Is Ghost Arcade free to use?

Yes — fully free and open source. The Community edition (AGPL-3.0) gives you the full foundation: projection mapping, 11 layer types, 50+ effects, single-deck VJ launcher, MIDI control, mobile companion (iPad/phone), recording, ISF shader playground. Source on GitHub. No signup, no watermark, no expiry. Mac, Windows, Linux.

Is Ghost Arcade open source?

The Community edition is open source under AGPL-3.0. Source code is on GitHub at github.com/riskcapital/ghost-arcade-community. The commercial Pro edition (which adds dual-deck VJ, A/B crossfader, macros, snapshots, AI generation, Spout/Syphon) is a separately maintained codebase under a commercial license.

What is the difference between Community (free, open source) and Pro?

Community is free, AGPL-3.0 open source with the foundation surfaces (projection mapping, 11 layer types, 50+ effects, single-deck VJ launcher, MIDI, mobile companion, recording, shader playground). Pro adds the live-performance + AI surfaces: dual-deck VJ + A/B crossfader (10 transitions × 9 blend modes), 8-knob macro effect-bank, 16-slot snapshot bank, quantized clip launching, MIDI clock, Spout/Syphon, AI shader + video generation, keyframe timeline, plugin tab.

Can I use the open-source Community edition commercially?

Yes. Commercial creative use is allowed under AGPL-3.0 — paid shows, client visuals, installations, recordings, streams, tutorials. The visuals you create with the app are yours. The AGPL applies to the source code itself: if you modify the source and run it on a network server, you must make the modified source available to users. See COMMERCIAL_USE.md in the repo for details.

Do I need coding experience?

No. Everything is visual and interactive. Pick shaders from the library, drag effects onto layers, and adjust parameters with sliders. Pro adds AI generation that lets you describe what you want in plain English.

What projectors work with Ghost Arcade?

Any projector that connects to your computer via HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C. Ghost Arcade outputs to any display your operating system recognizes, including multiple projectors simultaneously.

Can I use it for live shows?

Absolutely. Both editions are built for live performance. Community has the single-deck clip launcher + Performer keyboard mode + MIDI mapping + mobile companion. Pro adds dual-deck with A/B crossfader, 8-knob macros, 16-slot snapshot scene bank, MIDI clock, and quantized launching for tight musical drops.

Does it work with MIDI controllers?

Yes. Any MIDI controller works out of the box in both editions. Use learn mode to map any knob, fader, button, or pad to any parameter. Multi-device support with channel filtering. Pro adds MIDI clock receive + send (24 PPQN, sync to/from Ableton).

Is there a Linux version?

The Community edition ships an AppImage for Linux. The commercial Pro edition is currently Mac + Windows only.

Is there a Mac version?

Yes. Both editions run on macOS 12+ (Apple Silicon and Intel). Pro is signed + notarized; Community is unsigned (right-click → Open on first launch).

What file formats are supported?

Videos: MP4, MOV, WebM, GIF. Images: PNG, JPG, WebP. 3D models: GLTF, GLB, FBX. Point clouds: PLY, .splat. Vector: SVG. Shaders: ISF/GLSL.

tutorial9 min read

Audio-Reactive Visuals — How to Sync Visuals to Music

Complete guide to creating audio-reactive visuals for live music, DJ sets, and installations. Frequency analysis, beat detection, and LFO modulation with Ghost Arcade.

Published March 20, 2026Updated March 28, 2026

Audio-Reactive Visuals Guide

Audio-reactive visuals respond to music in real time — pulsing, morphing, and evolving with every beat, melody, and bass drop. Here's how to create them with Ghost Arcade.

How Audio Reactivity Works

Ghost Arcade analyzes incoming audio across 6 frequency bands:

Sub Bass (20-60 Hz) — Kick drums, sub bass

Bass (60-250 Hz) — Bass guitar, bass synths

Low Mid (250-500 Hz) — Warmth, body of instruments

Mid (500-2000 Hz) — Vocals, guitar, snare

High Mid (2-6 kHz) — Presence, clarity

High (6-20 kHz) — Cymbals, air, brightness

Each band outputs an amplitude value that can drive any visual parameter.

Setting Up Audio Input

Connect an audio source (line-in, microphone, or system audio)

Open Ghost Arcade' audio settings

Select your input device

Enable audio analysis — you'll see the frequency bands visualized

Mapping Audio to Parameters

Direct Mapping

Map a frequency band directly to a parameter:

Sub bass → shader zoom or scale

Kick → flash or strobe intensity

Vocals → color hue shift

High frequencies → particle speed or effect intensity

Beat Detection

Ghost Arcade detects beats automatically. Use beat triggers to:

Switch VJ clips on beat

Trigger effect bursts

Advance animation sequences

Pulse layer opacity

LFO Modulation

Combine audio with LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) for complex modulation:

Sine wave on color + audio on intensity = breathing, responsive visuals

Triangle wave on rotation + beat trigger on scale = rhythmic, evolving patterns

Best Practices

Less is more — Map 3-5 parameters, not everything

Use smoothing — Raw audio is jittery; smooth values for fluid motion

Layer responses — Different layers react to different frequency bands

Save presets — Build a library of audio-reactive looks

Test with the actual music — Different genres need different mappings

Ghost Arcade Audio Features

6-band frequency analysis with adjustable ranges

Automatic beat detection with BPM display

LFO modulation (sine, triangle, square, sawtooth)

Per-parameter audio mapping with smoothing control

Audio-reactive effects on any layer

Works with any audio input including system audio capture

Download Ghost Arcade to start creating audio-reactive visuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make visuals react to music?

Use VJ software like Ghost Arcade that analyzes audio input across frequency bands. Map bass frequencies to scale/zoom, mid frequencies to color changes, and use beat detection to trigger visual events. Ghost Arcade supports 6-band analysis with automatic beat detection.

What software makes audio-reactive visuals?

Ghost Arcade creates audio-reactive visuals with 6-band frequency analysis, beat detection, and LFO modulation. Other options include Resolume, TouchDesigner, and Processing. Ghost Arcade is the easiest to set up with its built-in audio mapping.