Brainworx Bx_digital V2 Manuale utente

bx_digital V2 manual

Install and activate your new plugin.

Check the Activation Manual PDF for details,

or visit www.plugin-alliance.com/activation.

The Activation Manual has been installed into the same folder as this Plugin Manual.

Alternatively, please check the online version, see link above.

bx_digital V2 manual

Index

1. What is bx_digital V2? 3

2. What is M/S technology? 3

3. What is M/S good for in Mastering? 4

4. But what´s so new about V2 then? 4

5. Features of the bx_digital V2: 4

6. How do I get started with bx_digital V2 5

7. Overview and Details 7

7.1. EQ-Section M (Mono) or L (Left), depending on the selected mode 7

7.2. New “SixPack” Master Section 7

7.3. The Brainworx logos in the GUI 8

7.4. The Modus knob 8

7.5. Auto Listen, Solo, Auto Solo, Channel swap, Linked features, EQ off 8

7.6. EQ-Section R (Right) or S (Stereo/S-signal) 10

7.7. Window switch 10

7.8. & 7.9. LEDs for the L/R or M/S sections 10

7.10. & 7.11. Bass Shift 10

7.12. & 7.13. Presence Shift 11

7.14. & 7.15. De-Esser L/R or M/S 11

7.16. Mono Maker 11

7.17. & 7.18 EQ-Panels 12

Mouse Wheel - Control: 12

7.19. LEDs/multiple levels (L/R & M/S) 12

7.20. Correlation & Balance Meters 13

7.21. Bypass 13

7.22. Undo/Redo (32 steps) 13

7.23. Settings (A/B/C/D) 13

7.24. Manual & Help 13

7.25. Brainworx keyboard shortcuts 14

8. Troubleshooting 14

bx_digital V2 manual

1. What is bx_digital V2?

bx_digital V2 is a latency-free 11-band stereo EQ and stereo

De-Esser that works in several modes, among them 2

sophisticated M/S modes for mastering and microphone recordings.

It is based upon the “modern classic” bx_digital V1 and the analog bx1 EQ. We

developed this hi-end analogue EQ 2006/2007 and we offered an emulation of

this EQ ever since.

The hardware bx1 is our „MODUS EQ“, an analogue high class equalizer that runs

in four different modes, giving you up to three channels of extremely musical filters:

• a conventional L(eft) and R(ight) stereo mode for any stereo/dual mono

applications.

• a stereo mode with a built-in M/S-matrix, mainly used for stereo mastering

purposes.

• a 3-channel mode (one stereo PLUS one mono channel) for surround

mastering & recording studios purposes.

• an M/S-Recording-mode that will use two individual microphone-signals

(M&S-signals) fed into the bx1 to create a highly mono compatible stereo

signal, mainly used for orchestral recordings, choirs or for recording accoustic

instruments in general.

The hardware bx2 is an „Image Shifter“ and De-Esser that can work in M/S

mode as well and therefore is the perfect extension to our bx1 when it comes to

mastering stereo signals. It also includes a „Mono-Maker“ that allows you to mono

the bass frequencies of your mix from 20 Hz up to 22 kHz to make sure your

bass-section is „tight“ and compatible for vinyl-pressings.

The bx_digital V1 was an exact emulation of both units´ features, our state-of-the-

art equalizer bx1 and its expansion unit bx2, with only one mode of the hardware

(the 3-channels-mode) not working (for audio host standard reasons). Together

these two units are the perfect choice if you are looking for an extremely musical

and tasty way of eq-ing and de-essing stereo signals (mixes), most likely in a

mastering process, or if you are into mixing and sound-design as well as recording

with M/S-microphone-technique.

bx_digital V2 now offers additional features that neither the original bx1 analog EQ

nor the v1 plug-in offered.

tDetails: see chapter 5.

2. What is M/S technology?

Most engineers who are recording music know about the M/S microphone

technique (two different microphones for stereo recordings - an OMNI or CARDIOID

microphone for the M (mid) signal and a “FIGURE-OF-8 microphone” for the S (side)

signal).

Recording a signal with M/S microphone technique means to create a stereo

(L/R) signal by mixing the M and the S signals together in a special way that will

result in a very mono-compatible stereo signal. To record in M/S you have to feed

the M-signal to the Left and Right channel of your mix and the S-Signal will be fed

phase-correct to the Left channel and phase-reversed to the Right channel. This

means you will have to split the S-signal and use a total of 3 channels for only 2

microphones that will be mixed together to create a conventional stereo-signal.

Quite confusing?

Well, bx_digital V2 does all that work for you, just feed it with the separate M- and

S- microphone signals and switch it to M/S Recording…

For additional details about this technique you may have a look into any decent

audio book. Please do so if you want to learn more about this method to create

very mono-compatible stereo-signals, e.g. when recording classical music, drums,

choirs or acoustic instruments in general.

bx_digital V2 manual

3. What is M/S good for in Mastering?

Well, it may sound simple, but the bx_digital V2 has a built-in M/S matrix that will

separate any stereo signal into its mono sum and the stereo difference signals.

Thus you are able to separately control these two signals which can be very useful

when you work on a stereo mix that has certain „problems“ - or if you simply want

to enhance certain elements in the mix.

Ever tried to cut high frequencies of a mix to reduce the „essing“ of the lead vocals

and at the same time boost high frequencies of your harmony instruments (guitars,

keyboards, pianos, etc… most likely recorded or mixed in stereo)?

With bx_digital V2 and its M/S modes you can do exactly that.

4. But what´s so new about V2 then?

First of all, all the great things about bx_digital are still in V2, we have not sorted

out anything. M/S modes, Solo S and Solo M etc. are still on board.

Then we have added features from both, the TDM version of bx_digital (7-bands,

Auto Solo Mode, etc.), and from bx_hybrid as well (Auto Listen Mode).

Add all new and improved audio filters (EQ bands) and you have a GREAT stereo

EQ.

EQ-ing in M/S will cause “non-linear” phases, but most

experienced mastering engineers use this technique if a mix needs it, and if used

with caution (a great advice on most things that are fun…) M/S processing can be

a very creative and powerful weapon.

Since bx_digital V2 also has a “regular L/R mode”:

You don´t have to do all this all the time… but you can… :-)

Also, while there were quite some M/S - tools released after bx_digital V1 first

came out, one original BX feature is the possibility to SOLO your M or S - signal,

which means you can listen to ONLY the M or S signal of your mix and work on

these two signals individually – phase corrected automatically.

“Why is this so unusual?” you might ask now. Well, although the S signal is included

in a regular L/R stereo signal, it is not in phase on both channels, so we had to

come up with an easy way to correct that each time you want to listen to your

S-signal solo…

Start by playing some stereo mixes through your bx_digital V2 plug-in and push the

solo button of the S-section… you will be amazed of what you will hear… you will be

able to correct stuff you have never even heard before in your mixes!

Then dig some deeper, try the Auto Solo and Auto Listen Modes, the Shifter EQs,

etc. You will quickly get the concept this way.

5. Features of the bx_digital V2:

bx1:

• 7-band mastering quality EQ with Shelving, Bell and Pass-Filters.

• “Auto Solo” and “Auto Listen” Modes

• Unique and new “SixPack” master section: (6 knobs)

• Input Gain and Balance features to adjust incoming levels and to balance out

mixes that are not 100% centered.

• Individual PAN for M and S signals (in all modes) to control the output balance

- with more precision than ever.

• Stereo Width Control for your mix. Make your mix wider

without an effects processor by increasing the S-Signal –

in ALL modes.

• Filter section includes new Lo-Shelving, Hi-Shelving, full-parametric Bell type,

Lo-Pass & Hi-Pass filters. All 7 bands have been adjusted in frequency-range

and type-selection by international mastering engineers to help you get

bx_digital V2 manual

professional results for your mixes instantly.

• Output Gain to adjust overall levels.

• New mouse wheel control (place the cursor above any knob and use the

mouse wheel…)

bx2:

• 4 more EQ bands (in the Shifter EQs), a dynamic EQ/De-Esser & more.

• Image Shifters for your bass frequencies and high frequencies. Tune your

lo-end and hi-end of your mix for a „bigger“ overall sound with „more air“ at the

same time and control potential harsh frequencies in your mixes.

• De-Esser/dynamic EQs. Solo buttons let you listen to what you cut away

separated from the mix.

• Mono-Maker: Adjust the MonoMaker from 20 Hz to 22 kHz and your stereo

mix will be Mono up to that frequency by cutting away the low-end of the

stereo-difference of your stereo-mix - and adjusting the potential loss of bass

frequencies in the Mono-Sum automatically! Ever had problems to cut your

electronic music mixes with synthesizer basses to vinyl? Do you want to make

sure your bass sounds are tight on disco speakers that might be spread all

over the place? Try the Mono-Maker.

• the bx2 works in M/S - modes just like the bx1, so you can give your mixes

that extra lo-end on guitars and synths that the pros have without getting

rumbling on your bass drums, basses, etc., or de-ess your voice very tight

without making your whole mix dull, etc.

EQ-Panel:

• shows up to 11 bands of EQ for M and S separately (for all bx1 and bx2 EQ

bands)

6. How do I get started with bx_digital V2

in a typical mastering or recording-session?

Mastering music is all about hearing objectively and enhancing musical perfor-

mances if possible… but it is (often enough) about correcting mistakes that have

been made in a mix session. This sounds basic, but we mean it very literally!

We assume that most if not all people who have purchased bx_digital V2 are

familiar with using a standard L/R-EQ, so we will skip the total basics of “how to

use an eq” and go on with less common-known EQ-techniques…

In fact if you have a more or less “perfect” stereo-signal to work on (e.g. a very good

mix) it might be a good idea not to change it at all or at least not very much, so you

might be ok with using the “regular” L/R-mode of the bx_digital and use the EQs

rather carefully.

But, let´s assume we have an average stereo-signal (e.g. a mix) with some

problems that we want to correct. – It´s just… how can you correct problems you

can´t even hear exactly?

That´s over now… in the M/S-mastering-mode bx_digital V2 can transform your

stereo mix into 2 easy-to-adjust mono sums (M & S, or “Sum & Difference”), and

the bx1 lets you hear both sections perfectly in-phase. This way you can hear any

problem of your mix very obviously and also make any improvements to your mix

simple but precisely.

We propose you start working with bx_digital V2 in M/S-Mastering mode (that´s

the default setting) by simply listening to some of the mixes that you know very well

or to some of your favorite CD-tracks.

While you do so press the solo - buttons of the M and S - sections alternately to get

used to how your mixes sound separated into these 2 mono sums. You will very

fast be able to hear stuff inside your music that you might want to correct / adjust,

so why don´t you just do it?

bx_digital V2 manual

Start EQ-ing the M- and S-section individually while Solo-ing the respective section

- and don´t forget to switch the Solo-buttons off from time to time and listen to

your complete mix in “full stereo sound” again. This way you get a feel for how

your adjustments on the individual sections effect the whole stereo mix! After you

have used a few EQ-bands on your mix compare it to your original mix by using the

Bypass switch of the whole unit and/or of individual EQ bands (a new feature in

V2).

Mastering in M/S takes a little time to get used to - it´s just really different EQ-ing

2 separate mono-sums than EQ-ing conventional L&R-signals. But, it´s a very

musical way of working, and there IS a reason why some of the top mastering

studios in the world have been working like this for ages with custom-made

M/S-boards - without really telling anybody…

M/S-Mastering might just be the key for your music to sound as big - yet still open

and clear - as productions often referred to as being „BIG“… :-)

Many people who have used the M/S-modes for the first time told us that they

had the impression of a “3D-like” depth in their mixes after processing the M- and

the S-Signals individually. While using the M/S-technique for mastering does affect

your phases in the stereo-signal we do not see this as a problem. In M/S modes

altering phases is done intentionally. Of course, though, the M/S mastering mode

works best if you want to correct small mistakes in your mixes… for adding or

cutting away big amount of general bass or treble signals you might be better off

working in L/R-mode…

tTIP: if needed simply use two instances of bx_digital on your master bus. one

in L/R mode, the second in M/S mode.

Once you are used to the basics of M/S you might easily get into more detailed

functions… try balancing out a mix that is not centered 100% (most mixes that

come from an analogue desk with inserted compressors, EQs, in the main stereo

insert, etc. are not balanced 100%!) by Solo-ing the S-section and adjusting the

Balance Gain until all the things that should be centered (like bass drums, snares,

lead vocals, bass, etc.) in your mix disappear completely.

If that´s the case you can be sure that your mix IS balanced!

Make your mix wider than it originally was by increasing the Stereo Width without

losing the center of your recordings! You will not loose bass drum power or vocals

by making your mix wider this way… and it will not sound different played back in

mono at all.

Otherwise, if you have a drum-loop that was recorded with too much ambience

sounds / reverb, just get rid of it by decreasing the Stereo Width (in all modes!).

bx_digital V2 manual

7. Overview and Details

bx_digital V2 - Screenshot

7.1. EQ-Section M (Mono) or L (Left), depending on the selected mode

7 Bands, 5 of them with

G (Gain),

f (Frequency) and

Q (Quality) pots,

plus Hi-Pass and Lo-Pass filters

• LF: switchable from shelving (1st order) to peak via Q-pot

• LMF: peak

• MF: peak

• HMF: peak

• HF: switchable from shelving (1st order) to peak via Q-pot

• Lo-Pass: 1st order

• Hi-Pass: 1st order

Please notice that each EQ band can be activated and bypassed (on/off) individually

by clicking the labeled buttons.

A bright name indicates ON.

= off = on

7.2. New “SixPack” Master Section

6 knobs to control general settings,

independent of which mode is being used.

From Left to Right (top row):

• Gain In: Input Gain adjustment for both channels (L/R or M/S).

• Gain Out: Output Gain adjustment for Master Out (L/R).

• Stereo Width: make your mix wider by increasing the Stereo Width (=boosting

the S-signal) or decrease the Stereo Width to reduce ambience etc. (=reduce

the S-signal)

From Left to Right (bottom row):

• Bal. L/R: “tilt” the image of your stereo sound by changing the balance of Left

and Right signals

bx_digital V2 manual

• Pan M: with this unique and new feature you can center un-centered mixes, or

create great effects by panning the “center only” (drums, vocals, bass, etc.) of

your recording to the sides!

tMixes from analogue consoles often have the problem that the “theoretical

center” (these are the elements that should be in the center, like lead vocals,

snares, etc.) are slightly off-axis because of analogue inserts (compressors,

EQs, etc.) in the master sum. With the Pan M you can easily correct this,

without effecting the stereo information (guitars, keys, reverbs, etc.) too much,

and without tilting the whole stereo image (see Bal. L/R)

• Pan S: tilt the stereo information without changing the center section of your

mix too radically. Mixes with uneven stereo information (doubled guitars that

are not perfectly centered for example) can easily be adjusted.

tThe results of Pan S are much more subtle than Pan M, and we do not

recommend doing drastic changes here.

7.3. The Brainworx logos in the GUI

Click them to get credit info, release versions,

etc.

7.4. The Modus knob

The Modus knob lets you select between the 3

different “modes” the bx_digital plug-in can

work in:

• M/S-MASTERING-mode: for individual processing of the mono-sum and the

stereo-difference of any regular Stereo-Signal.

• L/R-mode: for conventional L/R-processing, linked or un-linked.

• M/S-RECORDING-mode: this mode will provide a Stereo signal at the master

output if bx_digital is fed with separate M&S-microphone signals or audio

tracks.

7.5. Auto Listen, Solo, Auto Solo, Channel swap, Linked features, EQ off

• Auto Solo:

Auto Solo is taken from the TDM version of bx_digital V1, and is now available

for all versions. When enabled bx_digital will automatically switch to Solo M/

Solo L as soon as a knob of the left EQ section is being clicked, until you release

the knob again. The same goes for the right EQ section (Solo S/Solo R,

depending on the mode bx_digital works in). Auto solo also works with touch

sensitive controllers, such as digidesign´s C24 or icon controllers.

• Solo M/Solo S (Solo L / Solo R):

To listen to only the M or S signal phase corrected and mono-ed on both

speakers just enable Solo M/Solo S. In the L/R mode these selectors become

Solo L/Solo R, of course, but work just the same way.

• L<>R (channel swap, pre EQ):

This feature swaps left and right channels within bx_digital V2. As stereo

mixes sound very different when channels are swapped this can be a creative

tool in mastering sessions.

• Link LED:

The Link LED will be ON as soon as any feature of bx_digital is linked. This can

be an EQ band, the De-Esser, or a Shifter.

Also, you can link/unlink all bands and features clicking the Link LED.

A click on any Link button will copy the setting of the button you click to the

other side.

Accidentally clicking the Link button can destroy your whole EQ settings – but

we have a 32 step undo /redo on board now, so this won´t be a problem

anymore.

tPls see “22” (Undo/Redo).

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