Snowmix
Snowmix is a free, open-source command-line tool for building systems that mix live audio and video feeds.
What Snowmix is
Snowmix is a free, open-source command-line tool for building systems that mix live audio and video feeds. It can combine video, images, text, and graphics, with animation, clipping, and blending for scene composition. OpenGL enables 3D graphics using CPU-based off-screen rendering or hardware-accelerated GPU rendering, and chroma keying for green or blue screens is supported from version 0.5.2. Snowmix uses GStreamer scripts for audio and video input and output, including shared-memory compatibility with shmsink and shmsrc. Example scripts cover RTSP input and output as RTP, to a TCP server, or to an MP4 file. Embedded Tcl and Python interpreters support scripting, and the software can run without a display while being controlled remotely over low-bandwidth TCP connections. Snowmix is intended for people building their own video mixer, not for point-and-click use. It is available for Linux and macOS, but native macOS support is temporarily limited. The maintainer provides source code rather than binaries, so users compile it themselves.
Good
- Mixes live audio and video feeds
- Supports graphics, animation, clipping, and blending
- Includes Tcl and Python scripting
- Can run headlessly with remote control
Watch out
- The maintainer provides source rather than binaries
- Users need to compile the software
- Native macOS support is temporarily limited
- Windows has not been tested
Who it suits
Snowmix suits technically experienced users building a custom live audio and video mixing system. It is not intended for people looking for a point-and-click application.
Verdict
Snowmix offers flexible mixing and scripting for users willing to build their own setup. Its command-line design and source-only distribution are important considerations before choosing it.
Plans and prices
From Snowmix's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Snowmix | Free | Free and open source video mixer |
The facts
Each one read from Snowmix's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- 3D graphics
- Snowmix supports 3D graphics through OpenGL, using CPU-based off-screen or hardware-accelerated GPU rendering.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Chroma key
- Chroma keying for green or blue screens is supported from version 0.5.2.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- Snowmix is distributed free as open-source software, and the maintainer does not provide binaries; users can download the source and compile it.checked 7 Oct 2026
- GStreamer
- Snowmix uses GStreamer scripts for audio and video input and output, and its shared-memory model is compatible with GStreamer shmsink and shmsrc.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended user
- Snowmix is a specialized tool for people building their own video mixer system and is not intended as an easy point-and-click application.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Snowmix is a command-line tool for dynamically mixing live audio and video feeds.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Remote operation
- Snowmix is designed to run without a display and be controlled remotely over low-bandwidth TCP connections.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Scripting
- Snowmix supports simple and advanced scripting, including embedded Tcl and Python interpreters.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- The official pages opened provide no security or compliance claims.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Streaming input and output
- Example scripts support input from RTSP streams and output as RTP, to a TCP server, or to an MP4 file.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- A free support forum is available for Snowmix questions, while paid consultancy is offered for Snowmix, streaming, audio and video coding, and network architecture.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- Version 0.5.2.2 was tested on listed Linux distributions and macOS versions through Monterey; newer macOS versions are prepared for but untested, and native macOS support is temporarily limited.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Video and graphics
- It supports overlaying and mixing video, images, text, and graphic elements, with animation, clipping, and blending.checked 7 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Windows limitation
- Snowmix has not been tested on Windows, and its GStreamer shared-memory modules depend on POSIX features unavailable on native Windows.checked 7 Oct 2026
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