BKS Harmonic is an additive synthesizer that builds sound from individual overtones — then gives you tools no other synth has to shape, scan, and filter them based on musical harmony.
Get the plugin
One purchase, every 1.x update. Every new feature and fix throughout version 1.x is included with your purchase — a future 2.0 may be a paid upgrade. Residents get it included with residency.
Beat Kitchen School residents get the plugin included for the duration of their residency — no separate purchase needed. Open the plugin and enter your Discord username to activate.
Downloads
↓ macOS Installer v1.6.3 (AU + VST3 + Standalone)
Install: Double-click the downloaded .pkg and follow the installer. After installing, your DAW will find the plugin automatically.
Individual formats (advanced)
↓ AU for macOS ↓ VST3 for macOS ↓ Standalone for macOS
Use the installer above unless you know where plugin files go.
Unsigned build — Windows SmartScreen may warn on first launch; click More info → Run anyway.
v1.6.3 · Release notes →
What's new in v1.6.3
In our most ambitious update yet, BKS Harmonic now operates as a real-time audio effect, allowing you to mutate overtones and focus on hidden harmony inside anything you feed into its sidechain input.
- Formant control. Slide the whole spectrum while keeping pitch — now with a quadratic taper for fine low-end control and a smooth attack so fast moves don’t pop.
- Overtone Scan follows the Formant. The scanner tracks the shifted material as if the new lowest partial were the fundamental.
- Sample audition. A ▶ on the Audio-In filename plays the raw trimmed sample — hear it without deconstructing the patch. Plus: Bend Range slider fixed, and the silent sub-tone is gone.
What makes it different
Fold crossfade — The partials display shows every overtone in your sound. Sweep the fold slider to crossfade between harmonic layers — upper partials fold below the fundamental, redistributing the energy. Not a filter. Not a waveshaper. Fold instead of filter.
Overtone scanner — An arpeggiator for harmonics. Steps through individual partials with triangle, saw, or random patterns. Lock it to a scale and it only visits partials that belong.
Harmonic gate — Reinforces partials whose pitch class matches your chord. Suppress the rest. The timbre follows the harmony. Capture a chord, follow incoming MIDI, or split the keyboard so your left hand controls the gate.
51 scales — From major and minor to maqam, raga, and Messiaen modes. The scanner and harmonic gate are scale-aware.
Sculpt — Draw the amplitude of each partial by hand. Morph between saw, square, triangle, and pulse waveshapes or paint your own.
Tuning — Stretch the octave wider or compress it. Slide between just intonation and equal temperament. Stack unison voices from subtle to thick.
Mod matrix — 6 sources (LFO 1, LFO 2, Env 1, Env 2, Velocity, Mod Wheel) x 26 destinations.
Formats
| Platform | Format | Status |
|---|---|---|
| macOS | AU (Logic, GarageBand) | Available |
| macOS | VST3 (Ableton, Bitwig, Reaper) | Available |
| macOS | Standalone | Available |
| Windows | VST3 | Available |
macOS 11+ (Apple Silicon + Intel)
Installation
macOS AU: Unzip and move BK Harmonic.component to ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components/
macOS VST3: Unzip and move BK Harmonic.vst3 to ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/
Windows VST3: Unzip and move BK Harmonic.vst3 to C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
Restart your DAW. The plugin appears as “BK Harmonic” under the Synth/Instrument category.
The plugin is code-signed and notarized with Apple Developer ID. No Terminal commands or special permissions needed — just install and go.
Activation
Purchased a license:
- Open the plugin in your DAW
- Paste the license key from your email
- Done — works offline after activation
Beat Kitchen residents:
- Open the plugin in your DAW
- Enter your Discord username
- Check Discord for a verification code in #bk-harmonic-support
- Enter the code in the plugin — activated
Support
Got a question, found a bug, or need help installing? Head to the #plugin-support channel on Discord.
By purchasing or installing, you agree to the license agreement. "BKS Harmonic Synthesizer" is a working title and may change.
