KIA released move.ment, a freeware virtual instrument in VST plugin format for Windows and macOS.
move.ment was developed in collaboration with DaHouse Audio and Arthur Joly, a well-known synthesizer builder from Brazil. You can check out some of Arthur’s fantastic synth projects here.
But let’s rewind a little bit. KIA released a virtual instrument? The car manufacturer? What?
Yes, as surprising as this may seem, KIA developed a software synthesizer and used it to create the in-car sounds for the new Kia EV6 electric vehicle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpbDEnVbckA
The company also collaborated with four artists to create a music album that “increases activity in the parts of the brain connected to creativity.” I’m sure James Blunt wasn’t involved in the project if that’s the case.
Back to the instrument, move.ment is a simple monophonic sample-based virtual synthesizer. It features a single VCO, a resonant low-pass filter, two ADSR envelopes, and a built-in reverb effect.
move. ment’s standout feature is the Sampler section which offers eight nature recordings (Wind, Birds, Beach, Geiser, Forest, Water, Thunder, Night) that you can mix with the VCO signal.
This concept works surprisingly well. The simple electronic sounds generated by the VCO sound a lot more organic in combination with the included nature sounds and the built-in reverb.
The instrument comes with close to 100 presets and lets you save your own creations for later use.
“The sounds of movement in nature produce what’s known as pink noise. This increases the alpha waves in the brain, inducing the flow state of consciousness, the state in which the brain is at its most creative. These natural sounds were recorded all over the world and used to develop the one-of-a-kind instrument, that we call move.ment.”
Is move.ment worth downloading?
While it doesn’t bring anything new to the table, I’d say move.ment is worth checking out. I mean, you don’t get a virtual instrument from a car manufacturer every day. And honestly, I’m surprised Tesla hadn’t come up with this first. Kudos to KIA for putting an actual effort into this and not just making some totally unusable piece of software.
move.ment won’t blow you away by any means, but it can generate some interesting layered sounds and maybe provide just enough inspiration to start a new track. However, I wish it was available in VST plugin format, which would make it compatible with most modern DAWs.
UPDATE #1: Actually, move.ment is available as a VST2 plugin. The installer will place a DLL file in the default VST2 plugin folder on your hard drive. This isn’t mentioned on KIA’s website so I had no idea at first until I launched Studio One and noticed a new plugin called move.ment. The big question now is if other plugin formats are also available. Please post a comment if you find a VST3 or AU version of the plugin in your DAW.
UPDATE #2: Ok, the installer extracts VST2 and AU plugin files along with the standalone version. Thanks to our reader Bob for the info.
So, now that KIA developed a virtual instrument, who do you think will be the first plugin developer to manufacture a car? I’d buy a car from Arturia, as long as it offers four-wheel drive and Eurorack compatibility.
Download: KIA move.ment (89.9 MB download size, EXE installer, 64-bit VST2/AU plugin format for Windows & macOS)
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48 Comments
Tomislav Zlatic
onThanks to BPB reader Silvio Justo Dos Santos for recommending move.ment in our Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/843732779506742/
Silvio Justo
onYou’re welcome.. But really I’m gratiful for this blog and your hardwork, you’re helping a lot of people. Cheers!!
Davis Hill
onWell I’m not gonna download it (I already have too many similar things lol) but I kinda wanna buy a Kia now…
Seriously though, that is a brilliant way to market. Create products for different niches, such as a synth for musicians, a gaming computer for gamers, etc.
Jed
onI had a feeling that TESLA will be the 1st one to release a virtual instrument ….
I will be waiting for the VST version of that ))
Tomislav Zlatic
on+1
Patrick W.
onThe developer doesn’t likes windows 7.
Ken Vi
onDevelopers who are creating new software generally don’t target their products at 10+ year old, unsupported OSes.
Lawrence Hodge
onIt´s the same for Apple OSX Mojave and Catalina, and neither are 10 years old. As far as developers targeting products: You have a point, however not everyone desires to purchase a new Computer yearly or likewise, views OSX updates every 6 months as advantageous….especially to accommodate a free synth that´s not a game changer.
Johannes Mazur
onHa! I knew there is a connection between me and my KIA Soul! Now they have to deliver a binaural car hifi tool to monitor my mixes through, so I don’t have to get into my car to check them there. Seriously! That would be a damn cool idea!! Everyone’s checking mixes in their car. Why not recreating THAT instead of high end studios which noone of us ever sat in?
Tomislav Zlatic
onI think DeLorean needs to develop a time-stretching plugin.
Peter
on:o)
Who knows…
https://www.reviewgeek.com/110097/the-dmc-delorean-is-coming-back-as-an-electric-vehicle/
mx
on:) brilliant!
Fotis
onThat James Blunt joke hahahahahah! You’re the best, Tomislav.
Tomislav Zlatic
onMy life is brilliant, my love is pure! :D
David Paskey
onWhy the Blunt hate? He ain’t never done nothing but tell everyone they’re beautiful, it’s true.
Tomislav Zlatic
onBut it’s time to face the truth, James Blunt will never be with you.
Greg
onYou guys crack me up 😂🤣
MRG
onBlunts are made to be cut, lit and go to smoke. With a single malt scotch, preferably.
Mat
onI think I’ll give it a try. What I find odd is that the plugin is in VST2 format, since steinberg doesn’t distribute this license since 2018, and it is about to be obsolete. Maybe a Kia-Steinberg partnership ? 🤣
Audley
onThis is uber odd but I like it :D
Tomislav Zlatic
onI feel exactly the same about it. :)
Augusto
onthinking about a better GUI, like, its KIA isnt? HAHAHA
Bob
onThe mac installer has VST2 and AU as well as a standalone. 64-bit Intel only, no Apple Silicon support.
Tomislav Zlatic
onThanks for the info, adding this to the article.
Lawrence Hodge
oninteresting since the .pkg will not open on Mojave or Catalina.
Drew Lake
onJust a heads up!
When I just installed move.ment it also installed a VST2 version too.
MRG
onVroom…
Kirill R.
onSpitfire should make a car, with basic option for 29€ but you can get it for free if you wait two weeks and fill up a survey =)
CaptainDuct
onKIA Upper Management: “Are you sure about this?”
KIA Dev Team: “There’s no WAY the hamsters will be able to resist! They’ll be eating out of our cup holders in no time!”
KIA Upper Management: “Make it so.”
Roberto Alves
onAvira and Windows 10 has blocked the access to the downloaded file detecting it as a virus.
MRG
onIntroducing, the Kia Corona.
Bob
onAnother dumb and dangerous distraction for the driver. Either ban touchscreens in cars or have them become disabled once the car is put into gear.
Raven
onSorry man. I take it you were in an accident, or have lost someone in an accident?
Bob
onTouchscreens are a dangerous distraction for drivers. They should be locked out once the car is put into gear.
Lawrence Hodge
onNon starter on OSX 10.14 or 10.15….I notified KIA , but I won´t hold my breath.
Mike
onWhen I tried to install the instrument, Windows Defender alarmed me of this program.
The website virustotal.com also has one Trojan warning…well I guess I won’t install this one, good job KIA!
Bob
onYou honestly think Kia would deliberately infect people’s computers? Really?
Gee Why
onI hope the synth makes a nicer noise than my Kia Niro does when reversing. Horrible, anti-social and ineffective ‘bonging’ noises that come from the FRONT of the car and can be heard 100 feet away.
Actually, judging by the number of different annoying sounds the Niro has, perhaps Kia should give up on cars and go entirely into synth production.
CaptainDuct
onKIA Upper Management: “Are you sure about this?”
KIA Dev Team: “There’s no WAY the hamsters will be able to resist! They’ll be eating out of our cup holders in no time!”
KIA Upper Management: “Make it so.”
Russell Karlberg
onUm, Tesla has a music creation app right in the car! You can also create a custom light show synced to music…
AndyMc
onIt flags up as a Virus atm, maybe they’ve been hacked but I wouldn’t trust the exe until they have sorted it.
Josh
onI don’t have the permissions to remove the AU or VST from my computer. Well, that’s suspicious.
Alexander
onHow to download? Link does not work!
ABAL1412
onthe download link doesn’t work any more…
Martin Victor
onThere is no download link for this plugin on the KIA website. ( https://worldwide.kia.com/int/our-inspiration#download )
Can you post the correct URL, please?
Tomislav Zlatic
onHi Martin, that was the correct link, but it looks like they made some changes on their website. I’ll try to find a better link (if one exists) and update the article.
chucker2131
onIf you do find a different upload, please update this. i downloaded the version someone posted on reddit but its only the windows dl not the mac version. very sadge
Mechanical KO
onIt’s downloadable from their website again. They seem to have removed the move.ment name, so I guess they ran into some problems with the naming.