It certainly wouldn't fit on any screen smaller than 1152 x 870 pixels.Īlthough the M&S support is a big selling point of BX Digital, all the versions other than the Scope implementation can also operate as conventional stereo processors thanks to the Modus switch, which determines whether you are in normal LR or M&S modes. I have two 19-inch LCD screens set at their native resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels, and the BX Digital plug-in nearly fills one of them. My first impression of BX Digital is that is a big plug-in in terms of the screen real-estate it takes up.
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Brainworx have set up BX Digital so that when you solo the 'S' channel within the plug-in, you hear it in-phase on both outputs. Why is that so unusual? Well, although the 'S' signal is included in a normal stereo signal, it is not in-phase on both channels, so normally, if you solo the 'S' signal, you will hear the in-phase version in one speaker and the out-of-phase version in the other, which makes it very hard to judge what is going on in that channel.
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In other words, you can listen to only the 'M' or 'S' component of your mix, and work on these two signals independently. The BX Digital plug-in has the necessary M&S matrices built in, and its unique feature, according to Brainworx, is that it makes it possible to solo the 'M' or 'S' signals.
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You can do M&S processing with conventional plug-ins by setting up an M&S matrix in the Pro Tools mixer, routing the 'M' and 'S' outputs to two EQ plug-ins and then using another M&S matrix to convert them back to conventional stereo, but it is not easy to choose which settings to link, and you run into problems trying to monitor the 'S' signal properly. BX Digital also features separate de-essing and 'image shifting' features. The ability to EQ the M&S version of a stereo signal opens up a new range of options and possibilities for processing audio, and can be very helpful in mastering. You can, for instance, EQ the 'M' channel, which is the content that is the same on both channels of the stereo (the sum), separately from the 'S' signal, which is any content that is not equally on both channels (the difference). This makes it possible to process the signal in ways that are not possible with standard LR signals. However, it's also possible to convert conventional stereo signals into M&S format by putting an LR stereo signal through something called an M&S matrix. This makes M&S recording very mono-compatible, and means broadcast audio engineers use it a lot. This means that when you combine the left and right channels to collapse the mix to mono, the figure-of-eight mic gets cancelled out and you're left with the forward-facing cardioid mic. The cardioid 'middle' mic is then sent to both channels in equal amounts, while the figure-of-eight or 'side' mic is also routed at equal levels to each channel, but with its polarity reversed in the right-hand channel. It can be used as a stereo recording technique by setting up a forward-facing mono cardioid mic and a side-facing figure-of-eight mic. M&S stands for Middle & Sides, and is otherwise known as Sum & Difference. The most interesting feature of this plug-in is the option to EQ using M&S techniques. The TDM versions offer some additional functions, such as insert slots in the Scope version and extensive support for Digidesign's Icon control surface. BX Digital is available in RTAS and VST native formats, and also as a TDM plug-in for Pro Tools and Creamware Scope systems. Now they've taken their BX1 Modus EQ and their BX2 Image Shifter/De-esser, and combined them to produce what they describe as an 'enhanced digital emulation' in one plug-in. Native Instruments has done a remarkable job by releasing KOMPLETE START.īrainworx are a German company who started out making hardware mastering processors. Brainworx's new plug-in combines an innovative M&S matrix with mastering-quality EQ and processing. Middle & Sides processing offers unique mastering possibilities, such as the ability to de-ess a centrally panned vocal without affecting panned cymbal sounds. It functions as a VST Plugin, an Audio Units Plugin, a VST 3 Plugin, an RTAS Plugin and an AAX Plugin. Bxdigital V2 by Brainworx is a Virtual Effect Audio Plugin for macOS and Windows.With the power of TMT, this officially-authorized bxconsole SSL 9000 J plugin allows you to build a 72-channel analog SSL console inside your DAW.
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The big, deep and clear sound of the Solid State Logic 9000 series consoles is now available through the Plugin Alliance, brought to you by Brainworx.