Freedom251 › Pitch Correction Software
Performative Ear
What Performative Ear is
Performative Ear is part of a paid pitch-correction plug-in designed for low-latency singing on Windows and macOS. Performative Ear listens to a song and sends its detected key to the correction plug-in automatically. Correction modes are Live at 1.3 ms, Crisp at 18 ms, Voice at 25 ms, and Full at 40 ms. Users can choose chromatic, major, or minor scales and toggle individual notes to create a custom scale. The formats are VST3 and CLAP on Windows x64 and macOS Universal, plus Audio Unit on macOS. Tested hosts listed by the maker include Ableton Live 11 and 12, Cubase, FL Studio, Fender Studio Pro, Bitwig Studio, REAPER, Audacity, and GarageBand; other VST3 and CLAP hosts should work. The price is $199, paid once, with no free plan and a free Windows demo. One license can be active on three machines. Internet is required for activation and periodic renewal, though the maker says it can run at least 10 days without connecting. A purchase includes version 1 updates and a 14-day refund.
Who it suits
Performative Ear suits singers and producers seeking low-latency pitch correction with key detection and custom scale controls. It fits users of supported Windows or macOS plug-in hosts who can accept a paid license and periodic online renewal.
What it does well
- Four selectable correction latency modes
- Automatic song-key detection
- Custom scale note toggling
- VST3, CLAP, and Audio Unit formats
- License active on three machines
What to know first
- No free plan
- Free Windows demo has dry playback
- Internet needed for activation and renewal
- Price is $199, paid once
Limits
The free Windows demo may have occasional dry playback, locks presets and per-note editing, and does not include licensed Performative Ear. A license is active on up to three machines at a time; internet is required for activation and periodic renewal.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Performative | Version 1; three active machines; VST3, CLAP and Audio Unit; Windows and macOS | $199, paid once |
As performativelabs.com lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://performativelabs.com/.
- Choose the Performative plan at $199, paid once, or use the free Windows demo with its limits.
- Install the plug-in in a supported VST3, CLAP or Audio Unit host.
- Activate the license using an internet connection.
- Select a correction mode and scale, then configure notes as needed.
Verdict
Performative Ear pairs automatic key detection with several latency modes and editable scales across common plug-in formats. The paid license includes version 1 updates and a 14-day refund, while the demo and renewal requirements limit casual use.
Questions
How much does Performative Ear cost?
The Performative plan costs $199, paid once. It includes all version 1 updates and a 14-day refund.
Is there a free version?
There is no free plan, but a free Windows demo is available with occasional dry playback, locked presets and per-note editing, and no licensed Performative Ear.
Which operating systems and formats does it support?
It supports Windows and macOS. Formats are VST3 and CLAP on Windows x64 and macOS Universal, plus Audio Unit on macOS.
Which audio hosts are supported?
Tested hosts include Ableton Live 11 and 12, Cubase, FL Studio, Fender Studio Pro, Bitwig Studio, REAPER, Audacity and GarageBand. The maker says other VST3 and CLAP hosts should work; Logic uses Audio Unit.
Does the plug-in need an internet connection?
Internet is required for activation and periodic license renewal. The maker says it can go at least 10 days without connecting.
Facts from Performative Ear's own pages
- Audio handling
- Performative Ear passes audio through unchanged and states that it uses no files or network. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Benchmark results
- The maker reports exact key detection on 71.2% of 476 GiantSteps+ tracks and 58.5% of 837 GTZAN tracks. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Compatibility
- The maker says other VST3 and CLAP hosts should work, and says Logic uses the Audio Unit also used by GarageBand. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Connectivity
- Internet is required for activation and periodic license renewal, but the maker says the plug-in can go at least 10 days without connecting. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Correction modes
- The plug-in offers Live at 1.3 ms, Crisp at 18 ms, Voice at 25 ms, and Full at 40 ms. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Demo limits
- The free Windows demo can have occasional dry playback, locks presets and per-note editing, and does not include licensed Performative Ear. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Editing
- Users can choose chromatic, major, or minor scales and toggle notes to build a custom scale. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Formats
- It supports VST3 and CLAP on Windows x64 and macOS Universal, plus Audio Unit on macOS. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists tested support for Ableton Live 11 and 12, Cubase, FL Studio, Fender Studio Pro, Bitwig Studio, REAPER, Audacity, and GarageBand. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- License limit
- One license can be active on three machines at a time, and a machine can be deactivated to free its slot. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- License privacy
- The maker says the plug-in never asks a server whether it is licensed, update checks can be disabled, and network requests do not touch the audio thread. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Performative Ear
- Performative Ear listens to the song and sends its detected key to the pitch correction plug-in automatically. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Performative is a pitch correction plug-in designed for low-latency singing. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker says Jarod Castillo answers support email and links to a Discord community. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Updates and refunds
- The purchase includes all version 1 updates and a 14-day refund, described as no questions asked. · performativelabs.com, 8 Oct 2026
Where Performative Ear stands on Freedom251
- Pitch Correction Software#11 of 25