Just over a week before NAMM 2016 started we announced that there were four more plug-ins coming from Plugin Alliance. Well now they are available and we can bring you more information on Brainworx bx_digital v3, SPL Transient Designer Plus, Brainworx bx_cleansweep PRO and the Dangerous Music Dangerous BAX EQ.
Brainworx bx_digital v3
Brainworx's flagship product, bx_digital, was apparently the first commercially available Mid/Side equaliser plug-in, with its 11-band feature set includes parametric bell, high- and low-shelving, and high- and low-pass filters for each channel; mono, dual-mono (L/R), stereo and mid-side modes of operation; a mid-side decoder It was then upgraded to v2 to much acclaim.
With the release of bx_digital V3, lets see how Brainworx have improved this EQ plug-in. The update extends the High Frequency band's upper range to 40 kHz to sweeten and add ‘air’ to high-resolution audio tracks, mixes and masters. Then they have added a Dynamic EQ module, API-style Proportional Q filters and six notch filters. The Bass and Presence Shifters have been made more versatile, each now offering a selection of three different tilt filters. V3's high pass and low pass filters now provide alternate slopes and the new, global Gain Scale control makes proportional gain changes to all parametric, shelving, and Bass and Presence Shift filters at once.
V3 also updates the simple De-Esser that was included in bx_digital V2 to a much more versatile Dynamic EQ that can compress or upwardly expand any frequency band from 20 to 22 kHz.
Brainworx bx_digital v3 Features
- Three operational modes: L/R (dual-mono), M/S Master (Mid/Side) and unique M/S Recording (processes Mid/Side signals in real-time and outputs L/R stereo)
- Mono, dual-mono, stereo and Mid/Side configurations, multi-mono (Surround)
- Two component plugins simplify and speed workflow for mixing and mastering
- Eleven broadly overlapping bands per channel
- LF, LMF, MF, HMF and HF bands are fully parametric (offering separate Gain, Q and Frequency controls in each band) and can be switched globally for Proportional Q response
- LMF, MF and HMF bands each provide notch filtering at their lowest gain setting, while offering adjustable Q per band
- LF and HF bands provide respective low- and high-shelving EQ at their lowest Q setting
- Separate, continuously variable low-pass and high-pass filter for each channel, each offering 6dB or 12dB/octave slope or bypassed state
- Bass Shift and Presence Shift modules each offer three tilt-equalization sounds
- Dynamic EQ module boosts or cuts only when needed to correct undesirable, momentary peaks or enhance your signal with creative boosts
- Gain Scale control adjusts all gain controls for parametric, shelving, and Bass and Presence Shift filters at once; negative values invert the EQ curve to change boosts to cuts and vice versa
- Mono Maker folds frequencies to mono below its selected corner frequency (20 Hz to 22 kHz), lending focus to any part of your mix and helping to preserve the side channel's headroom when tightening the low-end
- Extremely flexible control linking: Each band and filter can be independently linked with its respective counterpart in the opposing channel (left-channel filter linked to its corresponding right-channel filter, or mid linked to side)
- Free 14 day trial available
- Price $299
SPL Transient Designer Plus
In the late '90s, SPL added a new concept in dynamics processing, the analog Transient Designer and its plugin counterpart both use SPL's Differential Envelope Technology to produce level-independent dynamics processing. Unlike compressors, transient designers shape the attack and sustain characteristics of sounds no matter their level and the SPL Transient Designer uses only two primary controls—Attack and Sustain—to process dynamics.
In the new SPL Transient Designer Plus, the Output Gain control is placed before a new soft-clip limiter in the audio path. The idea behind this change is that you will no longer need to lower the fader every time you boost the Attack or Sustain knob because the built-in limiter is designed to prevent digital clipping with all but the most extreme settings. But you you can also push the limiter to get bigger, more colourful and aggressive-sounding tracks. Parallel processing has been added with Transient Designer Plus, with the routing set up behind the scenes and controlled by just one knob, the new Parallel Mix control.
Transient Designer Plus also adds sidechain facilities and a Sidechain Solo function lets you hear the filtered sidechain signal as you sweep the centre frequency, to help you find your desired trigger. Alternatively you use the new external sidechain input and trigger the process from other tracks in the mix.
SPL Transient Designer Plus Features
- Separate controls allow for ±15 dB adjustment to Attack and ±24 dB adjustment to Sustain
- Soft-clip limiter helps prevent digital clipping when generously boosting Attack and/or Sustain
- Internal sidechain filter sculpts the frequency response of the trigger signal to enable selective processing of audio elements embedded in subgroups, stems and mixes
- External sidechain input enables processing of transients and sustain envelopes in audio path to be triggered by other sources or tracks
- Sidechain Solo function monitors the sidechain signal, aiding adjustment of the internal sidechain's bandpass filter
- Parallel Mix control adjusts the balance of wet and dry signals for fast and hassle-free parallel processing
- Link switch links left and right channels in stereo configurations
- 32 steps of Undo and Redo
- Four global setups can be stored, recalled and automated for instant changes to parameter settings across the entire plugin
- 10-segment LED-style ladder meter shows the amount of gain reduction applied by the limiter
- Signal-present and overload indicators aid troubleshooting to get your session quickly back on track
- An essential mix tool endorsed by the world’s finest professional engineers
- Four Settings buttons allow you to quickly store and compare four different settings
- Mouse Wheel control of parameters
- Free 14 day trial available
- Price $199
Brainworx bx_cleansweep PRO
Brainworx founder and CEO, Dirk Ulrich, has always emphasised the importance of accurate filtering when treating frequencies in a mix. It was on this principle that Dirk designed the bx_cleansweep V2, a deceptively simple and yet powerful hybrid High-Pass and Low-Pass Butterworth filter that implements gently sloped curves (6 dB/octave). A joystick control, much like an X/Y pad, was an intuitive to the user interface. The bx_cleansweep design, like it’s bigger siblings – bx_digital V3 and bx_hybrid V2, features Brainworx's Anti-Crush technology, which is an analog model for filter curves prevents the harshness and aliasing.
Now, Brainworx has introduced a third reincarnation of their beloved filter plugin: the bx_cleansweep Pro. They have added five filters with adjustable slopes and characters for each, and spectrum analysis with an advanced frequency/phase plot.
Brainworx bx_cleansweep PRO Features
- Joint HP/LP filter with in-depth frequency response control
- In addition to Butterworth, five new filter types with additional control options
- o Bessel, Chebyshev (Type I & II), Elliptical, and Resonant Butterworth
- Each filter adjustable up to the 6th order
- New View Modes in graph panel with value callouts at each coordinate: Spectrum analyzer, Magnitude, Phase, Group Delay
- Input Gain allows compensation for post-filter volume reduction
- Joystick/matrix controller manipulates both HP and LP filters on an X/Y plane, creating an intuitive interface for honing-in on character
- Phase reverse tool button
- Free 14 day trial available
- Price $149
Dangerous Music Dangerous BAX EQ
The Dangerous BAX EQ features the classic design of Peter Baxandall’s legendary 1950’s tone control together with 2 high pass / low pass filters added Link and M/S features to clean up and shape your sources. Besides the clean and natural sound, which is achieved through the minimised phase delay design, the BAX EQ provides broad tonal control designed not alter the intrinsic sonic character of the source.
Dangerous Music Dangerous BAX EQ Features
- High class model of the Dangerous Music BAX mastering-grade analog EQ
- World-Class High-Fidelity Tone Control Equalizer
- Modeled exactly after the original Dangerous design, schematics and hardware idol
- Broad Q Shelving for a natural, open character
- Master version with dual-mono and additional M/S (mid/side) mode for extended mastering possibilities (the hardware doesn´t have the M/S mode built-in)
- Mix version
- Additional Link mode to ease the control (Master version only)
- Additional Output Trim (Gain)
- Constructed for demanding professional applications
- The sound & behavior of the hardware have been fully captured in the plugin version.
- Joystick/matrix controller manipulates both HP and LP filters on an X/Y plane, creating an intuitive interface for honing-in on character
- Phase reverse tool button
- Free 14 day trial available
- Price $249
well there you have it - 4 new plug-ins from the team at Plugin Alliance. Do tell us what you think and it you have tried them then do share what you think about the new versions.