MidiHumanizer: Turn Robotic MIDI into Real Performances (Real-Time VST)

[arsenaultk9]

Edit: April 13th, 2026
Good news for Mac users!

The plugin now features an easier installation process and full Audio Unit (AU) support.
It runs natively on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and works in Logic Pro, Ableton Live, and other macOS DAWs.

Let me know in the comments if you encounter any problems!
Edit End

Edit: April 1st, 2026
The plugin is now available for Linux!

For the macOS version, I'm currently waiting for a Mac Mini to arrive so I can properly test it on Apple Silicon (MX architectures) and also validate the AU plugin format. I'll keep you updated as soon as it's ready.

Regarding Pro Tools support: there are no immediate plans to add it. If Pro Tools compatibility is important to you, please let me know in the comments!
Edit End

Hi all,

Just released MidiHumanizer, a VST3 plugin that instantly turns stiff, robotic MIDI into expressive, human-like performances—right inside your DAW.

No more tedious manual timing/velocity tweaks. It applies intelligent, context-aware variations (timing nudges, dynamic velocity, micro-rhythms) based on real musician behavior, making your MIDI feel alive and natural.

Key points:
- Works directly in your DAW as a simple insert on any MIDI track – real-time processing as you play/record
- Versatile for ANY MIDI performance: works on drums, bass, pad, and orchestral instruments!
- Zero setup: smart defaults deliver pro results immediately; tweak intensity, timing, randomness if you want
- Low CPU, compatible with major DAWs (Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Cubase, REAPER, Studio One, Bitwig, etc.)
- Windows & macOS support

Check it out here: https://kafkastudios.com/midi-humanizer.html
30-day full-feature trial available

Would love to hear your thoughts or see what you do with it. Demos/screenshots welcome!
Cheers,
Kevin / Kafka Studios

[cake builder]

I'll have to give this a try. I'm curious how it will compare to Bitwig's native humanize device.

[arsenaultk9]

I'll have to give this a try. I'm curious how it will compare to Bitwig's native humanize device.

You will see it's quite different. It doesn't just randomize stuff, but really tries to mimic how a drummer would play instead.

[tatanka]

EDIT: one time it worked, then again now several attempts and it did NOT work, no idea whats different.

Setup: midi clip on a track, midihumanizer behind it, hit play in the daw, then when clip is finished and drag and drop is blue I drag it to the track, 9/10 with same velocity, in 1/10 velocity is humanized

I am not sure if I miss something, but I play a midi file into the plugin, drag and drop the result and the velocity still is on one level, nothing changed

Do I have to record the played and humanized midi directly from/in my daw, does it not work automatically INSIDE the plugin (that would be very unpleasant) ? Or does it maybe dont work with the demo ?

[Uncle E]

Do you plan to add an AU version?

[audiojunkie]

And while we are at it, how about Linux?

[arsenaultk9]

Do you plan to add an AU version?

I wasn't aware of such a format, so I will add this to my to-do list to investigate.
I'll let you know if ever such a version comes out.

[arsenaultk9]

And while we are at it, how about Linux?

That could be possible in the future; I wasn't sure how many people use Linux for audio production.

[audiojunkie]

And while we are at it, how about Linux?

That could be possible in the future; I wasn't sure how many people use Linux for audio production.

There are a lot of us!

[arsenaultk9]

EDIT: one time it worked, then again now several attempts and it did NOT work, no idea whats different.

Setup: midi clip on a track, midihumanizer behind it, hit play in the daw, then when clip is finished and drag and drop is blue I drag it to the track, 9/10 with same velocity, in 1/10 velocity is humanized

I am not sure if I miss something, but I play a midi file into the plugin, drag and drop the result and the velocity still is on one level, nothing changed

Do I have to record the played and humanized midi directly from/in my daw, does it not work automatically INSIDE the plugin (that would be very unpleasant) ? Or does it maybe dont work with the demo ?

Hey tatanka, I have a Discord channel if you ever need direct assistance here: https://discord.gg/ruPXc9aaDu

Otherwise, from what I can understand of your post, here is some info that might help you:

1. You have to play the MIDI segment in your DAW for the MIDI humanizer to take effect. It does not work directly with MIDI files or MIDI tracks in your DAW. So it can be cumbersome, but until the ARA specification works with MIDI, there's no equivalent to Melodyne track awareness for MIDI
2. For 1/10 of the midi only being humanized, it can be a combination of factors.
a) Are your beats only on the quarter and half notes? Then that's normal. This isn't a randomizer, but it takes into consideration beat position for humanization to take effect
b) Is the MidiHumanizer before the VST Instrument? This is important!
c) Is the whole track you're trying to humanize being played in the DAW before you drag it?

If I misunderstood you, don't hesitate to reply or come talk to me on discord where we will be able to trade screenshots, and I can help you in semi-real time.

[arsenaultk9]

And while we are at it, how about Linux?

That could be possible in the future; I wasn't sure how many people use Linux for audio production.

There are a lot of us!

Noted , will be putting this up higher on my to-do list.

[tatanka]

EDIT: one time it worked, then again now several attempts and it did NOT work, no idea whats different.

Setup: midi clip on a track, midihumanizer behind it, hit play in the daw, then when clip is finished and drag and drop is blue I drag it to the track, 9/10 with same velocity, in 1/10 velocity is humanized

I am not sure if I miss something, but I play a midi file into the plugin, drag and drop the result and the velocity still is on one level, nothing changed

Do I have to record the played and humanized midi directly from/in my daw, does it not work automatically INSIDE the plugin (that would be very unpleasant) ? Or does it maybe dont work with the demo ?

Hey tatanka, I have a Discord channel if you ever need direct assistance here: https://discord.gg/ruPXc9aaDu

Otherwise, from what I can understand of your post, here is some info that might help you:

1. You have to play the MIDI segment in your DAW for the MIDI humanizer to take effect. It does not work directly with MIDI files or MIDI tracks in your DAW. So it can be cumbersome, but until the ARA specification works with MIDI, there's no equivalent to Melodyne track awareness for MIDI
2. For 1/10 of the midi only being humanized, it can be a combination of factors.
a) Are your beats only on the quarter and half notes? Then that's normal. This isn't a randomizer, but it takes into consideration beat position for humanization to take effect
b) Is the MidiHumanizer before the VST Instrument? This is important!
c) Is the whole track you're trying to humanize being played in the DAW before you drag it?

If I misunderstood you, don't hesitate to reply or come talk to me on discord where we will be able to trade screenshots, and I can help you in semi-real time.

Hi, sorry, no discord here and it seems you have no mail contact as far as I could see.

I have played round with it a little more using mainly midi clips (does not seem to work with it), melodya midi generation tool (works best so far) and your melody AI tool (does not work cause you cant make it start playing from the daw, dragged midi clip does not work as any midi clip, cant drag it into the midi humanizer).

What would of course be great if combination of your two tools would work together in a way (start the playing of the melody AI from the daw or get it into Midi humanizer in some way) or, of course the general best solution if it could work on any simple midi clip played in/from the daw.

To be honest: as all sequencers/generative tools (like hamony bloom, stepic, chord progression generators......) I use have at least randomisation of velocity it would really only make sense for me if it could work on any midi clip produced in whatever way and played into midi humanizer directly from clip in daw.

Or, as I said: would be smart if your two tools could work together

[Uncle E]

You can use Element to chain them.

[muki]

Do you plan to add an AU version?

I wasn't aware of such a format, so I will add this to my to-do list to investigate.
I'll let you know if ever such a version comes out.

uhm, sorry for my ignorance
but the FAQ says:

MidiHumanizer works with all major DAWs including REAPER, Cubase, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Studio One, Reason, Bitwig Studio, Cakewalk, and many others. It's compatible with any DAW that supports VST plugins on Windows or AU/VST plugins on macOS.

so my understanding would be, that it supports AU
and runs in logic which is AU only....

[arsenaultk9]

Do you plan to add an AU version?

I wasn't aware of such a format, so I will add this to my to-do list to investigate.
I'll let you know if ever such a version comes out.

uhm, sorry for my ignorance
but the FAQ says:

MidiHumanizer works with all major DAWs including REAPER, Cubase, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Studio One, Reason, Bitwig Studio, Cakewalk, and many others. It's compatible with any DAW that supports VST plugins on Windows or AU/VST plugins on macOS.

so my understanding would be, that it supports AU
and runs in logic which is AU only....

This is what happens when you ask ChatGPT what DAWs support VSTs out of the box. Works for 80% of the stuff, and then there are those gross mistakes. Sorry about that.