Five minutesto your first picture.

Install

Pulse runs as a desktop app on every major system, and as a web app in your browser.

1. Step 1

   Windows

   Download “Pulse_x64-setup.exe” and run it. Windows 11 already ships WebView2; on Windows 10 the installer adds it for you.

2. Step 2

   macOS

   Open the .dmg and drag Pulse into Applications. On first launch macOS asks for screen and audio recording access. Allow it, that is how Pulse hears your system audio. Pulse isn’t notarized yet, so the first time right-click it and choose Open.

3. Step 3

   Linux

   Download the AppImage, make it executable (chmod +x) and run it. Prefer packages? Use the .deb or .rpm instead.

4. Step 4

   Browser

   Open the web app. It does everything except capture system audio directly. For that, share a tab and tick “Share system audio”.

No account needed. Pulse starts right away.

Pick an audio source

Pulse needs something to listen to. You choose it in the source dialog on first launch.

1. Step 1

   System audio (recommended)

   Hears everything your computer plays: Spotify, YouTube, games. Uses WASAPI loopback on Windows and system capture on macOS and Linux.

2. Step 2

   Mic or line-in

   For turntables, instruments or the party in the room. Pick the input device from the list.

3. Step 3

   File

   Drop an MP3, WAV or FLAC into the window. Pulse plays it and draws it.

4. Step 4

   Demo beat

   No music at hand? The built-in 120 BPM beat is enough to try every mode.

Now Playing shows the track and cover art from Spotify, browsers, Apple Music and VLC automatically.

Explore modes

60 modes across six worlds: Organic, Particles, Retro, Ambient, Line Art and Signature.

1. Step 1

   Open the browser

   Press M. Filter by world at the top, click a card to start it.

2. Step 2

   Flip through

   ← and → jump to the previous or next mode, with a transition.

3. Step 3

   Hold on

   Space keeps the current mode, even while a playlist is running.

Palettes

Every mode works with every one of the 10 palettes. 60 modes become 600 looks.

1. Step 1

   Pick a palette

   Settings (S) → Palette. The change fades in smoothly and costs no performance.

2. Step 2

   Standard

   “Standard” shows each mode in its original colors.

3. Step 3

   Per playlist entry

   Give every playlist entry its own palette.

Playlists & transitions

For parties, streams or a second screen: Pulse runs the show on its own.

1. Step 1

   Create a playlist

   P opens playback and playlists. Add modes, drag to reorder.

2. Step 2

   Timing, palette, transition

   Set them per entry. Pick one of 12 transitions, from Crossfade to Singularity, or leave it on Auto.

3. Step 3

   Beat sync

   With beat sync on, every switch lands exactly on the next beat.

4. Step 4

   Share

   Export playlists as JSON and import them anywhere.

Performance

Pulse renders in HDR with bloom and film grain, and still stays smooth on a laptop.

1. Step 1

   Dynamic resolution

   When the GPU is at its limit, Pulse lowers the internal resolution instead of dropping frames.

2. Step 2

   GPU rating

   Every mode tells you how much graphics power it needs.

3. Step 3

   Quality

   Set bloom, film grain and maximum resolution yourself in the settings.

Keyboard shortcuts

• Previous / next mode←→
• All modesM
• Playback and playlistsP
• Hold the current modeSpace
• SettingsS
• FullscreenF
• Show / hide controlsH
• Close open panelsEsc