Start
Getting Started
You need an Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, M4 or newer) running macOS 14
Sonoma or later. On first launch, Lyrid downloads its processing engine
and models. This requires internet and timing varies depending on your
connection speed. After setup, the core workflow can run offline.
- Open Lyrid and create a new project, or open the built-in demo.
- Import your song, add your lyrics, and run Auto Sync.
- Pick a look, fine-tune the timing and design, then export.
The workflow is four steps: Import → Sync → Design → Export. Jump between
them using ⌘1, ⌘2, ⌘3 and ⌘4.
Start
Importing Audio
Start a project and choose your track, or drag it into Lyrid.
Supported formats are MP3, WAV, M4A, AIFF, FLAC, and audio from
MP4 or MOV files. Lyrid analyses the track for waveform and beat
timing before sync.
Start
Adding Or Pasting Lyrics
For the cleanest result, paste your own lyrics. That protects
spelling, slang, names, Pidgin and patois. Put each lyric on its
own line; those line breaks control how words group on screen.
- Section tags like [Intro], [Verse] and [Hook] are recognised and never shown in the video.
- Use Clean Up to remove section tags and production notes from the text.
- If your track repeats the hook, paste the hook each place it is actually sung.
Start
Using Transcription
If you do not have lyrics ready, Lyrid can transcribe them from
the audio with the Standard engine. Treat this as a strong first
draft and proofread it, because transcription can mishear slang,
names and accent-heavy phrases.
The Precise engine aligns your pasted lyrics to the vocal sound-for-sound
and gives the cleanest timing. Paste lyrics whenever you have them.
Optional AI helpers, including Fix Mishears and Translate, need
your own AI provider key in Settings > AI. They are optional and
stay off until you set them up.
Make It
Fixing Sync & Timing
After Auto Sync, open the Sync screen to review line timing while
the song plays. You can adjust anything before export:
- Drag a line block on the waveform or prompter to adjust its timing.
- Select a line and use its − / + nudge controls for fine adjustments, or click the lock control to protect its timing.
- Use Resync to re-time the current words without changing them.
- Use Fix Mishears, if configured, to correct likely speech-to-text errors while keeping slang.
- Use Manual Stamp for advanced hand-tapped timings.
Make It
Templates & Styles
On the Design screen, pick a look from the 42-Look catalogue or use an 8-Look Quick Start shortcut, then customize it for your release.
- Choose from 42 designed looks or select Raw Media (first in the picker) to display your footage exactly as shot with no blur, tint, grade or visualizer.
- Use built-in macOS fonts, bundled premium fonts (marked ✦), or import your own TTF/OTF fonts.
- Adjust colours, quick palettes, beat-reactive motion, glow, and Halo ✦ section motion.
- Manage custom styles and saved looks in the Brand tab.
- Use your own photo or multiple video clips — choose sections on a filmstrip (playing in sequence with hard cuts), reorder or delete clips, and loop across your track.
- Toggle the Lyrics off switch in Design → Background to export plain music videos from your background media while keeping all sync and timing saved.
- Looping video backgrounds are silent by default. Turn off Mute video sound if you want to mix their audio under the song.
- Undo and redo design changes with Command-Z and Command-Shift-Z.
Make It
Exporting For Social Platforms
On the Export screen, choose your format and render. The preview
and export use the same engine, so what you see is what you get.
- Export 9:16 vertical, 1:1 square, 16:9 wide and 4:5 portrait, up to high resolution and 60fps.
- Choose between MP4 and MOV export formats in Export → Advanced.
- Use Publish Pack to render every platform size into one folder.
- Turn on Export a clip or section to make short 8-to-30-second teasers with smooth fades.
- Use Hook to jump to the catchiest section, then preview with Play section.
- Export short 8-second vertical visual loops for Spotify Canvas (lyrics are off by default because the Canvas loop does not track live song position).
- Export stems (including Acapella, Instrumental, Drums, Bass, and Other) or SRT / LRC subtitle files for use elsewhere.
Buying
Free Trial & Watermark
You can try Lyrid free. Trial exports carry a small watermark: a corner
badge that moves between all four corners as the video plays, plus a faint
diagonal mark inside the frame — so cropping won't remove it. Activating
your licence removes both, and licensed exports are completely clean. Nothing
is time-limited.
Buying
Activate Your Licence
After buying, Lemon Squeezy emails your licence key. Activation
removes the watermark and registers the Mac.
- Open Settings > Licence, or Help > Activate Lyrid.
- Paste your key and click Activate.
- Use Deactivate on this Mac before moving a seat to a new Mac.
One licence activates on up to two Macs. Activation needs internet
once; after that, Lyrid keeps working offline.
Help
Troubleshooting
"Couldn't reach the internet" on the first sync
The very first sync downloads processing models. Connect to
Wi-Fi and try again. After setup, syncing works offline.
The timing is slightly off on some lines
Open the Sync screen and drag or use the − / + nudge controls on those lines. If the
words are wrong, paste your correct lyrics and use the Precise
engine, or run Fix Mishears if configured.
The app says Apple Silicon required
Lyrid needs an Apple Silicon Mac, M1 or newer, on macOS 14 or
later. It does not run on Intel Macs.
My licence is not activating
Check that the key is pasted exactly, confirm you are online
for activation, and make sure the licence has not already
reached its two-Mac limit.
Help
Support
Need a hand or found a bug? Email
btl@btltech.co.uk
with your macOS version, a short description, and a screenshot if
it is a visual issue.