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Music Visualiser Video Sizes for YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Spotify Canvas
Short answer: Use 1920×1080 (16:9) or 3840×2160 for YouTube, and 1080×1920 (9:16) for YouTube Shorts, TikTok and Instagram Reels; Spotify Canvas is a vertical 9:16 loop of 3 to 8 seconds.
Exporting at the right size avoids black bars, cropped visuals and unnecessary re-encoding. These are the common targets for music visualiser videos. Platform specifications change, so check each platform’s help pages before an important release.
Quick reference
| Platform | Aspect ratio | Recommended resolution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | 16:9 | 1920×1080 or 3840×2160 | Full-length tracks and mixes |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Vertical short-form |
| TikTok | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | Keep key visuals away from the bottom and right edges, where captions and buttons sit |
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | The profile grid shows a cropped preview |
| Instagram feed video | 4:5 | 1080×1350 | Takes more screen height than square |
| Spotify Canvas | 9:16 | See Spotify’s Canvas guidelines | 3–8 second loop, MP4 or JPG, no audio of its own |
Frame rate
- 60 fps gives the smoothest motion for spectrum bars, particles and fast camera moves. YouTube supports it.
- 30 fps halves the number of frames to render and produces smaller files. It is fine for slow visuals, vinyl spins and lyric videos.
- Match frame rate to any footage you are combining, to avoid judder.
Landscape vs vertical
Rendering a vertical version separately is better than cropping a landscape video, because a centred 9:16 crop of a 16:9 frame keeps only about a third of the width and usually cuts off the visualiser. Many tools, including BeatVisualiser, Banger.Show and Specterr, can export both orientations from one project.
Safe areas
Short-form apps overlay usernames, captions and buttons on the bottom and right of the frame. Keep text and the focal point of the visual in the central area, roughly the middle two-thirds vertically, and away from the right edge.
Length
- YouTube accepts long uploads, so full tracks and DJ mixes work; check your visualiser’s maximum render length, which is often limited by plan.
- Shorts, Reels and TikTok favour short clips: a hook or chorus is usually more effective than a full track.
- Spotify Canvas must be a short loop of 3 to 8 seconds. Spotify’s Canvas guidelines also advise avoiding rapid cuts and intense flashing, and leaving out the song and artist name, which the app already shows.
File format
Export MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio for the widest compatibility. Use a high bitrate for the master; platforms re-encode on upload, and detailed visuals such as particles and fine lines suffer most from compression.
Browse visualisers for YouTube, for Reels and TikTok, or for Spotify Canvas-style loops.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a music visualiser be for YouTube?
1920×1080 pixels (16:9) is the standard. Uploading 3840×2160 (4K) is worthwhile for detailed visuals, because YouTube serves higher-resolution uploads at a higher bitrate.
What size is a TikTok or Instagram Reels visualiser?
1080×1920 pixels, a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio.
Should a visualiser video be 30 or 60 fps?
60 fps makes fast-moving bars and particles look smoother and is supported by YouTube. 30 fps produces smaller files and is fine for slower visuals.
