About Nebula Flow
How it works
The nebula volume is defined by a 3D noise field (layered Simplex noise with audio-reactive octave parameters) sampled using ray marching. Each ray step accumulates density and color from the noise field, with density modulated by bass energy and noise frequency by mid energy. Embedded stars are instanced point sprites positioned within the volume, with brightness driven by high-frequency audio energy. Lighting uses a simplified scattering model where light from the stars and a global directional light is attenuated by accumulated density along the ray. The color lookup maps noise value to a nebula palette that shifts with spectral centroid. The camera follows a slow orbit path with a speed controlled by overall RMS energy. Performance is maintained by adaptive step count based on accumulated opacity (early ray termination).
Audio Features
- ▸ Bass Energy
- ▸ Mid Frequency Turbulence
- ▸ High Frequency Shimmer
- ▸ Spectral Centroid
Best For
- ▸ Space & Ambient Music
- ▸ Post-Rock & Shoegaze
- ▸ Cinematic & Epic Scores
- ▸ Planetarium Shows
MusicMind Engine
Narrative Arc (L7) paces nebula density expansion through the song's dramatic structure, Spatial Intelligence (L8) distributes gas cloud depth layers based on stereo panorama width, and Creative Mapping (L11) selects nebula color palette (emission, reflection, or planetary) based on the overall musical mood.
Learn how MusicMind analyzes music →Science Behind This Effect
Nebula Flow's gas cloud coloring uses the key-to-color mapping from synesthesia research, creating nebulae tinted by the song's detected musical key.
Learn more: The Science of Music & Color →