14 DAY TRIAL // It's all about looking a bit better, whether we speak about already good-looking software or just average ones: I guess there isn't a single program developer who does not want his creations to look as good as possible and even further. Be it about nice and professionally looking skins, stunning color-schemes or exclusive features, everyone is looking for ways to prove their superiority upon their rivals.
Of course, this is one really good thing because we'll just have better software, more attractive interfaces, cooler features and so on. But these things are not just made by those who also make the respective programs: they sometimes rely on other people specialized in "cooling" things whose task is to issue different "gadgets" for a specifically-indicated application. In today's article I'll speak about how a good visualization software will add value for both its creators and as well for the application it's been developed for.
Surreal FX Basic is one extension pack for the Real Player which adds several really cool visualization modes. I can't speak for everybody but from time to time, I really feel the need to enjoy a good and lovely-looking visualization while listening to music. It's not like I will spend time watching the endlessly-moving things on my monitor but rather seeing something nice while my sight occasionally passes over it.
The Looks
Modern and really cyber, these could best describe the Surreal FX Basic's looks. One can effortlessly see, by far, the care the graphic developers used to create the face of this program. An almost square main window with rounded corners and a wider lower portion, with nicely-drawn curves and with a calm, neutral blue color-scheme, slightly textured and sleek.
Also, in a minimalist way, without unnecessary command buttons, the main window really stands out and draws attention. In its center - the most important thing: the visualization screen and right below this, the visuals-selection menu; technically, a list with all installed modes, easily accessible by means of a single mouse-click.
The Graphic User Interface is completed with 4 buttons for tweaking, fullscreen mode, help and Special FX. The setting panel is customized for each visual mode with few but highly intuitive commands: you simply can't get stuck while trying to set up each mode. Surreal FX Basic has 4 default modes: Bobbin Heads. Chrome Spheres, Photo Twist and Tech Wave.
The Bobbin Heads has 3 variations, each with its own special environment: robots in a factory, baseball kids in a baseball arena and dogs in a dog pound. As you might have guessed, each of these characters rocks its head according to the music you play in your Real media software.
The Chrome Spheres mode isn't just chrome: you can replace the metallic objects with basket balls, Smiley faces and a more-than-groovy set of eyeballs. A billboard with an image either preset or chosen by you flies by, while balls jump to the music.
The Photo Twist is a nice feature: you indicate a photo and the degree it will be twirled by sound shape. Imagine the fun as I put there a picture of myself and watched my own face get distorted as I played my fav music.
Finally, the last of the preset visualizations is the Tech-Wave, a rather classical visual-style with lines and chasing dots that change shapes and movement-patterns according to music.
When registered, a broader array of visual styles will be available and even custom-modes can be bought from the web.
The Works
You don't have to be a fan of visualization programs to get to like the way Surreal FX Basic works. Whether you are listening to the beatsy hip-hop, to thumping-bass techno or to the heaviest of heavy metal, the Surreal FX Basic does its job very well, be that bobbing, jumping, twisting or whatever mode you might have chosen.
The algorithm seems to take account on both frequency and volume and thus generating pretty complex sets of movements. Even more complicated are things when it comes the Bobbin Heads modes: while the rest of the modes contain simple animation, these ones have been designed just like game 3D animations. Robots twist, turn heads, gesticulate with their hands and also spring-jump. The environment is pretty animated as well, at least the factory scenery, unfortunately, the only one the unregistered version of the Surreal FX Basic lets you extensively use. You also can't save different tweaks unless you have a registered copy of the software.
Surreal FX Basic doesn't bring anything new but what it does has a high quality and this is even better. The version I have tested returned no errors, no matter how much I tried to vary its settings and regardless of the music I listened to in Real player. The animations create a very nice atmosphere and instead of turning off your PC's monitor, you can add a bit of sparkle to your room with Surreal FX Basic's visuals; it can go very well for parties or for the environmental music some people prefer to have while having guests or just chatting with visiting friends.
The Good
A very attentively-developed application, with very pleasant appearance and really cool visualization modes, moved by comprehensive algorithms to ensure complex dynamics. One really nice feature is that you can constantly buy new visual modes from the web and grow your collection of great looking visualizations.
The Bad
Unfortunately, it has been created only for the Real Player. I guess further development so it can work with other major multimedia players could be a very important asset for the Surreal FX Basic.
The Truth
If you like your daily music to "look" at its best, then you should get your registered copy of the Surreal FX Basic. One cool application for the Real Player users.
Below you can see screenshots of the application while running:
