Cascade guides
Last updated: August 24, 2026
These guides cover the jobs producers actually do in Cascade: turn a beat into a visualizer, export MP4 for Reels/Shorts/TikTok, keep your own art and audio, and decide when a timeline tool is still the better fit.
Start with the workflow
Each guide is written from the product, not from a keyword list. If a feature is gated (Instagram posting) or missing (Spotify Canvas), the guide says so.
| Guide | What you will do |
|---|---|
| How to make a music visualizer | Campaign → beat → artwork → optional video style → preview → MP4 |
| Export MP4 for Reels, Shorts, TikTok | Final export vs preview, file format, what Cascade does not upload |
| Use your own artwork and audio | Rights, file types, why Cascade will not generate a fake record |
| After Effects alternative for producers | When Cascade is faster, when you still need AE |
For artists
Independent artists and musicians use the same steps: upload the record, add artwork or footage you have the rights to post, optionally match a video style, and export MP4. The artist page covers what Cascade does and does not do for that job.
FAQ
Create a campaign, upload your beat, add footage or artwork, and optionally upload a reference video file (MP4 or MOV) as a video style. Cascade matches pacing and layout to that style using your assets, then you preview and export an MP4. No footage? Open Portraits, upload the beat, pick a look, and export.
Yes. Finished campaigns export as MP4 (H.264 video with AAC audio), which is what TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts expect. Vertical 9:16 is the default for those placements.
Yes. You bring the beat, footage, and artwork. Cascade assembles those files into a reel. It does not generate your music or replace your art. You need the rights to everything you upload.
Turn a finished beat into a reel with your own footage.