1. Pick a motion style
Open Designs and choose a music effect. Equalizer and LED Bars give you discrete columns; Stereo Wings spread motion to either side; Wave Ribbon and Line Flow feel softer; Bass Droplets emphasize pulses. The default multicolor effect is designed to meet the physical notch width.
2. Allow system audio if you want live reaction
Live visualizers need the optional macOS system-audio permission. Follow the in-app prompt and macOS permission panel. The app does not use your microphone for this feature and does not save audio recordings. If you decline, other notch designs and indicators still work.
If a newly granted permission isn’t picked up right away, quit and reopen the app.
3. Preview, then tune
When you first choose an effect, a short demo plays for roughly three seconds so you can see its colors and motion. Adjust the effect’s settings while watching the actual top edge. A base silhouette, music motion, and a progress ring can be layered if their combined result stays readable.
4. Let silence look like silence
There should be no stray one-pixel border or glow while nothing is playing. Start some audio to test; pause it and the animation should hide. If you still see an edge, use Send Feedback with your Mac model, macOS version, effect name, and a screenshot.