Figura turns synth and DJ audio into physics-driven live visuals
AcusMagic’s new plugin and standalone app analyzes up to 32 frequencies to drive simulated sand, liquid and Lissajous visuals, with a projection window for live sets.
AcusMagic has released Figura, an audio visualizer that skips the usual beat-pulsing animations. It analyzes the incoming audio and uses the frequency content to drive simulated physical models. It runs as a plugin and as a standalone app on macOS and Windows, and AcusMagic pitches it at synth players, electronic live sets, DJ performances, livestreams and music videos.
There are three modes. Sand simulates grains settling along the still points of a vibrating plate, which produces Chladni-style patterns. Liquid generates Faraday-wave patterns, caustics and reflections on a simulated surface. Lissajous traces the stereo signal as a three-dimensional curve you can rotate and view from different angles.
In Sand and Liquid, Figura picks out up to 32 prominent frequencies to feed the simulation. You can change the plate’s shape and physical properties, or set liquid viscosity and depth, so the same sound gives different images. Sand can appear as textured grains, a smoother classic look or ink-like nodal lines. In Lissajous you can adjust color, thickness, glow and trail, and automate parameters from a compatible host, which lets you line up visual changes with synth parts and transitions.
For live use, Figura Live adds a dedicated projection window that can go full-screen on a second monitor or projector. The visual keeps running when the main plugin editor is closed, so the music software stays available for control while the audience sees the output.
Figura also saves stills as PNG files up to 4096 × 4096 pixels and records MP4 video with audio, up to 4K at 30 or 60 fps. Recorded takes can be re-exported at different sizes.
The standalone app takes audio from an input device without a DAW. As an effect, Figura can sit on a single synth track, an instrument bus or the master output. Its default settings leave the sound unchanged.
Figura needs macOS 11 or later, or 64-bit Windows 10 or 11. Figura Studio costs €59 and covers the three modes, plugin and standalone versions, and image and video export. Figura Live costs €75 and adds the projection window. A free demo with no expiration date lets you try the visualizer and the projection feature first.
