The KVR Developer Challenge 2026 Is Go

[Touch The Universe]

Giving this a go the first round:

Bitsonic Melody Harmonizer
Clack-ue-ue-wah
Fogbank
Hydra
Identity
PitchNet
Retrospect
Reverie
Scintillate
Skyverb
TetraOP
Tokyo Speirs Chance
Voyage Voyage

[Touch The Universe]

Request: help signing/notarizing macOS installer for my KVRDC26 plugin

Hi everyone,

I entered Focus Time in the KVR Developer Challenge 2026. It’s currently available as a macOS plugin, but I do not have a paid Apple Developer account, so the Mac build is not signed/notarized the way I’d like it to be.

Would anyone with an Apple Developer account be willing to help me build/package/sign/notarize a proper macOS installer?

Ideally I’m looking for help with:

* building the plugin for macOS, preferably Apple Silicon and/or universal if possible
* packaging it as a `.pkg` installer
* installing to `/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3/`
* signing with Developer ID
* notarizing and stapling the installer so normal Mac users can install it more easily

I can provide the source/project files or the current built plugin, depending on what is best. I understand that if someone signs it with their developer account, their developer name would be attached to the build, so I’m only asking if someone is comfortable helping in that way.

This would really help Mac users test the plugin without the usual Gatekeeper hassle.

Thanks so much,
Tim / Touch The Universe Productions

[unplugred]

good job everybody, rly nice entries

[nr1killabee]

Move to Linux then you only have 18 to test

So true As a windows user you are spoiled this DC!

[stefano-orastron]

Lol, no — that’s a bug fix.

If the layout intended for the LFO to be functioning, then by all means, make it functioning. The LFO might not be working properly on Mac, Windows, or both, so there should definitely be some leeway there.

Honestly, I wouldn’t even be opposed to adding new features where it makes sense. Why not make this thing as good as it can be for everybody? Especially when we’re getting direct feedback from people testing it.

If someone points something out and I immediately think, “Yeah, you’re right — that new feature would be amazing,” then my instinct is: let’s add it. Why not exactly? What's there reasoning there exactly? Fill me in.

Also, are we free to make threads, post videos, promote or market it?

Yeah, I subscribe to that, I'd also like to know.

I was planning to maybe add AUv2 support, maybe improve the UI a bit, etc.

If that's not allowed, can we still release new versions but "be judged" on the submitted one?

They're live:

https://www.kvraudio.com/kvr-developer-challenge/2026/

https://www.kvraudio.com/plugins/kvr-de ... lenge-2026

News item, product announcements, etc. to follow.

So, each plugin will get a news item on the main page or...?

[Aloysius]

Some great ideas in there. Thanks to all for your hard work.

[Touch The Universe]

What do you guys think of doing something like a DC26 Song challenge where only the entries can be used in a track?

[Ivan_C]

I made a rough KVRDC26 “tester’s map” for anyone who wants to explore the entries by mood/category rather than just going straight down the page.

Not a ranking — just an organizing guide. Some plugins could fit several places, so I placed each one where it seemed most useful as a primary category.

Delay / Reverb / Space / Ambience — 8

Parrot
Voyage Voyage
NoiseManSpaceAlchemist
Rumble Room Filter Delay
Zones
Restrukt
Scintillate
SkyVerb

Synths / Instruments / Samplers — 15

Bombo
Ouranos7
TOMiC Drum Synth
Automatizer
Focus Time
Pathfinder
Double Freak
Reverie
Identity
The Hydra
Rimegun Creator Studio
Feedback Emulator
Orbinator
TetraOP
Greenland

Mixing / Dynamics / Level / Metering / Calibration — 9

asterism
Gravity Channel
PHAT VST
VxBx
CRAYON Gainer
DUEL LT
Meter Core
RFlatHeadphones
MonoChecker Free

Filter / Wah / EQ / Tone / Pitch Tools — 8

Gneiss
WayQ
Da N0b
Uè Uè
Toxic
Sucrose
PitchNet
Root Drop

Sequencer / MIDI / Composition Tools — 4

Melody Harmonizer
Plexum
The Trakanix Sequencer
Rhytime — Resketchpad

Creative Multi-FX / Modulation / Glitch / Reverse / Buffer Tools — 5

Retrospect
Fogbank
NanoMix
Chance
Backflipper

Developer Tools / Utilities / Soundware / Libraries — 6

Wavetable Viewer
Scene Deck
Composer’s Desktop Plug-in
Pure Diff Viewer
Canyon Soundings
Osiris Piano

Hopefully this helps people test in batches. For example: “Tonight I’m going through the reverbs,” or “I’m testing all the synths,” or “I’m checking the weird/glitch/multi-FX stuff.”

Voyage Voyage is an instrument too

[nr1killabee]

I made a rough KVRDC26 “tester’s map” for anyone who wants to explore the entries by mood/category rather than just going straight down the page.

Not a ranking — just an organizing guide. Some plugins could fit several places, so I placed each one where it seemed most useful as a primary category.

Delay / Reverb / Space / Ambience — 8

Parrot
Voyage Voyage
NoiseManSpaceAlchemist
Rumble Room Filter Delay
Zones
Restrukt
Scintillate
SkyVerb

Synths / Instruments / Samplers — 15

Bombo
Ouranos7
TOMiC Drum Synth
Automatizer
Focus Time
Pathfinder
Double Freak
Reverie
Identity
The Hydra
Rimegun Creator Studio
Feedback Emulator
Orbinator
TetraOP
Greenland

Mixing / Dynamics / Level / Metering / Calibration — 9

asterism
Gravity Channel
PHAT VST
VxBx
CRAYON Gainer
DUEL LT
Meter Core
RFlatHeadphones
MonoChecker Free

Filter / Wah / EQ / Tone / Pitch Tools — 8

Gneiss
WayQ
Da N0b
Uè Uè
Toxic
Sucrose
PitchNet
Root Drop

Sequencer / MIDI / Composition Tools — 4

Melody Harmonizer
Plexum
The Trakanix Sequencer
Rhytime — Resketchpad

Creative Multi-FX / Modulation / Glitch / Reverse / Buffer Tools — 5

Retrospect
Fogbank
NanoMix
Chance
Backflipper

Developer Tools / Utilities / Soundware / Libraries — 6

Wavetable Viewer
Scene Deck
Composer’s Desktop Plug-in
Pure Diff Viewer
Canyon Soundings
Osiris Piano

Hopefully this helps people test in batches. For example: “Tonight I’m going through the reverbs,” or “I’m testing all the synths,” or “I’m checking the weird/glitch/multi-FX stuff.”

Voyage Voyage is an instrument too

And a song

[Audioloom]

Hey, does anyone know if you are allowed to share the free plugin also outside of the KVR challenge site? For example on your own website or via direct download link in the email newsletter?

[Ivan_C]

Hey, does anyone know if you are allowed to share the free plugin also outside of the KVR challenge site? For example on your own website or via direct download link in the email newsletter?

Yes you can of course!

[Ivan_C]

So, I hope it is not too hard to install and try 56 plug-ins / entries at once

We had only 23 entries in 2023, 37 in 2021, 25 in 2018, 38 in 2016, 37 in 2014, 55 in 2012 (wow !), 41 in 2009, 41 in 2007, and 31 in 2006!

[aMUSEd]

Reverie is wonderful!

[stanlea]

is it just me or there is a graphic bug when scrolling the entries ?

[Aloysius]

Reverie is wonderful!

I just came here to say the same.