Imagine having your own personal light show right on your PC screen. Well, with audio responsive wallpapers you can! Whether you are looking to make audio responsive wallpapers in Wallpaper Engine, or simply seeking to download one, the Wallpaper Engine Workshop has everything you need.
Audio responsive wallpapers work by using visualizer software. This program can detect and analyze sounds played on your computer to create a visual response.
Advanced audio responsive wallpapers can react to different tones in the music. Often they generate aesthetically pleasing visuals by changing colors, creating sound profiles, and producing light effects.
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You can make your own audio responsive wallpaper using the editor tools in Wallpaper Engine. Most features you may need are available from the community Workshop. Although, it is still possible to create this style of wallpaper using the presets already found in the editor software.
In our guide, we will cover the easiest way to create an audio responsive background. So if you would like to find out more, keep on reading.
Create an audio responsive wallpaper
To create an audio responsive wallpaper we will be utilizing the pulse effect in the Wallpaper Engine editor. So, to start things off, launch Wallpaper Engine on your computer.
Step
Edit your wallpaper
You have two options here: Either create an entirely new wallpaper or simply edit one you currently have.
Assuming you already have the wallpaper ready to go, select it in the Wallpaper Engine window and click “Open in Editor”.
Step
Add audio responsive effects
There are a bunch of options available in the editor to make your wallpaper audio responsive.
You can find the main ones under “Audio visualizer” in “Add Assets”. You also have the option to browse the community Workshop for more effects to suit your wallpaper.
In this guide, we will show you how to make an audio responsive effect using the “Pulse” feature. This will make sections of your wallpaper light up depending on the sounds from your computer.
To add the pulse effect, simply click “+ Add”, under “Effects” on the right side of your screen. Then select “Pulse” in the “Animate” section.
Step
Enable audio response
After you have added the pulse feature to your wallpaper, go to “Combos” on the right side, and under “Audio response” select either “Left”, “Right” or “Center”. Make sure “Pulse color” is also checked.
Step
Paint your wallpaper
To decide which areas of your wallpaper will glow, you will need to use the paint feature.
In Textures, select “Paint” under “Opacity Mask”. A new window will appear on the left, giving you the option to edit specific features of the paintbrush. For the best audio response effect, we recommend reducing both the “Opacity” and the “Hardness”.
Once you are happy, start painting straight on your wallpaper to decide which areas will react to your computer audio.
To erase any work you have done, set your “Opacity” to 100 and “Amount” to 0, and brush over the areas you would like to remove.
Click “Show mask” to see which areas are covered by the pulse effect.
Step
Play music
At this point, it would be useful for you to play some music to see how your wallpaper responds. If everything is working correctly, you should see your wallpaper light up in time with your computer audio.
Make sure “Show mask” is toggled off here.
Step
Edit audio settings
Next, you have the option to decide how your pulse effect specifically responds to your computer audio.
You can edit these settings under “Shader” on the left-hand side.
To alter the pitch the pulses respond to, edit the “Audio bounds”. If you want your pulses to only react to low-pitch sounds change the range to 0.8 – 1. Moreover, if you want to do the same for high-pitch sounds set the range to 0.2-0.5.
To vary how bright the pulses appear, edit “Audio amount” until you are happy. You can keep playing around with these features until you get your desired effect.
If you wanted to go the extra mile, you could add multiple pulse effects that react to different tones of sound.
Step
Save and apply your wallpaper
Once you have made all the edits you want, make sure you save your wallpaper by going to “File” and then “Save”.
To apply your wallpaper, head up to “File”, and click “Apply Wallpaper”. If everything is working properly, your new wallpaper should now respond to your computer audio.
Does Wallpaper Engine mobile have audio?
Unfortunately, the Android Wallpaper Engine app does not support audio playback. According to Wallpaper Engine, all wallpapers available on Android have sound disabled.
Similarly, with audio responsive wallpapers. This style of wallpaper is not compatible with the mobile app. So, to enjoy these features, you will need to use the computer version of the application.
Final Thoughts
Audio responsive wallpapers provide a unique and visually pleasing way to enjoy music on your PC. Wallpaper Engine has all the tools you need to create your very own personalized audio responsive wallpaper. With the addition of Wallpaper Engine Workshop, the possibilities are truly endless.
So what are you waiting for? Turn up your volume and start enjoying your new interactive wallpaper. If you found this article useful, be sure to read another Wallpaper Engine guide here.
