A full music video is the biggest of the three: a directed, filmed piece with a concept, locations, lighting and a full edit and grade. A visualiser is a lighter visual made to sit with the track. A lyric video puts the words on screen in time with the song.
You can use more than one across a release. Aligned Vision makes all three, and lyric videos and audio visualisers can be booked on their own or added to a full music video.
Official music video
An official music video is planned and shot around an idea. It might tell a story, show a performance or mix the two. It needs a concept, locations, cast, lighting and a crew on the day, then an edit and colour grade afterwards.
To give a sense of the work, Aligned Vision’s £750 Signature package includes an 8 hour production day, two locations, concept and creative planning, a professional lighting set-up, a cinematic colour grade and 2 rounds of edit revisions. The portfolio has examples, including Presha J’s “Recovery” and Noplace Home’s “I Need Thee”.
A full video makes sense for the song you most want people to see, such as a lead single.
Visualiser
A visualiser is a lighter visual made for the track. It might be one strong look that holds for the length of the song, or a short run of shots that sit under it. It doesn’t need the story or the number of scenes a full music video does.
Aligned Vision’s portfolio lists official visualisers alongside its official music videos. Two examples are 678NATH’s “Bubbling” and LIKEMIKES’ “23”.
A visualiser works well when you want something on YouTube on release day, or for EP and album tracks that won’t get a full video.
Lyric video
A lyric video shows the words on screen in time with the track. For gospel and worship artists it has a practical use: it helps people learn a song they want to sing.
In a lyric video the text is the main visual, so the titles need care. Aligned Vision’s The Care Package (Vol. 1) is a set of 10 title templates, fully editable in Photoshop, made for music videos, lyric videos, promos and social content. Good titles help a visualiser or lyric video look finished. Music video title cards covers what to put on them.
Booking a visualiser or lyric video
Lyric videos and audio visualisers are available as standalone packages or as add-ons to a full music video production. The help centre describes them as a strong option for content between major video releases. Ask for a quote when you get in touch.
How the three compare
- Planning. A music video needs a treatment, locations, cast and a shot list. A visualiser needs a clear look. A lyric video needs the final lyrics and a title style.
- Filming. A music video needs a production day. A visualiser can come from a short shoot or from artwork. A lyric video may need no filming at all.
- Editing. All three need an edit. A music video has the most footage to work through.
- Identifiers. Each one is a separate video recording with its own ISRC.
Each version needs its own ISRC
A music video is a different recording from the audio, even when the same track plays in it, so it needs its own ISRC (IFPI). Different versions need different codes too, when their video content or sound content differs.
If you release a visualiser, a lyric video and a full video for one song, plan for a separate code for each. Does a music video need its own ISRC? explains how UK artists get them.
Simple release plans
Two patterns are easy to plan around:
- Lighter video first. Put out a visualiser or lyric video on release day, so the song has something to watch from the start. Release the full music video later.
- Full video first. Lead with the music video, then follow with a lyric video so people can learn the words.
For an EP, you could make a full video for the lead track and visualisers for the others.
Which one does your release need?
Start with these questions:
- Is this the song you most want people to see? A full music video gives it the most attention.
- Do you need something live on release day while a bigger video is still in production? A visualiser or lyric video fills that gap.
- Is it a worship song you want people to sing in church? A lyric video helps them learn it.
- Is this a track between two bigger releases? A visualiser keeps your channel active without a full shoot.
If budget is part of the decision, how much does a music video cost in the UK? breaks down what the Signature package includes and what sits outside it.
See the music videos page for the full package, or get in touch to talk through your release.
