Cinetiq - User Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Getting Started
3. Understanding the Interface
4. Working with Audio
5. Layer Types
6. Animation & Keyframes
7. Audio-Reactive Effects
8. Exporting Your Video
9. Presets
10. Keyboard Shortcuts
11. Tips & Best Practices

Introduction

Cinetiq is a powerful cross-platform application for creating stunning visual content for social media platforms. Whether you're creating Instagram Stories, Spotify Canvas visuals, or YouTube videos, Cinetiq provides professional-grade features with an intuitive interface.

What Can You Create?

• Instagram Stories & Reels: Vertical videos up to 90 seconds with audio
• Instagram Posts: Square videos up to 60 seconds
• Spotify Canvas: 8-second looping music visualizations (no audio track)
• YouTube Videos: Full-length horizontal videos with audio

Key Features

• Multi-layer compositing with 9 blend modes
• Audio-reactive animations synchronized to your music
• Custom GLSL shaders (Shadertoy compatible)
• Hardware-accelerated video playback
• Professional keyframe animation system
• 3D model rendering (glTF/GLB)
• SVG vector graphics support
• Real-time GPU preview at 60fps

Getting Started

System Requirements

macOS:

• macOS 10.13 or later
• OpenGL 3.3+ compatible graphics card

Windows:

• Windows 10 or later
• DirectX 11 compatible graphics card
• DXVA2 hardware video acceleration (for smooth video playback)

First Launch

When you first open Cinetiq, you'll see the main interface with three primary panels:

1. Top Panel: Audio and preview canvas settings
2. Center: Preview canvas
3. Right Panel: Layer properties and management
4. Bottom: Timeline and audio waveform

Demo vs Licensed Mode

Demo Mode (free):

• Limited to 3 layers
• Exports include watermark
• Full feature evaluation

Standard License:

• Unlimited layers
• Clean exports (no watermark)
• Preset save/load

Pro License:

• All Standard features
• SVG layer support
• 3D Model layer support
• PSD import (coming soon)

To activate a license, go to Help → License Activation and enter your license key.

Understanding the Interface

The Toolbar

Located at the top of the window:

• Import Audio: Load your music track (WAV, AIFF, MP3, FLAC, OGG)
• Export: Render your final video
• Play/Pause: Preview your composition (or press Space)
• Save/Load Preset: Save your project for later
• Preview Mode: Switch between format previews (Story, Reel, Post, Canvas, YouTube)
• Fade In/Out: Add smooth fade transitions

The Layer Panel (Left)

This is where you manage all visual elements in your composition:

• Add Layer (+): Choose from Image, Video, Shader, Solid Color, Text, PSD, 3D Model, or SVG
• Layer List: Shows all layers (top layer = front of composition)
• Check Icon: Toggle layer visibility
• Up/Down Arrows: Reorder layers
• Delete: Remove selected layer

Tip: Layers at the top of the list appear in front.

The Properties Panel (Right)

Displays properties for the currently selected layer:

• Blend Mode: How the layer blends with layers below
• Opacity: Transparency (0% = invisible, 100% = opaque)
• Layer-specific controls: Position, scale, rotation, etc.
• Audio Modulation: Make properties react to music

The Timeline (Bottom)

• Waveform Display: Visual representation of your audio
• Playhead (red line): Current playback position
• Selection Range (highlighted area): The portion of audio that will be exported
• Duration Presets: Quick buttons for common durations (8s, 30s, 45s, 90s, Whole Track)
• Property Selector: Choose which property to display keyframes for

Working with Audio

Importing Audio

1. Click Import Audio in the toolbar
2. Select your audio file (WAV, AIFF, MP3, FLAC, or OGG)
3. The waveform will appear in the timeline

Supported Formats: Cinetiq uses JUCE for primary audio loading with FFmpeg fallback for unusual formats.

Setting Duration

Set your video duration:

Presets

1. Click a preset button above the timeline: 8s, 30s, 45s, 90s, or Whole Track

• The selection range will automatically adjust

2. Click anywhere on the waveform to set the start position

• The selection extends to your chosen duration (default: 30s)

3. Adjust duration by clicking a different preset button

Audio Analysis

Cinetiq automatically analyzes your audio and provides real-time FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) data:

• Level: Overall audio volume
• Bass: Low frequencies (20-250 Hz)
• Mid: Middle frequencies (250-2000 Hz)
• Treble: High frequencies (2-20 kHz)

This data can drive animations (see Audio-Reactive Effects).

Layer Types

Image Layers

Perfect for album artwork, logos, or photos.

Supported Formats: PNG, JPG

Properties:

• Position X/Y: Horizontal and vertical position (0-100%)
• Scale: Size adjustment (0-200%)
• Rotation: Rotate the image (0-360°)
• Opacity: Transparency (0-100%)

To Add an Image Layer:

1. Click + in the Layer Panel
2. Select Image
3. Choose your image file
4. Adjust position, scale, and rotation in the Properties Panel

Tip: Images maintain their aspect ratio. A scale of 100% fits the image to the canvas.

Video Layers

Add video clips with full playback control.

Supported Formats: MP4, MOV, AVI (hardware-accelerated on supported systems)

Properties:

• Position X/Y: Where the video appears
• Scale: Video size
• Rotation: Rotate the video
• Speed: Playback speed (0.25x to 4x)
• Trim Start/End: Cut sections from the video
• Opacity: Transparency

To Add a Video Layer:

1. Click + → Video
2. Select your video file
3. Use Trim Start/End to select the portion you want
4. Adjust Speed for slow-motion or fast-forward effects

Performance Note: Videos at 4K resolution (3840×2160 or higher) may have choppy preview but export correctly. Use 1080p videos for smooth preview.

Shader Layers

Custom visual effects using GLSL shaders (compatible with Shadertoy).

What are Shaders? Shaders are GPU-accelerated programs that generate visual effects in real-time. Cinetiq includes 11 example shaders and 18 effect shaders to get you started.

To Add a Shader Layer:

1. Click + → Shader
2. Select a built-in shader from resources/shaders/ or load a custom shader
3. Adjust shader-specific parameters in the Properties Panel

Available Example Shaders:

• Plasma effects
• Fractal patterns
• Audio visualizers
• Geometric animations
• Kaleidoscope effects
• And more!

Shader Inputs: Shaders have access to:

• iTime: Current playback time
• iResolution: Canvas dimensions
• iChannel0: Previous layer as a texture (for compositing)
• audioLevel, audioBass, audioMid, audioTreble: Real-time audio data

Custom Shaders: You can write your own shaders or use code from Shadertoy.com but be sure to check the license for the shader. Save the mainImage function to a .frag text file, and Cinetiq will handle the rest.

Solid Color Layers

Simple colored backgrounds or overlays.

Properties:

• Color: RGBA color picker
• Opacity: Transparency

To Add a Solid Color Layer:

1. Click + → Solid Color
2. Choose your color with the color picker
3. Adjust opacity as needed

Use Cases:

• Colored backgrounds
• Overlay effects with low opacity
• Color grading with blend modes

Text Layers

Add titles, lyrics, or captions with full customization.

Properties:

• Text Content: Multi-line text input
• Font Family: Choose from installed system fonts
• Font Size: 12-200pt (animatable)
• Color: RGBA color picker (animatable)
• Position X/Y: Precise positioning (0-100%)
• Scale: Overall size adjustment
• Rotation: Rotate text
• Bold/Italic: Font styling
• Outline Width: Text stroke thickness
• Outline Color: Stroke color

To Add a Text Layer:

1. Click + → Text
2. Enter your text in the Properties Panel
3. Choose font, size, and color
4. Position using X/Y sliders or scale/rotation
5. Add outline for better visibility over images

Tips:

• Text is rendered at 2× resolution for crisp, anti-aliased quality
• Use outline for text over busy backgrounds
• Animate font size to the beat of your music
• Position X=50%, Y=50% centers the text

3D Model Layers (Pro)

Import and render 3D models with professional lighting.

Supported Formats: glTF 2.0, GLB

Properties:

• Model Rotation X/Y/Z: Rotate the model on each axis
• Model Scale: Size of the model
• Model Position X/Y: Horizontal/vertical position
• Camera Distance: How far the camera is from the model
• Camera Azimuth: Horizontal camera angle (0-360°)
• Camera Elevation: Vertical camera angle (-90° to 90°)
• Camera FOV: Field of view (30-90°)

To Add a 3D Model Layer:

1. Click + → 3D Model (Pro license required)
2. Select a glTF or GLB file
3. Use camera controls to frame your model
4. Animate rotation for spinning effects

Lighting: Models are rendered with PBR-lite shading and 3-point lighting (key, fill, rim lights) that follows the camera for consistent illumination.

Tip: All 10 properties (rotation, scale, position, camera) are fully animatable and can react to audio.

SVG Layers (Pro)

Resolution-independent vector graphics.

Supported Format: SVG

Properties:

• Position X/Y: Positioning
• Scale: Size adjustment
• Rotation: Rotate the graphic
• Opacity: Transparency

To Add an SVG Layer:

1. Click + → SVG (Pro license required)
2. Select an SVG file
3. Adjust position, scale, and rotation

Advantages:

• Resolution-independent: SVGs look crisp at any size
• Small file size: Vector graphics are compact
• Scalable: Perfect for logos and icons

Technical Note: SVGs are rasterized at the target resolution (preview canvas size or export resolution), so exports are always sharp.

Animation & Keyframes

What are Keyframes?

Keyframes let you define how a property changes over time. For example, you can make an image:

• Move from left to right
• Scale from small to large
• Fade from transparent to opaque
• Rotate 360 degrees

Adding Keyframes

Method 1: Timeline

1. Move the playhead (red line) to the desired time
2. Select a layer
3. Press K or click the + button in the timeline
4. Adjust the property value in the Properties Panel

Method 2: Curve Editor

1. Double-click the timeline to open the Curve Editor
2. Double-click anywhere on the curve to add a keyframe
3. Drag keyframes to adjust timing and value

Editing Keyframes

In Timeline:

• Click and drag: Move keyframe left/right (timing)
• Delete/Backspace: Remove selected keyframe
• Adjust value: Change property slider while keyframe is selected

In Curve Editor:

• Drag keyframe: Adjust both time (horizontal) and value (vertical)
• Double-click empty space: Add new keyframe
• Delete selected: Remove keyframe

Interpolation Types

Control how values transition between keyframes:

• Step: Instant change (no transition)
• Linear: Constant speed transition
• Ease In: Starts slow, ends fast
• Ease Out: Starts fast, ends slow
• Ease In-Out: Smooth acceleration and deceleration

To Change Interpolation: Click a keyframe in the Curve Editor and select the desired type from dropdown.

Animatable Properties

All Layer Types:

• Opacity
• Visibility (on/off)
• Blend Mode

Images & SVGs:

• Position X/Y
• Scale
• Rotation

Videos:

• All image properties, plus:
• Speed (slow motion/fast forward)
• Trim Start/End

Text:

• All image properties, plus:
• Font Size
• Color (RGBA)

3D Models:

• Model Rotation X/Y/Z
• Model Scale
• Model Position X/Y
• Camera Distance/Azimuth/Elevation/FOV

Shaders:

• Custom shader uniforms (shader-dependent)

Undo/Redo

Cinetiq includes 50 levels of undo/redo:

• Cmd+Z / Ctrl+Z: Undo
• Shift+Cmd+Z / Shift+Ctrl+Z: Redo

All operations are undoable: layer changes, property edits, keyframe additions/deletions.

Audio-Reactive Effects

One of Cinetiq's most powerful features is the ability to make visual properties react to your music in real-time.

How Audio Modulation Works

Cinetiq analyzes your audio track and extracts frequency data:

• Level: Overall volume
• Bass: Low frequencies (kick drums, bass)
• Mid: Midrange (vocals, snares)
• Treble: High frequencies (hi-hats, cymbals)

You can use this data to drive any animatable property.

Setting Up Audio Modulation

1. Select a layer
2. In the Properties Panel, find the Audio Modulation section
3. For the property you want to modulate:
   • Choose an Audio Source (None, Level, Bass, Mid, Treble)
   • Set the Amount (-100% to +100%)
   • Adjust Smoothing (0-100%)

Audio Modulation Settings

Source:

• None: No audio reactivity
• Level: React to overall volume
• Bass: React to bass/kick drums
• Mid: React to vocals/melody
• Treble: React to hi-hats/cymbals

Amount (bipolar):

• Positive values (0% to 100%): Increase the property when audio is detected
• Negative values (-100% to 0%): Decrease the property when audio is detected
• 50%: Moderate reaction
• 100%: Maximum reaction

Smoothing (0-100%):

• 0%: Instant, twitchy response (good for fast percussion)
• 50%: Balanced smoothness
• 100%: Very smooth, gradual response (good for ambient music)

Practical Examples

Example 1: Pulsing Logo Make a logo pulse with the kick drum:

1. Add an Image layer (your logo)
2. In Audio Modulation:
   • Scale Source: Bass
   • Scale Amount: 30%
   • Smoothing: 20%

The logo will grow slightly with each kick drum hit.

Example 2: Color-Changing Text Make text color flash with the hi-hats:

1. Add a Text layer
2. In Audio Modulation:
   • Opacity Source: Treble
   • Opacity Amount: -30%
   • Smoothing: 10%

Text will dim slightly with each hi-hat, creating a flickering effect.

Example 3: Rotating 3D Model Make a 3D model spin faster during loud sections:

1. Add a 3D Model layer
2. Add keyframe animation for constant rotation:
   • Rotation Y: 0° at 0s, 360° at end
   • Interpolation: Linear
3. In Audio Modulation:
   • Rotation Y Source: Level
   • Rotation Y Amount: 50%
   • Smoothing: 40%

The model rotates constantly but speeds up during loud parts.

Example 4: Position Bounce Make an image bounce vertically with the beat:

1. Add an Image layer
2. In Audio Modulation:
   • Position Y Source: Bass
   • Position Y Amount: -20% (negative = move up when bass hits)
   • Smoothing: 25%

Tips:

• Start with low amounts (10-30%) and increase gradually
• Use Bass for kick drums and low-frequency impacts
• Use Treble for hi-hats and rhythmic elements
• Higher smoothing reduces jittery motion but delays response
• Combine keyframe animation with audio modulation for complex effects

Audio Modulation in Shaders

Shaders have direct access to audio data via these uniforms:

• uniform float audioLevel;
• uniform float audioBass;
• uniform float audioMid;
• uniform float audioTreble;

Use these in your shader code to create audio-reactive visuals:

void mainImage(out vec4 fragColor, in vec2 fragCoord) {
    vec2 uv = fragCoord / iResolution.xy;

    // Pulsing circle based on bass
    float radius = 0.3 + audioBass * 0.2;
    float dist = length(uv - 0.5);
    float circle = smoothstep(radius, radius - 0.05, dist);

    // Color shifts with treble
    vec3 color = vec3(0.5 + audioTreble * 0.5, 0.3, 0.8);

    fragColor = vec4(color * circle, 1.0);
}

Exporting Your Video

Export Formats

Cinetiq supports multiple platforms with optimized presets:

Export Process

1. Click Export in the toolbar
2. Choose your Export Type (Instagram, Spotify Canvas, or YouTube)
3. Select the specific Format (Story, Reel, Post)
4. Click Export
5. Choose where to save your video
6. Wait for export to complete (progress bar shows status)

Export Settings:

• Video Codec: H.264 (universally compatible)
• Frame Rate: 30 fps
• Audio Codec: AAC at 128 kbps (when applicable)

Export Tips

Instagram:

• Use Story (9:16) for vertical content up to 60s
• Use Reel (9:16) for vertical content up to 90s
• Use Post (1:1) for square feed posts up to 60s

Spotify Canvas:

• Automatically exports 8 seconds of your selection
• No audio track included (Spotify adds the music)
• Perfect for looping visuals
• Use the 8s preset button for quick setup

YouTube:

• Exports entire audio selection (use Whole Track preset)
• Horizontal 16:9 format
• Includes full audio track
• No duration limit

Demo Mode Watermark

If you're using the free demo version, exported videos will include a "DEMO MODE" watermark that rotates through different positions. This lets you evaluate the full workflow.

To remove the watermark: Activate a Standard or Pro license (Help → License Activation).

Export Performance

• Export happens at 30fps regardless of preview performance
• Complex compositions may take several minutes to export
• Progress bar shows real-time status
• You can continue using your computer during export

Presets

Presets save your entire composition (layers, animations, settings) for reuse or backup.

Saving a Preset

1. Click Save Preset in the toolbar
2. Choose a filename and location
3. Click Save

What's Saved:

• All layers and their properties
• All keyframe animations
• Audio modulation settings
• Layer order and blend modes
• Shader code and settings
• Timeline selection

What's NOT Saved:

• The audio file itself (only the file path)
• External media files (images, videos, models, SVGs - only file paths)

Tip: Keep your media files in the same location for easy preset sharing.

Loading a Preset

1. Click Load Preset in the toolbar
2. Select a saved preset file
3. Click Open

Your entire composition will be restored, including:

• All layers
• All animations
• All settings

Note: If Cinetiq can't find a media file (moved or deleted), it will show a placeholder. You can reload the correct file from the Properties Panel.

Preset Best Practices

• Organize your media: Keep all files in one project folder
• Use relative paths: Store presets near your media files
• Name descriptively: Use clear preset names like "Logo_Intro_30s.preset"
• Version your work: Save incremental versions (v1, v2, v3)
• Backup regularly: Presets are small - save often!

Blend Modes

Blend modes control how layers combine with layers below them.

Available Blend Modes

Normal: Default mode, layers stack naturally

Multiply: Darkens by multiplying colors (good for shadows)

Screen: Lightens by inverting and multiplying (good for glows)

Overlay: Combines Multiply and Screen (enhances contrast)

Add: Adds colors together (brightens, creates light effects)

Subtract: Subtracts colors (darkens, creates negative effects)

Difference: Absolute difference between colors (creates inversions)

Soft Light: Gentle contrast enhancement

Hard Light: Strong contrast enhancement

Using Blend Modes

1. Select a layer
2. In Properties Panel, choose Blend Mode from dropdown
3. Adjust Opacity to fine-tune the effect

Blend Mode Tips

• Add: Perfect for light rays, lens flares, and glow effects
• Multiply: Great for darkening or adding texture
• Screen: Excellent for brightening or adding light
• Overlay: Enhances vibrancy and contrast
• Difference: Creates psychedelic, inverted effects

Experiment! Blend modes can create unexpected, beautiful results.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Master these shortcuts for faster workflow:

Playback

• Space: Play/Pause
• Home: Jump to start
• End: Jump to end

Layers

• Up/Down Arrow: Navigate layers
• Delete/Backspace: Delete selected layer or keyframe

Animation

• K: Add keyframe at playhead position
• Double-click Timeline: Open Curve Editor

Editing

• Cmd+Z / Ctrl+Z: Undo
• Shift+Cmd+Z / Shift+Ctrl+Z: Redo

Interface

• Backtick (`): Toggle developer console (for advanced users)

Tips & Best Practices

Performance Tips

1. Lower Preview Quality: If preview is laggy, reduce window size or use lower-resolution source files
2. Limit Video Layers: Each video layer requires decoding - stick to 1-2 video layers for smooth preview
3. Use Image Sequences: Instead of high-res videos, export to image sequence and re-import
4. Optimize Shaders: Complex shaders can slow preview - simplify or reduce resolution
5. Hardware Acceleration: Ensure your system uses VideoToolbox (macOS) or DXVA (Windows) for video decoding

Composition Tips

1. Layer Order Matters: Top layers appear in front - put backgrounds at the bottom
2. Use Blend Modes: Don't just stack layers - experiment with blend modes for richer visuals
3. Less is More: 3-5 well-designed layers often look better than 20 random ones
4. Plan Your Animation: Sketch out timing on paper before adding keyframes
5. Audio First: Listen to your track and identify key moments (drops, vocals, breaks) before animating

Audio-Reactive Tips

1. Match Source to Sound: Use Bass for kick drums, Treble for hi-hats
2. Start Subtle: 10-20% amount is often enough - too much looks chaotic
3. Smooth to Taste: Fast music = low smoothing, slow music = high smoothing
4. Layer Multiple Effects: Combine different audio sources on different properties
5. Test Early: Preview audio reactivity before adding complex animations

Export Tips

1. Check Your Selection: Make sure the timeline selection covers the audio you want
2. Preview First: Watch your full composition before exporting
3. Test on Target Platform: Export and upload a test to ensure quality
4. Name Files Clearly: Include format and date (e.g., "MyTrack_Story_2026-02-09.mp4")
5. Keep Source Files: Save high-quality exports for re-purposing later

Creative Tips

1. Study Reference: Watch popular content on your target platform for inspiration
2. Use Contrasting Colors: High contrast = better visibility on phones
3. Keep Text Large: Mobile screens are small - use 40pt+ fonts
4. Loop for Spotify: Design 8s Canvas visuals that loop seamlessly
5. Match Energy: Calm music = slow animations, energetic music = fast cuts
6. Test on Mobile: Always preview exports on your phone before publishing

Workflow Tips

1. Save Presets Often: Don't lose your work - save every 15-30 minutes
2. Organize Your Files: Keep all project assets in one folder
3. Use Version Numbers: Save v1, v2, v3 as you iterate
4. Start Simple: Get basic composition working before adding complexity
5. Learn from Examples: Load and study the built-in shader examples

Troubleshooting

"Video playback is choppy"

• Solution: Use videos at 1080p or lower, avoid 4K. Export will be smooth regardless.

"Export is taking forever"

• Solution: Complex shaders and many layers slow export. This is normal. Reduce layers or simplify shaders.

"Audio modulation isn't working"

• Solution: Ensure audio is imported and selection is set. Try increasing the Amount slider.

"Shader doesn't display correctly"

• Solution: Some Shadertoy shaders use features Cinetiq doesn't support (audio input, multiple buffers). Try a simpler shader.

"Can't load my preset"

• Solution: Preset file paths may be broken if you moved media files. Relink files in Properties Panel.

"Text looks blurry"

• Solution: Increase font size or scale. Text renders at 2× resolution but may blur if too small.

"Demo watermark on my export"

• Solution: This is expected in demo mode. Activate a Standard or Pro license to remove it.

Getting Help

Support Resources

• User Guide: This document (you're reading it!)
• Issue Tracker: Report bugs at dev@highbitsoftware.com
• In-App Help: Use Help menu → About for version info and license status

License Information

Cinetiq offers three license tiers to suit different needs:

Demo (Free)

• 3 layer limit
• Watermarked exports
• Full feature evaluation
• Perfect for testing the app

Standard License

• Unlimited layers
• Clean exports (no watermark)
• Preset save/load
• Professional workflow

Pro License

• All Standard features
• SVG layer support
• 3D Model layer support
• PSD import (coming soon)
• For advanced creators

To Purchase: Visit our website To Activate: Help → License Activation

Conclusion

Cinetiq puts professional video creation tools at your fingertips. Whether you're an artist promoting music on Spotify, a creator making Instagram content, or a YouTuber needing compelling visuals, Cinetiq provides the features and flexibility you need.

Start creating today!

This guide covers Cinetiq version 1.x. Features and interface may evolve in future updates.

For the latest version and updates, visit our website.