HypeRate OSC HR Bridge for VRChat — Real-Time Heart Rate to Avatar

HypeRate OSC HR Bridge is a free, browser-based tool that connects the HypeRate heart rate monitoring service to VRChat and other VR platforms via the Open Sound Control (OSC) protocol. Stream your real biometric data into your virtual avatar parameters in real time, with end-to-end latency under 200ms.

What it does

The bridge reads live BPM data from the HypeRate WebSocket API (wss://app.hyperate.io) and forwards it as standard OSC UDP packets to your local VRChat client. Your avatar can react to your actual heart rate — showing your BPM in avatar floats, triggering animations on each heartbeat, or changing avatar states based on your heart rate zone.

Two avatar parameters are written by default: /avatar/parameters/HR (integer, your current BPM) and /avatar/parameters/isHRBeat (boolean, pulses true with each detected heartbeat). Both OSC address paths are fully configurable in the control panel.

How it works

1. Open the control panel at osc.hyperate.io in your browser.
2. Enter your HypeRate Session ID — the unique identifier shown in the HypeRate mobile app.
3. Download and run the lightweight local Python bridge script (requires Python 3.8+, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux). The script relays OSC messages from the browser over a local WebSocket on port 8765.
4. Enable OSC in VRChat via the radial action menu under Options → OSC. VRChat listens on UDP port 9000 by default.

Once connected, heart rate data flows from your wearable device through HypeRate to your avatar with fewer than 200ms of delay. The control panel displays a live sparkline chart with up to 120 samples of BPM history, plus current heart rate zone (Resting / Normal / Elevated / High) and session statistics including minimum, maximum, and average BPM.

Supported devices

Any heart rate device compatible with HypeRate works with this bridge. This includes Apple Watch, Garmin GPS watches, Polar chest straps, Wahoo TICKR sensors, Fitbit devices, and hundreds of other Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) heart rate monitors. The HypeRate mobile app for iOS and Android handles the device pairing and data relay.

Key features and technical specifications

• Real-time heart rate streaming with under 200ms end-to-end latency
• Browser-based control panel — no software installation needed on the web side
• Downloadable Python bridge script for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Configurable OSC target IP, UDP port, and all avatar parameter paths
• Live BPM sparkline chart with 120-sample rolling history
• Heart rate zone detection with four zones: Resting, Normal, Elevated, High
• Automatic WebSocket reconnection with exponential backoff (up to 8 attempts)
• Works with VRChat, Resonite, ChilloutVR, and any OSC-capable application
• Completely free to use — no account required beyond your HypeRate session

About HypeRate

HypeRate is a heart rate streaming platform designed for content creators, streamers, and VR users. It connects wearable heart rate monitors to live overlays, VR avatars, and third-party integrations. The HypeRate OSC HR Bridge is an official integration tool that uses the public HypeRate WebSocket API.

Learn more at hyperate.io. Follow HypeRate on X (Twitter) and LinkedIn. The WebSocket API reference is available on GitHub.

Frequently asked questions

Is HypeRate OSC HR Bridge free?

Yes, the bridge is completely free. You need a HypeRate account and the HypeRate app to generate a Session ID, which is also free for basic use.

Does it work on Mac and Linux?

Yes. The browser control panel works on any operating system with a modern browser. The local Python bridge script runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

What OSC port does VRChat use?

VRChat listens for incoming OSC messages on UDP port 9000 by default. The bridge target port is configurable in the control panel.

Can I use custom OSC parameter paths?

Yes. Both the HR integer parameter path and the heartbeat boolean parameter path can be changed to any valid OSC address string in the configuration panel.