So whats the deal with visualizers these days?

[kramermit]

Ive been testing the waters with new music players lately. One thing I would like to have is a cool looking visualizer. The ONLY program that seems to have a nice one is iTunes. Every other program seems to be using visualizers from the 90's that look like that 'figures' screen saver from win95
ok perhaps a little exaggeration, but still. I edited the preferences to make them look as smooth and hi-res as possible, but they are still a looooong ways from the itunes one.

Why do you think nobody wants to take the time to make a good looking visualizer?
The only reason I can think of is that it offers to practical benefits-it only adds to the pretty factor.

[rovingcowboy]

Use mediamonkey 3 skins i've added some built in av effects for the level meters in my mm 3 skins see if they help change your tastes for awhile, or you can make some mm 4 skins and make your own av effects for it,

[Lowlander]

I presume that may be because visualizers were cool in the '90s. I don't think many people still care about visualizers (who still sits down behind the PC to just listen music?) and thus development seems stalled.
You should be able to install most WinAmp visualizers with MediaMonkey.

[kramermit]

who still sits down behind the PC to just listen music?

Thats a good point. And honestly I almost NEVER use them. But when you are hosting a party it is kinda nice to be able to put the visualizer up on the TV instead of the the song list.

[rovingcowboy]

It use to be hard on the old crt monitors i've burned out 2 of those and one old flat screen letting it run while playing music all day hopefully the new led flat screens dont burn out doing it. Ah dang battery is burning out on this phone got to go.

[Lowlander]

But when you are hosting a party it is kinda nice to be able to put the visualizer up on the TV instead of the the song list.

I guess few people still have a PC hooked up to the TV (I have and it hasn't been turned on in several years) with the introduction of DLNA and portable devices like iPods. I suggest you check out the WinAmp plugins site as some decent visualizations may exist (there are plenty that are better than a line visualizer. Moreover I presume that writing a visualizer is a lot of work and few people are willing to reward you financially for it.

[sirandar]

One word: MilkDrop

Some of the presets still rule

[Post-logiq]

On PC, the best visualizer I have seen so far is White Cap. It can be used standalone.
http://www.soundspectrum.com/whitecap/

Morphyre also seems nice, but I didn't tried it yet:
http://www.morphyre.com

Plasmavis, only for Windows Media Player?:
http://youtu.be/x13Vz4PEa3k

I would love to see a visualizer that adds fractals in the mix, like the former Dr Glitter Music Visualizero for Mac.

[JCfantasy23]

One word: MilkDrop

Some of the presets still rule

I agree, that's still the one I use and I never grow tired of it.