paid versions (Gold is US$20 and Platinum is $30) come with a bunch of extras that you may or may not need. What you get is the ability to set Aeon as your screen saver, allow Aeon to run in different media players (such as WinAmp, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player) and add visualizations to live audio such as a guitar or your microphone.
If you are not sure if you want to pony up for the paid version of Aeon, give the Free version a try. Your party guests will thank you.
Share
Categories
iTunes is loaded with features - some we love and some we don't. One feature that I really like for parties is the iTunes Visualizer, the...
Add a Comment
I paid for the Platinum version of G-Force from Soundspectrum, and I've been using it for over a year. It doesn't require paying again for anything - it is the full uncrippled version and I LOVE it.
I owned one of the biggest mobile Video DJ companies in Canada, and although I sold my company, I still love fluidic visuals. I play to buy Aeon Platinum to add it to my G-Force.
The way I use it is to connect it to my big screen TV using HDMI output from my laptop, and I play music output through my stereo. It is simply hypnotic and beautiful.
As for Donnie's comments, he's just out to lunch on this. You pay once, and you get the full product with free updates for a year. After that, your product STILL works perfectly uncrippled.
Given the quality of their past plugins, it's probably worth testing out the free version. Just check the fine print before you buy the premium versions- the $20/$30 is only good for one year's worth of upgrades.
December 13 2010 at 5:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIf they just stopped allowing you to get version updates after one year, that would be fine-- but what they actually do is throw a huge distracting banner up over your visuals until you pony up another 20 or 30 bucks for the privilege of using their very obviously ported from Windows junk. Do not want. I did enjoy the ability to have their visualizers use real-world audio instead of just iTunes music to affect the imagery, but making me pay 20 to 30 bucks every year for that? Evil evil evil.
December 14 2010 at 2:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDonnie, what you're saying isn't the case. You get one year of free upgrades when you buy and after that you can install and use what you've already downloaded in perpetuity. More info here:
http://www.soundspectrum.com/aeon/faq.html#affect_customers
The state of music visualization is pathetic! Computers cannot even come close to doing what a 'vj' does. Near as I can tell, they don't even try. They just throw up a screensaver, do some industry standard FFT analysis to detect the beat in the bass (don't even get me started on how inappropriate that is) and then put up an artsy-fartsy oscilloscope.
This one doesn't even seem to do that. It's just a screensaver that plays while your music is playing. A GFX demo if you will, that maybe pulses a little with the beat. It was wholly underwhelming even with techno music and the beat doesn't get much easier to detect than that.
Thumbs down!
Perhaps it has occurred to you that different people prefer different styles of visuals and that you're not an authority on art.
December 13 2010 at 5:24 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI used to love the visualizer in iTunes 9 (an upgraded version of Magnetosphere that Apple bought), it looked cool on the big screen in the front room. But, since upgrading (??) to iTunes 10 it looks bad, very bad. They've reduced the frame rate & it looks really jerky, they seem to have changed the effects slightly for the worse too. Why fix something that's not broken????
I've seen the problem on my iMac, my MBP & a mates mini, even the wife commented on it being jerky....so it must be obvious!
Anyone else annoyed with this 'upgrade'???
Hey there, Apple added "nebula" effects in iTunes 10... kills the frame rate on my Mac Minis as well (I have the first ones with the 9400m chipset). Just hit the "N" key once the visualizer starts to toggle the purdy frame-rate killin' clouds off an' on. The nebula stuff looks great on my quad core iMac at work though.
Also, DO NOT BUY SoundSpectrum crap. When you "buy" their products you're actually just renting them for a year. They force you to "renew your registration" or some BS like that after 365 days otherwise you have to stare at an ad to buy over your visuals. Eff that company.
Donnie, what you're saying isn't the case. You get a year of free upgrades and after that the software runs indefinitely. They also say so in the their FAQ and I know since I own G-Force and Aeon:
http://stage.sswork.com/aeon/faq.html#affect_customers
If you're having problems, just open a support ticket.
Wow, people still buy things? Really?
December 13 2010 at 3:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyDeals of the Day
more deals- Used Apple iPad 32GB Wi-Fi Tablet for $200 + free shipping
- Apple iPod nano Multi-Touch 8GB MP3 Player for $100 + $8 s&h
- Cases for New iPad at HandHeldItems: Extra 20% off, $2 credit, from $3 + $3 s&h
- $15 Apple iTunes Gift Card for $8 for new Saveology customers
- Retro 80's Case for iPhone for $11 + $2 s&h
- HHI 360 Dual-View Stand Case for new iPad w/ $2 credit for $12 + $3 s&h
Software Updates
more updatesFeatured Stories
more stories
Popular Stories
TUAW (or The Unofficial Apple Weblog) is a website devoted to tips, reviews, news, analysis and opinion on everything Apple.
10 Comments