Quick Start #quickstart
- Extract nomos-windows.zip to any folder on your drive.
- Do not move
nomos.exe out of its folder — it requires all surrounding files to run.
- Double-click Launch_NOMOS.bat or
nomos.exe directly.
- Read the First Launch note below before proceeding.
Windows SmartScreen may show a warning on first run. Click More info → Run anyway.
This is expected for unsigned beta software and is not a virus warning.
First Launch #firstlaunch
⚠ FIRST LAUNCH — SHADER COMPILATION
On your very first launch NOMOS compiles all GPU shader programs from source.
This can take 10 to 15 minutes. The window may appear completely frozen.
It is NOT frozen. Do not close it. Wait for the interface to appear.
After the first launch, compiled shaders are cached in
shader_cache\
and every subsequent launch will be fast.
If you delete the shader_cache\ folder, the slow compile will happen
again on next launch. The cache is GPU-driver-specific — if you update your GPU driver,
NOMOS will recompile on next launch automatically.
System Requirements #requirements
| COMPONENT | MINIMUM | RECOMMENDED |
|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 11 64-bit |
| GPU | OpenGL 3.3 Core — any NVIDIA / AMD / Intel Iris Xe | NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB or better |
| VRAM | 2 GB | 4 GB (higher at 4K) |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| CPU | Any modern 64-bit processor | 4+ cores (audio analysis + video decoding) |
| Display | 1280×720 | 1920×1080 or higher |
| Output res. | 1280×720 | Up to 3840×2160 (4K) |
Folder Structure #structure
NOMOS_VMS_Beta\
├── nomos.exe Main application
├── Launch_NOMOS.bat Recommended launcher
├── README.txt Quick reference
├── fa-solid-900.ttf UI icon font (required)
├── SpoutLibrary.dll Spout2 output (required)
├── [*.dll] Runtime libraries — do not remove
│
├── tools\ GPU shader source files (.glsl) — required
├── fonts\ MSDF font library — required
├── presets\ Factory and user presets
│ ├── *.json User-saved presets
│ ├── palettes\ .gpl palette files
│ ├── quicksaves\ Quick save history
│ └── [pack folders]\ Pattern-specific presets
├── thumbnails\ Preset thumbnail previews
├── packs\ Preset pack bundles
├── timelines\ Timeline automation files
├── milkdrop\ MilkDrop .milk presets
└── shader_cache\ Auto-generated on first launch — safe to delete
User presets and settings are saved in the presets\ folder alongside the application.
Back this folder up to preserve your work between updates.
Feature Overview #features
- Pattern Engine — Spirolattice, Guilloche, Maurer, Lissajous, IFS Flame, De Bruijn tiling, Penrose, Cymatics, Reaction-Diffusion and more.
- Audio Reactivity — miniaudio FFT with 512–4096 bin resolution, bass/mid/high/RMS envelopes, beat detection, BPM estimation.
- MilkDrop / ProjectM — Full libprojectM-4 integration, all .milk presets supported.
- Modulation Matrix — LFOs, audio bands, macros, Euclidean rhythms routed to any parameter.
- Layer System — Multi-layer compositing with blend modes, per-layer mod routing.
- Post-Processing — Bloom, glow, chromatic aberration, feedback, fluid simulation, VHS, kaleidoscope, and more.
- GLSL Shader Injection — Live-edit and hot-reload fragment and vertex shaders. Shadertoy import supported.
- Preset Library — Thumbnail browser, quick save, .pak bundle support.
- Timeline Production — Multi-track parameter automation.
- Spout2 Output — Zero-latency GPU texture sharing to OBS, Resolume, TouchDesigner, etc.
- Video Layers — FFmpeg video file decoding as a layer source.
- MIDI — Windows MIDI API, full MIDI learn for any parameter.
MIDI #midi
NOMOS supports any Windows MIDI device. Connect your controller before launching.
Right-click any parameter knob or slider to enter MIDI Learn mode,
then move a hardware control to bind it.
Spout2 Output #spout
Enable Spout2 output from the Settings panel. NOMOS sends the fully composited
post-processing output as a GPU texture named NOMOS.
Any Spout2-compatible application on the same machine can receive it —
OBS Studio, Resolume Avenue, VDMX, TouchDesigner, MilkDrop, etc.
Presets & Saves #presets
Save your current state at any time from the File menu or with the Quick Save button.
Quick saves are stored in presets\quicksaves\ and are
also accessible from the preset browser. Named presets save to presets\.
Back up your presets\ folder before updating NOMOS.
Troubleshooting #troubleshoot
- App won't launch / black screen — Update your GPU drivers. OpenGL 3.3 Core is required.
- Shader error on startup — Delete
shader_cache\ and relaunch. NOMOS will recompile cleanly.
- Very slow first launch — Normal. Shader compilation takes 10–15 minutes the first time. Do not close the window.
- No audio reactivity — Check the audio input device in the Audio panel. Select your interface or system audio loopback.
- Spout not working — Confirm Spout2 is enabled in Settings. The receiving app must be on the same machine.
- SmartScreen warning — Expected for unsigned beta. Click More info → Run anyway.