Motion: Harmonic by Excite Audio distortion plugin interface with Hexagon controller

Motion: Harmonic: Reactive Distortion, Bitcrusher and Filter Plugin Free Download

Rated 4.7/5 on Plugin Boutique (511 ratings)

Motion: Harmonic is a distortion, bitcrusher and filter effect plugin by Excite Audio. Its Hexagon controller uses six macro sliders and a magnetic cursor to modulate effect parameters in real time.

VST3VST2AUAAXStandaloneWindowsmacOS64-bit
AVAILABLE ATPlugin Boutique
Free trial available from the developer
01Overview

Motion: Harmonic combines distortion, bitcrushing and high-pass and low-pass filtering in one effects plugin. A Peak Filter adds peaks and notches for phaser-style and spectral sounds. Parameters are controlled through the Hexagon, a set of six macro sliders pushed by a magnetic field around the mouse cursor. Cursor movements can be played live, recorded or drawn as paths and timed against the DAW or a free timeline. The plugin is available in VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and Standalone formats on Windows and macOS.

Best for

  • Animated bass processing
  • Drum hit distortion
  • Evolving loop textures
  • Rhythmic filter sweeps
  • Synth and guitar movement
  • Lo-fi bitcrush effects
Developer
Excite Audio
Category
Distortion
Store
Plugin Boutique
02Key features

What you get

  • Bitcrush, Distortion, Peak Filter and LP/HP Filter sections on one FX page
  • Hexagon controller with six macro sliders and per-slider min/max mapping
  • Magnetic cursor with Attract and Repel modes and adjustable strength
  • Record, draw and edit cursor paths with a timeline and DAW sync
  • Distortion with Character dial for tape, tube and fuzz tones
  • Input/output gain, safety limiter toggle and global bypass
  • 250 presets, including 134 dual presets and 85 FX and mapping presets
  • Reactive 3D visualiser and step-by-step interactive tutorial
03In depth

Distortion, Bitcrushing and Filtering in One Effect

The FX page holds four effect sections: Bitcrush, Distortion, Peak Filter and LP/HP Filter. The Bitcrush section offers bit depth and sample rate reduction, dynamic control that focuses the effect on transients, and Hi-Lo frequency range sliders to isolate the effect to specific bands. The Distortion section includes Drive and Character controls for moving between tape, tube and fuzz sounds, plus a feedback loop with adjustable frequency.

The filters can be placed before or after the bitcrushing and distortion modules. The Peak Filter provides peak number, gain, spread and frequency controls, along with an Adaptive Q toggle. Each section has a dry/wet mix, and the visualisers show the wet signal alongside the dry signal.

Hexagon Modulation and Path Timing

The Hexagon controller has six macro sliders. Each slider can have parameters mapped to it, with per-slider min and max values and an audio reactive envelope. The magnetic cursor works in Attract or Repel modes, with adjustable magnet range and strength.

The Cursor, Path and Timeline page lets you record mouse movement, or draw lines and circles point by point. Paths can be played forward, in reverse or in pendulum mode, looped, and synced to the DAW or run on a free timeline with time, multiplier and offset controls.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

DeveloperExcite Audio
TypePlugin
CategoryDistortion
FormatsVST3, VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone
Operating systemsWindows, macOS
Architecture64-bit
Free trialYes
05Upgrades

Upgrade and crossgrade options

06FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Motion: Harmonic support?

Motion: Harmonic is available in VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and Standalone formats. It runs on Windows and macOS and is 64-bit only.

Which DAWs are supported?

The developer lists Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Cubase, Nuendo, Reaper and Reason among supported DAWs, plus more. Check the system requirements for the full list on your platform.

What are the macOS and Windows requirements?

On macOS, version 10.15 or higher is required, with Intel and native Apple Silicon supported. On Windows, Windows 7 or higher is required. Both platforms need a 64-bit host.

Does Motion: Harmonic have a trial?

Yes, a trial version is available.

Does it need an internet connection?

When accessed through a Rent to Own plan or the Beatport Studio membership, it runs through the Beatport Access portal and requires an internet connection every 30 days to validate the license.

08Developer

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