A Line Rider music video, synced to Ruby Falls by Guster.
Runtime: 7 minutes.
Development Time: 95 hours of work over 2.5 years
Created using Line Rider JavaScript and Line Rider Advanced
Collaborators:
Opal - 0:30-0:53 (23 seconds)
OTDE - 1:43-2:16 (33 seconds)
Helios - 2:16-2:20 (4 seconds)
Inspirations and special thanks in the video credits.
Timelapse Footage:
Done with a trackpad on a MacBook Pro.
“The first major release from Rabid Squirrel after the monumental “This Will Destroy You,” “Ruby Falls” surpasses the expectations set by its predecessor. With contributions from Opal, OTDE, and Helios, Rabid Squirrel expertly conveys the variety of moods explored by the titular Guster song with a nuance and attention to detail second to none.
The track begins with a laidback section that uses manuals and limited quirk to evoke a sense of playfulness before moving into the guitar solo, with which Rabid popularized the dashed lines technique. In this section, line segments appear to grow, shrink, sway, and rotate to match the intensity of the electric guitar. After a dramatic section, visualized with high-speed movement and huge, sweeping curves, there is an abrupt transition into a dramatically different second half of the track. During this calm, even ethereal second half, the viewer is lulled into a trance by the rider’s effortless movement over smooth, undulating curves. The song continues with a muted trumpet solo, during which the rider moves with a playfulness and freedom that gives the impression that the lines themselves are improvising along with the music, before concluding with an unexpectedly intense ending that’ll have the viewer on the edge of their seat.
Throughout the track, Rabid Squirrel uses technically proficient manuals but always prioritizes capturing the mood and emotions of the music over showing off tricks and technique. Though the track reflects a variety of tonal shifts, none of these transitions feel jarring or out of place. With its technical proficiency, impeccable syncing, and its ability to evoke the wide variety of moods presented by the music, “Ruby Falls” has something for everyone to enjoy.”
- Andrew Hess, Top 10 Line Rider Tracks of 2018
"Wow. This is the first of its kind. Interpreting a solo at the end using line rider was insane. It must have been very hard to do but you pulled it off! There were multiple sections that I realized: ‘Wow I am watching days worth of work going by in a few seconds.’ Fantastic job as always."
- DoodleChaos (Line Rider artist)
"Talk about innovation. What a track! I love it. Great job rabid and everyone involved."
- Helios (Line Rider artist)
"It’s always astounding to me how well you know this software and make it work in a meaningful way!"
- Funky Fresh Rhymes
"This was so so good. This is nearing perfection from a line rider track. It was so smooth and well choreographed. The solo parts, look so amazing. So so cool. Love it."
- The Duke MC
"Great as always. Words can never do this level of talent justice."
- Common Rattata
"So damn good! Made me fall in love with the song. Well done!"
- Fastertelecaster
"This is now my favorite thing ever. I cannot express how perfect this is and how much I love this. My favorite song just got better.”
- Caddywompus
"The drums and sax synchronization work so well. Awesome job Ben!"
- Cale Oglesby
"Amazing work. This is another awesome way to visualize music, see it and feel it."
- kReaz
"What a brilliant visualisation for a guitar solo. Works perfectly."
- Sheeepman
"The way you embodied the character of the song within a few lines is way beyond my comprehension. This might be my favorite line rider ever. Top notch."
- Jack Britton
"This is... amazing. A whole new kind of music visualization, and it's so wonderfully artistic and smooth. I love the attention to detail - I'll see the tiniest of things and know you put a ton of effort into making them work exactly the way they should, and I respect you a ton for that... Your work is amazing and terribly underrated and I love it!"
- TheRGMGuy01
"Watching this really makes me wonder just how far one could push the limits of Line Rider crossed with like, music theory itself. Matching certain motions or movements or whatever to certain pitches and then seeing how those harmonies work together to make some patterns occur or whatever. This is phenomenal and I adore it."
- WindlessZephyr