HeartSync Setup Guide

Introduction

HeartSync connects a Bluetooth heart rate monitor to your DAW and syncs the tempo to your heartbeat in real time. No coding, no Terminal, no complicated configuration. Just install, connect, and play.

What You Need

• A Mac (macOS 10.15+) or Windows PC (Windows 10/11)
• A Bluetooth heart rate monitor — Polar H10, H9, H7; Garmin HRM-Pro, HRM-Dual; Wahoo TICKR, TICKR X; Apple Watch (with HR broadcast enabled); or any chest strap / wrist sensor that broadcasts heart rate over Bluetooth
• A DAW — Ableton Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio, Reaper, Cubase, Bitwig, Studio One, or any DAW that supports VST3 (or AU on Mac) plugins

Step 1 — Install HeartSync

HeartSync installs through the Conscious Audio installer on both Mac and Windows. No Terminal commands, no build tools — just a standard installer.

1. Go to consciousaudio.com.au/heartsync and download the installer for your platform.
2. Run the installer and follow the prompts.
3. The plugin is placed in your system's plugin folder automatically (VST3 on all platforms, plus AU on Mac).

You'll know it worked when: You open your DAW, scan your plugins list, and see HeartSync listed alongside your other plugins.

Step 2 — Connect Your Heart Rate Monitor

This works the same in every DAW.

1. Put on your heart rate monitor and make sure it's turned on. Most chest straps activate when you put them on; wrist devices may need Bluetooth broadcasting turned on manually.
2. Open your DAW and load HeartSync on any track — find it in your plugin list like you would any other plugin.
3. Click SCAN in the HeartSync plugin window.
4. Wait a few seconds — your device name will appear in the dropdown.
5. Select your device and click CONNECT.

You'll know it worked when: You see your live heart rate number updating in the HeartSync display. The number should change as your heart rate changes — try standing up or taking a few deep breaths.

Step 3 — Enable Tempo Sync

Once you see your heart rate in the plugin, enabling tempo sync is one click:

1. Right-click the Smoothed HR dial (or the Original HR dial if you want raw values).
2. Select Tempo Sync from the menu.
3. That's it — your DAW's tempo is now following your heartbeat.

HeartSync automatically sends tempo over every available sync method (Link, OSC, external MIDI) so your DAW receives it however it's set up to listen.

You'll know it worked when: Your DAW's BPM display starts moving with your heart rate. The tempo changes will be smooth, not jumpy — the Smoothed HR dial filters out sudden spikes.

Fine-Tuning

• Smoothed HR vs. Original HR: Smoothed gives you gradual, musical tempo changes. Original is raw and reactive — jumps more, feels more alive.
• Offset: Shift the BPM up or down from your actual heart rate. If your resting HR is 65 but you want the track around 120 BPM, use offset.
• Smoothing Amount: Control how gradually tempo transitions happen. Higher smoothing = slower, gentler changes.

Step 4 — DAW-Specific Setup

HeartSync broadcasts tempo automatically, but your DAW needs to be told to listen. This is a one-time setup — once configured, it stays set for every future session.

Ableton Live

All three options are configured in the same place: Settings → Link, Tempo & MIDI (Live 12) or Preferences → Link Tempo MIDI (Live 11).

Option A — OSC (recommended, fastest)

1. Open Settings → Link, Tempo & MIDI.
2. Under Control Surface, select AbletonOSC from the dropdown.
3. You should see a message: "AbletonOSC: Listening for OSC on port 11000".
4. Done — HeartSync's tempo sync is now received automatically.

Option B — Ableton Link

1. Open Settings → Link, Tempo & MIDI.
2. Toggle Show Link Toggle to on.
3. Back in the main Ableton window, a Link button now appears in the top left of the Control Bar. Click it to enable Link.

Option C — External MIDI

1. Open Settings → Link, Tempo & MIDI.
2. Scroll down to MIDI Ports. Find HeartSync Clock in the Input row.
3. Enable the Sync checkbox for HeartSync Clock.

Logic Pro

Logic Pro uses Ableton Link for tempo sync.

1. Go to Logic Pro → Settings (Logic Pro 11+) or Logic Pro → Preferences (Logic Pro X / 10).
2. Click the MIDI tab at the top.
3. Click the Sync sub-tab.
4. Find the Ableton Link section and enable it.

It's a bit of a menu dive, but once Link is on, HeartSync's tempo sync reaches Logic automatically — no further configuration needed.

FL Studio

1. Go to Options → MIDI Settings (or press F10).
2. In the Input section, find HeartSync Clock in the device list.
3. Click on it to select it, then click the Enable button below the list.
4. FL Studio will now receive tempo from HeartSync over external MIDI.

Reaper

Reaper supports OSC natively:

1. Go to Options → Preferences.
2. In the left sidebar, click Control/OSC/Web.
3. Click Add to add a new OSC control surface.
4. Set the receive port to 11000 (HeartSync's default OSC port) and click OK.
5. Reaper will now follow HeartSync's tempo.

Alternatively, for external MIDI: go to Options → Preferences → MIDI Devices, enable HeartSync Clock, then set it as a sync source under Options → Preferences → Synchronization.

Bitwig Studio

1. Go to Settings (gear icon in the bottom-left panel).
2. Click the Synchronization tab.
3. Enable Link to sync tempo via Ableton Link, or:
4. Under MIDI Clock, set HeartSync Clock as a clock source.

Cubase / Nuendo

1. Go to Transport → Synchronization Setup (opens the Synchronization Setup dialog).
2. Under MIDI Clock, set the source to HeartSync Clock.
3. Check the box to enable MIDI Clock input.
4. Close the dialog — Cubase will now follow HeartSync's tempo.

Studio One

This is a one-time setup with two steps:

1. Go to Studio One → Options (Windows) or Studio One → Preferences (Mac).
2. Click External Devices and click Add to add a new device.
3. Set Receive From to HeartSync Clock.
4. Then go to Song → Song Setup → Synchronization and set the sync mode to receive MIDI Clock.

Any Other DAW

If your DAW supports VST3 plugins, HeartSync will work. For tempo sync:

• Look for MIDI Clock or External Sync settings in your DAW's preferences. Enable HeartSync Clock as an input.
• If your DAW supports OSC, configure it to receive on port 11000 (HeartSync's default).
• If your DAW supports Ableton Link, enable Link — HeartSync broadcasts over Link automatically.

Troubleshooting

Nothing shows up when I scan for devices

• Is Bluetooth on? Check your system settings — Mac: System Settings → Bluetooth. Windows: Settings → Bluetooth & Devices.
• Is your heart rate monitor on? Chest straps need to be worn to activate. Wrist devices may need Bluetooth turned on in the device's own settings.
• Are you close enough? Keep within about 10 feet / 3 meters of your computer.
• Mac: Did you grant permission? If you accidentally denied the Bluetooth prompt, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Bluetooth and make sure your DAW is allowed.
• Windows: Is the Bluetooth service running? Open Services (search "Services" in Start menu), find "Bluetooth Support Service," and make sure it's running. Restart it if needed.

I see my heart rate but the tempo isn't changing

• Did you enable Tempo Sync? Right-click the Smoothed HR or Original HR dial in HeartSync and make sure Tempo Sync is checked.
• Is your DAW set up to receive? Check the DAW-specific section above — most DAWs need one setting toggled to accept external tempo.
• Try restarting your DAW after making sync setting changes. Some DAWs don't pick up new MIDI or OSC inputs until restarted.

My heart rate shows but the numbers seem wrong

• Make sure the sensor has good contact. Chest straps need moisture on the electrode pads to get an accurate reading. Wrist monitors need a snug fit.
• Give it 10–15 seconds. Most sensors need a moment to stabilize after being put on.

The plugin doesn't appear in my DAW

• Restart your DAW. Most DAWs only scan for new plugins on launch.
• Rescan plugins manually. Most DAWs have a "Rescan" or "Refresh" button in their plugin manager (usually in Preferences).
• Check the right category. HeartSync may appear under VST3 effects or instruments depending on your DAW — look in both.

Bluetooth keeps disconnecting

• Get closer to your computer — Bluetooth range is limited.
• Check your battery. Low battery causes unreliable connections.
• Reduce interference. Wi-Fi routers, USB 3.0 hubs, and microwave ovens can all disrupt Bluetooth. Move the monitor or your computer if possible.
• Wait a moment. HeartSync auto-reconnects when a device drops. It will retry within a few seconds — you don't need to scan again.

Windows: Device pairs in system settings but not in HeartSync

• Some Bluetooth adapters have flaky drivers. Try updating your Bluetooth driver through Device Manager.
• If using a USB Bluetooth dongle, try a different USB port (avoid USB 3.0 hubs).
• Restart the Bluetooth Support Service (search "Services" in Start menu).

The tempo is too jumpy / changing too fast

• Use the Smoothed HR dial instead of Original HR for tempo sync — it filters out spikes.
• Increase the Smoothing Amount for gentler transitions.
• Use Offset to center the BPM range where you want it.

Quick Reference

HeartSync sends tempo over all available methods at once — use whichever your DAW supports.