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{{Short description|American animation company}}
{{Primary sources|date=October 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Animusic, LLC
| logo = Animusic logo.png
| former_name = Visual Music
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = Animation
| foundation = {{start date and age|1990}}
| founder = {{Unbulleted list|Wayne Lytle|David Crognale}}
| location_city = [[Ithaca, New York|Ithaca]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| homepage = {{URL|www.animusic.com}}
}}

'''Animusic, LLC''' is a [[Dormant company|dormant]] animation company specializing in the [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[Music visualization|visualization]] of [[MIDI]]-based music.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pogue |first=David |date=2005-11-30 |title=Computer-Generated Wonder |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/30/technology/circuits/computergenerated-wonder.html |access-date=2022-12-25}}</ref> Founded by Wayne Lytle in 1990, it is currently a registered [[limited liability company]] in [[New York (state)|New York]] and had offices in [[Texas]] and [[California]] during its active stages. The initial name of the company was '''Visual Music''', but was changed to Animusic in 1995.

The company is known for its ''Animusic'' compilations of computer-generated animations, based on MIDI events processed to simultaneously drive the music and on-screen action, leading to and corresponding to every sound. The animated short "Pipe Dream," showed at [[SIGGRAPH]]'s Electronic Theater in 2001, details the use of this specific sequencing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/siggraph-2001-computer-animation-festival-digital-odyssey|title=The SIGGRAPH 2001 Computer Animation Festival: A Digital Odyssey|website=Animation World Network|access-date=Aug 14, 2019}}</ref>

Unlike many other music visualizations, Animusic uses MIDI information to drive the animation, while other 3D programs animate figures or characters to the music. Any animated models in ''Animusic'' are created first, and are then programmed to follow what the music, or MIDI information, instructs them to do.

Many of the instruments appear to be [[robot]]ic or play themselves using seemingly curious methods to produce and visualize the original compositions. The animations typically feature dramatically-lit rooms or landscapes in rustic and/or futuristic locales.

The music in ''Animusic'' is principally pop-rock based, consisting of straightforward sequences of triggered samples and digital patches. According to the director's commentary track on ''Animusic 2'', most instrument sounds are generated with software synthesizers on a music workstation. Many sounds resemble stock patches available on digital keyboards, subjected to some manipulation, such as pitch or playback speed, to enhance the appeal of their [[timbre]].

==Releases==
{{As of|2025|July}}, three video albums have been released.

*''Animusic: A Computer Animation Video Album'' (2001, re-issued as "special edition" in 2004)
*''Animusic 2: A New Computer Animation Video Album'' (2005)
*''Animusic HD: Stunning Computer-Animated Music'' (2010)

''Animusic'' was released in 2001 on VHS, and later [[DVD]], with a special edition DVD being released later in 2004. This special edition included extra material, such as Animusic's first animation, "Beyond the Walls".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://animusic.com/_ProtoPHP/_D-Details.php?title=Animusic%3Cbr/%3E1&itemType=DVD&itemCode=DVD-1&itemListPrice=19.95&itemSalePrice=15.95|title=Animusic Special Edition Details|access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref> A second album, ''Animusic 2'', was released in the United States in 2005. Later, in 2008, this volume received a Japanese localization through a distribution deal with Japanese company [[Jorudan|Jorudan, Co. Ltd.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animusic.com/news-Jorudan.html|title=Animusic 2 in Japan|access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref> In a company newsletter, it was announced that the Animusic company would also be producing a [[High-definition video|high-definition]] version of ''Animusic 2'' on [[Blu-ray Disc|Blu-ray]], to be released sometime before their third major album, ''Animusic 3''.<ref name="High Definition">{{cite web|url=http://www.animusic.com/news-Nov06.html|title=Animusic 2 in HD| access-date=2008-12-28}}</ref> This HD compilation was eventually released in November 2010, featuring all of the animations featured in ''Animusic 2'', as well as the animation "Pipe Dream" from ''Animusic'' encoded at a high bitrate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animusic.com/_ProtoPHP/_D-Details.php?title=Animusic%3Cbr/%3EHD&itemType=BRD&itemCode=BRD-0&itemListPrice=24.95&itemSalePrice=19.95|title=Animusic HD Details|access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref> In a later newsletter, the working titles of three animations in ''Animusic 3'', “Sonic Warfare”, “Paddle Ball” and “Super Pipe Dream”, were revealed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animusic.com/news-Wayne-news-Nov07.html|title=November 2007 Newsletter|access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref> In 2012, a Kickstarter campaign for ''Animusic 3'' was successfully funded. "The Sound of Twelve," a music-only album made using similar harmonics as ''Animusic,'' was released in March 2015. Animusic 3 was never finished or released.

In the mid-2000's, a viral hoax email suggested that the "Pipe Dream" video was actually a machine created at the [[University of Iowa]] from farm machinery parts. Although this has been proven false,<ref name="Snopes">{{cite web |last=Mikkelson |first=David |date=October 24, 2013 |title=Fantastic Music Machine |url=http://www.snopes.com/photos/arts/musicmachine.asp |access-date=2007-10-11 |website=[[Snopes]]}}</ref> the hoax was still considered "pretty amusing" to the Animusic staff.<ref name="Hoax email">{{cite web |title=Animusic &#124; News &#124; Hoax Email |url=http://animusic.com/news/hoax-email.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818140638/http://www.animusic.com/news/hoax-email.php |archive-date=2012-08-18 |access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref> It is currently unknown who started the hoax. [[Intel]] later commissioned a version of the machine to be built which was demonstrated at IDF 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Normal |first=Nick |date=2012-02-20 |title=Animusic's "Pipe Dream" Made Real by Intel |url=https://makezine.com/article/craft/music/animusics-pipe-dream-made-real/ |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=[[Make (magazine)|Make]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephens |first=John |date=2012-02-16 |title=$160,000 Robot Orchestra Makes Sweet, Sweet Music |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/computer-music-intel-industrial-control-in-concert_n_1282911 |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=[[Huffington Post]]}}</ref>

=== Animusic 3 ===
Animusic, in its former state with multiple employees, was working on the third volume of the ''Animusic'' series for over 10 years. It was initially intended to be released sometime in 2010, featuring animations such as "Sonic Warfare", "Paddle Ball", and "Super Pipe Dream".<ref name="Release Date Unknown">{{cite web |title=September 2009 Newsletter |url=http://www.animusic.com/news/wayne-news-sep-09.php |access-date=2009-10-20}}</ref> However, this release date passed with no definitive word regarding the volume's progress. A year later in November 2010, Animusic attributed this delay to a complete restructuring of their modeling and rendering software, ultimately yielding the Animusic|Studio software program.<ref name="November 2010 Newsletter">{{cite web |title=Animusic Blu-ray! |url=http://www.animusic.com/Newsletters/2010-11/BluNooz.html |access-date=2012-09-08}}</ref>

On August 6, 2012, the company began a [[Kickstarter]] campaign aimed at raising $200,000 USD to fund the completion of the ''Animusic 3''.<ref name="Kickstarter Campaign">{{cite web |title=ANIMUSIC 3 (DVD/Blu-ray) by ANIMUSIC |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2040578790/animusic-3-dvd |access-date=2012-09-02 |website=[[Kickstarter]]}}</ref> This campaign was featured on several websites such as [[Animation World Network]].<ref name="A3 Starts Production">{{cite web |last=Wolfe |first=Jennifer |date=August 23, 2012 |title='ANIMUSIC 3' Starts Production |url=http://www.awn.com/news/music-and-sound/animusic-3-starts-production |access-date=2012-09-02 |website=[[Animation World Network]]}}</ref> A rough mix from the newly revealed music album ''The Sound of 12'', titled "Glarpedge," was released online on August 28, 2012.<ref name="Glarpedge">{{cite web |title=So12 Glarpedge by ANIMUSIC |url=https://soundcloud.com/animusic_tracks/animusic-so12-glarpedge |access-date=2012-08-29}}</ref> On August 31, 2012, two more mixes were released: "Emoticondria"<ref name="Emoticondria">{{cite web |title=So12 Emoticondria by ANIMUSIC |url=https://soundcloud.com/animusic_tracks/animusic-so12-emoticondria |access-date=2012-08-31}}</ref> and "EchoKrunch."<ref name="EchoKrunch">{{cite web |title=So12 EchoKrunch by ANIMUSIC |url=https://soundcloud.com/animusic_tracks/animusic-so12-echokrunch |access-date=2012-08-31}}</ref> The Kickstarter page was later updated to confirm that a Blu-ray edition of ''Animusic 3'' would be released shortly following the DVD's completion.<ref name="Kickstarter Campaign Updates">{{cite web |title=ANIMUSIC 3 (DVD/Blu-ray) by ANIMUSIC ≫ Updates |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2040578790/animusic-3-dvd/posts |access-date=2012-09-02}}</ref>

On September 5, 2012, the Kickstarter campaign ended successfully, with a final backing amount of $223,123.<ref name="Animusic 3 Preview">{{cite web |title=Animusic &#124; Previews &#124; Animusic 3 |url=http://animusic.com/previews/animusic3.php |access-date=2012-09-08}}</ref> Animusic posted expected shipping dates of October 2013 for the DVD, and February 2014 for the Blu-ray disc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Update 11: The Latest on the Lateness · ANIMUSIC 3 (DVD / Blu-ray) |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2040578790/animusic-3-dvd/posts/629957 |access-date=Aug 14, 2019 |website=Kickstarter|date=August 21, 2015 }}</ref> However, both dates passed without either product being released.

On a Kickstarter update in August 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Update 24: Alive · ANIMUSIC 3 (DVD / Blu-ray) |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2040578790/animusic-3-dvd/posts/1330238 |access-date=Aug 14, 2019 |website=Kickstarter|date=August 21, 2015 }}</ref> Wayne Lytle announced some other factors that have delayed the project, including Dave Crognale's departure from the project and new residence in California, personal struggles, and physical stress and injury. To make up for this, the team utilized the distribution of supplemental prizes for backers to try and ease those who had funded the campaign, and assure them that there would be a quick resolution. Lytle had noted in this particular update that his financial situation was so unfortunate to the point where he, his mother and father, and his wife were unable to pay for shipping postage for the remainder of the inventory. However, Lytle insisted on his determination to finish the project, expressing his excitement about the abilities of the newly-implemented [[Unreal Engine 4]] and his gratitude for those who have invested in him. Lytle stated that he had withheld from posting an update until he had a completion date, but did not give one in the update.

{{Blockquote
|text="With that said, I do want to again thank all of you for being with us along this much-longer-than-anticipated journey. I do not take your support lightly! I wish the production had progressed way more quickly, yet here we are. Disappointing people is not something I enjoy! At all.

I truly believe that God created me and put me here on earth to bring joy to people...through music in general, Animusic most specifically. That’s my mission, and that’s what I will do."

|author=Wayne
}}

Since the 2015 Kickstarter update, no further updates have been posted on the platform. In August 2017, the Animusic headquarters was sold to RP Solutions, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Contact Us |url=http://rpsolutions.com/about/contact-us |access-date=2018-01-12 |website=rpsolutions.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>

In August 2019, the Animusic website was briefly taken down, and replaced by a generic template with a small explanation that the site is undergoing a redesign.<ref>{{citation |title=What??? |url=http://animusic.com/what |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804052404/http://animusic.com/what |access-date=2019-08-05 |archive-date=2019-08-04 |url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the New York State Division of Corporations, State Records, and UCC, Animusic is still an active domestic limited liability company and is registered to an address in [[Cortland, New York|Cortland]], New York.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Informational Message |url=https://apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry/EntityDisplay |access-date=2021-02-10 |website=appext20.dos.ny.gov}}</ref> The status of Wayne Lytle is publicly unknown; however, the Cortland property that the limited liability company is registered under has been sold as of November, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Inc |first=Zillow |title=317 Nye Rd, Cortland, NY 13045 {{!}} MLS #405217 |url=https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/317-Nye-Rd-Cortland-NY-13045/30030012_zpid/ |access-date=2021-11-26 |website=Zillow |language=en}}</ref>

==Software programs==
According to the company's [[FAQ]], animation is created [[Procedural animation|procedurally]] with their own proprietary MIDImotion engine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://animusic.com/support/#q06|title=Animusic &#124; Support &#124; 10|access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref> [[3D Studio Max|Discreet 3D Studio Max]] was used for modeling, lighting, cameras, and rendering. Maps were painted with [[Corel Painter]], Deep Paint 3D, and [[Photoshop]]. They have also created their own software called ANIMUSIC|studio that is based on scene-graph technology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animusic.com/company/software.php |title=Animusic &#124; Company &#124; Software |publisher=Animusic |access-date=2012-08-09}}</ref> According to an August 2015 newsletter, Animusic was using Unreal Engine 4 for the production of ''Animusic 3''.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Update 24: Alive · ANIMUSIC 3 (DVD / Blu-ray)|url = https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2040578790/animusic-3-dvd/posts/1330238|website = Kickstarter| date=August 21, 2015 |access-date = 2015-09-29}}</ref>

== Animations ==

* Various animations for SIGGRAPH
* ''More Bells and Whistles'' (1990) – made by Wayne Lytle before creating Animusic{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
* ''Beyond the Walls'' (known as ''Concerto in 3D'' if watched in stereoscopic 3D) (1996) – the first animation made under the name of Animusic, produced for VRex (a manufacturer of stereoscopic glasses and projectors). This animation is included as a bonus feature on the ''Animusic'' special edition DVD.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
* ''[[Device – Voice – Drum|Kansas – Device, Voice, Drum]]'' (2002) – animation for an intro to the band's concert and a music-only bridge in one of the tracks "Miracles Out of Nowhere"; album cover. This animation incorporates several instruments from the first album, including the drum kit from Future Retro and the bass guitar tower from Harmonic Voltage.<ref>{{cite web |date=2004 |title=Kansas DVD Features Two Custom Animations |url=http://www.animusic.com/news-kansas-dvd.html |accessdate=2024-10-30 |publisher=Animusic}}</ref>
 
=== ''Animusic: A Computer Animation Video Album'' ===
{{Infobox album
| name         = Animusic: Video Album Soundtrack
| type         = soundtrack
| artist       = Animusic
| released     = 2001
| recorded     = 
| genre        = [[Progressive rock]], [[Soundtrack music|Soundtrack]]
| length       = 48:37
| label        = Animusic
}}
Tracklist:
# "Future Retro" – 4:24
# "Stick Figures" – 5:23
# "Aqua Harp" – 3:47
# "Drum Machine" – 3:22
# "Pipe Dream" – 3:22
# "Acoustic Curves" – 5:32
# "Harmonic Voltage" – 6:46
 
==== ''Animusic'' CD bonus tracks ====
There were also 3 other music pieces only available on the ''Animusic'' audio CD.
 
# "Seventh Alloy" – 4:27
# "A Slight Delay" – 6:07
# "The Harvester" – 5:40

=== ''Animusic 2: A New Computer Animation Video Album'' ===
{{Infobox album
| name         = Animusic 2: Video Album Soundtrack
| type         = soundtrack
| artist       = Animusic
| released     = 2005
| recorded     = 
| genre        = [[Soundtrack music|Soundtrack]]
| length       = 49:11
| label        = Animusic
}}
Tracklist: 
# "Starship Groove" – 3:49
# "Pogo Sticks" – 3:17
# "Resonant Chamber" – 4:20
# "Cathedral Pictures" – 6:00
# "Pipe Dream 2" – 4:01
# "Fiber Bundles" – 5:13
# "Gyro Drums" – 3:51
# "Heavy Light" – 6:24

==== ''Animusic 2'' CD bonus tracks ====
The bonus audio tracks on this CD consist of reduced versions of "Heavy Light" and "Fiber Bundles":
 
# "Heavy Light" (Drum/Bass Submix) – 2:30
# "Fiber Bundles" (Drum/Bass Submix) – 4:25
# "Fiber Bundles" (Synth/Ambient Submix) – 5:04

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.animusic.com/}}
*{{IMDb title|0436071|Animusic 1}}
*{{IMDb title|1518189|Animusic 2}}
*{{IMDb title|1807938|Animusic HD}}

{{Visual music}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Software companies based in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Computer animation]]
[[Category:Music visualization]]
[[Category:1990s video albums]]
[[Category:2000s video albums]]
[[Category:Visual music]]
[[Category:Software companies of the United States]]