visualization - seeing your music

In the days of modern graphics hardware, fast computers, and enormous digital music libraries, most people have heard of or seen a "visualizer". However, most people using main stream media players such as Windows Media Player and iTunes are missing out on what a true visualizer is.

I can describe in words the difference, but I think a video conveys the message better than anything.

Here is your typical WMP Vis. Plugin:

And here are some of the 250+ different presets for milkdrop advanced visualization

When actually running, the detail is much higher

The Milkdrop visualizer is different because all of its presents use mathematical formulas based on real-time frequency information and other variables directly from the current song. They're different every time and one can watch many times and never really get bored with them.

In my personal experience, milkdrop visualization has made listening to music all that much better (especially on XL monitors). I would recommend it to anyone that likes music in the least

How to get it

Windows 98+

Download the lastest version of Winamp (free version)
Play some music and switch over the visualization tab
Space bar skips to the next preset!

Linux

Download and compile projectM
Since the site itself provides little instructions on the matter, here is a very well written guide: Howto: Install and use projectM music visualizer from svn on Hardy [local_copy]
While written for ubuntu, it should be easily adaptable to any modern linux
After its all made and configured, projectM-pulseaudio will visualize any sound leaving your computer, cool!

Hope you enjoy, and may I suggest playing the Top 500 GREATEST Hip Hop & Rap Songs through it, you'll be in for a treat =]