Novus Visualizers
Making a vertical visualizer for TikTok, Reels & Shorts
A focused workflow for short-form vertical video: pick a template that reads at 9:16, keep the motion centered and punchy, add captions, and export with the TikTok/Reels preset.
Short-form vertical video has its own rules: a 9:16 frame, motion that reads on a phone, and a hook in the first second. This guide adapts the Visualizers workflow specifically for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts.
- 1
1. Upload the hook, not the whole song
Short-form lives or dies on the first few seconds, so upload the most arresting part of the track — the drop, the hook, the best bar — rather than the whole song. The analyzer reacts to whatever you give it, so feeding it the punchiest section gives you the punchiest visual.
- 2
2. Choose a template that reads vertically
Pick an engine whose main motion is centered and bold rather than wide and detailed — vertical frames crop the sides, so spread-out spectrum bars lose impact while a central tunnel, mandala, or particle burst reads strongly. Recolor it to match your track or brand.
- Favor centered, bold motion.
- Avoid wide, detailed layouts that crop badly.
- 3
3. Add big, legible captions
Short-form is watched on mute constantly, so captions matter. Use the AI captions to transcribe the lyric or hook and place large, high-contrast text in the safe area — clear of the platform’s UI overlays on the bottom and right. Keep the beat-sync punchy so the visual still carries when the sound is off and on.
- On-device captions for muted viewing.
- Keep text in the safe area.
- 4
4. Export with the TikTok/Reels preset
Use the TikTok/Reels platform preset so the output is sized 9:16 correctly, and export at 60 fps for smooth motion on fast-scrolling feeds. The encode is client-side, so you can iterate on several versions quickly and pick the strongest.
- TikTok/Reels preset for correct 9:16.
- 60 fps for smooth feed playback.
Design for the thumb
Assume muted, one-handed, fast-scrolling viewing. Centered motion, big captions, and a strong first second beat-sync are what stop the scroll. Export a few variations from the same project and let the platform tell you which hook works — it is cheap to do because the render is instant and local.