Support

We answer every email — usually within a couple of days.

Frequently asked

What does Refract do?

Refract turns a song — or the sound from a video you made — and a few photographs into a video that moves with the music. It analyzes your track on your iPhone to find the beats, the tempo and the sections, then draws visualizers, overlays and effects that answer the audio frame by frame. You can let it choreograph the whole edit for you, or build it yourself on a multi-track timeline.

What music can I use?

Any audio file you own — from Files, iCloud Drive, Voice Memos, or anything you can share into Refract — or the sound from a video you made (see below). Refract asks you to confirm you own the music or have the right to use it. Songs from Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming services cannot be used: they are DRM-protected and no app is permitted to read them. That is an Apple platform restriction, not a Refract limitation, and it applies to every app of this kind.

Can I use the sound from a video?

Yes. On New Project, Use a video's sound picks a video from Photos and Extract audio from video picks one from Files or iCloud Drive. Refract checks it first — that it can be read, isn't copy-protected, has a soundtrack that isn't silent, and is up to 60 minutes long — and says in one sentence if it can't be used. Only the sound is kept, in your project; the video itself is never stored or uploaded.

Can I use a link?

Yes, a link that points straight at an audio or video file — a file on your own website, or a Dropbox share link. Extract from a link downloads it directly to your iPhone and runs the same checks. A link to a web page, such as a page on a streaming site, isn't a file, so Refract says so and nothing is downloaded. Only secure (https) links can be used.

How do I keep the sound as a file?

When the sound is ready, tap Save sound file. It opens the share sheet with the sound as an .m4a, named after the video, so you can Save to Files, AirDrop it, or send it to another app.

Is there a light mode?

Yes. Settings → Appearance: System follows your iPhone, or choose Light or Dark. The canvas and the timeline stay dark either way, so colours read true.

Which shapes and sizes can I export?

Four shapes — 9:16, 4:5, 1:1 and 16:9 — with presets for the usual places you would post them. The free tier exports up to 1080p at 30 fps, up to ten minutes, with a small Refract mark in a corner. Refract Pro adds 4K, 60 fps, any length, and no mark.

Why does my export have a Refract mark on it?

Free exports carry a small mark. It is placed to stay clear of the captions and buttons those apps draw over your video. Refract Pro removes it.

What is in Refract Pro?

All eight visualizers, all eight overlays, all twenty effects, all six looks with automatic choreography, the Text tool, 4K at 60 fps, any length, and exports with no watermark. The free tier keeps unlimited projects and exports, all four shapes, your own photos and the full timeline editor. Prices are shown in the app and on the App Store.

What happens to my projects if my trial ends?

Nothing. Projects you made during the trial keep working and keep exporting, exactly as they are. What changes is that you can no longer add Pro content to them.

My export is taking a long time

Rendering is real work — a three-minute song at 1080p takes roughly a minute, and 4K at 60 fps takes considerably longer. Keep Refract on screen while it runs. iOS does not allow an app to use the graphics processor in the background, so if you switch away Refract pauses, keeps the frames it has already made, and picks up where it left off when you come back.

Why did the beats land in the wrong place?

Beat detection is very good on music with a clear pulse and less certain on rubato, live recordings, or tracks that change tempo. If a track is consistently misread we would like to hear about it — use Send feedback and pick Music and beats.

Which iPhones can run Refract?

iPhones running iOS 17 or later. Rendering is faster on newer devices; 4K at 60 fps in particular asks a lot of the hardware.

Found a bug or have an idea?

Use Send feedback in Settings — it attaches your app version, iOS version and device automatically, which saves a round-trip. Or email gwolny@me.com.

Privacy questions

Your music, photos and videos never leave your iPhone. See the privacy policy for the full picture.