EffectCraft: a free After Effects alternative for musicians
EffectCraft is ArtCraft's free, open-source app for "motion graphics and visual effects", the job After Effects does. It runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, and as a web build. For a musician it's how a still cover becomes something that moves.
What musicians make with EffectCraft
- Visualizers for YouTube.
- Lyric videos, line by line in time with the song.
- Animated covers and short loops for streaming and socials.
- Animated logos and intros for your videos.
- Titles and effects for a music video.
Lyric videos start with timed lyrics
Time your lyrics before you animate them. The free Lyrics transcriber writes the lyrics from the song and exports an LRC file with a timestamp on every line, so you know when each one comes in. See how to transcribe lyrics and make an LRC file.
Keep it with the track
- Add it as a music video. Upload the visualizer or lyric video to the track's Music videos, or paste the YouTube link.
- Feedback at the exact second. Collaborators pin comments to a moment, and a feedback link lets anyone comment without an account.
- Drafts go through review. Put drafts in the track's Media: the artist or manager approves them or asks for changes.
- Plan the premiere. Set the date and time the video goes live, separate from the release date.
Skip the timeline for a quick clip
For a 10-second vertical clip of a track, the free Snippet video maker turns a song and its cover into an MP4 in one of five looks, in your browser. On Aden's Pro plan and up, Export video does it from any track.
Get EffectCraft
Download it from EffectCraft's page on getartcraft.com, or install the Craft Launcher to get every ArtCraft app at once. See all the ArtCraft apps for musicians.
FAQ
Is EffectCraft free?
Yes. EffectCraft is open source and free to use on macOS, Windows and Linux.
How do I make a lyric video for free?
Time the lyrics with the free Lyrics transcriber, which exports an LRC file, then animate each line at its timestamp in EffectCraft.
Where do I put a visualizer once it's done?
On the track's Music videos in Aden, next to the official video and any live takes, with its own feedback thread.
Less admin. More music.
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