CatNip
CatNip provides a terminal audio visualizer for Linux, Unix, macOS, and Windows.
About CatNip
CatNip is an open-source terminal audio visualizer compatible with Linux, Unix, macOS, and Windows. It supports multiple audio backends including ALSA, AVFoundation, DirectShow, Pipewire, PortAudio, and PulseAudio, and can output raw frequency bin data to standard output with configurable mirrored or inverted formatting.
Key features
- Supports ALSA, AVFoundation, DirectShow, Pipewire, PortAudio, PulseAudio backends
- CLI commands to list available audio backends and devices
- Outputs raw frequency bin data to standard output
- Configurable mirrored or inverted raw output formatting
- Optional CGO builds with FFTW3 and PortAudio support
Best for: It is best suited for users seeking a cross-platform terminal audio visualizer, particularly those who need raw frequency bin data output.
Good for
- Open-source under the MIT license
- Cross-platform compatibility with Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Supports multiple common audio backends including ALSA, PulseAudio, and Pipewire
Watch out for
- Functionality and CLI interface are subject to change
- PortAudio backend support on Windows is unconfirmed
- FFTW3 and PortAudio support require CGO-enabled builds
CatNip at a glance
- Website
- github.com/noriah/catnip
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Media Players & Servers
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Media Players & Servers
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CatNip FAQ
What audio backends does CatNip support?
It supports ALSA, AVFoundation, DirectShow, Pipewire, PortAudio, and PulseAudio backends.
How can I view available audio backends and devices?
Use the `catnip list-backends` command to see available backends, and `catnip -b {backend} list-devices` to see available devices for a selected backend.
Does CatNip support raw frequency data output?
Yes, use the `-raw` flag to output raw frequency bin data to stdout, with optional `-rawm` for mirrored and `-i` for inverted formatting.
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