The Plugin Alliance has announced the availability of the Brainworx bx_stereomaker – the latest plug-in from Alliance founder member, Dirk Ulrich.
The Brainworx bx_stereomaker allows users to add spatial and width components to mono tracks like guitars, vocals and room mics, while balancing the centre of the stereo signal with particular attention to its frequency range.
The plug-increates a virtual stereo signal with analogue-style filters by ‘slicing’the source signal’s spectral energy (using the onscreen Tone knob’s 11 frequency intervals). Depending on the frequency range of the mono source material being processed, bx_stereomaker can create a stereo image that is perceived as leaning left or right; tilting or panning allows adjustment of the stereo image to suit. As a result, the original signal is preserved when mixing the plug-in’s output down to mono.
The effect can be band-limited to provide a tighter phase image in the bass frequency range (using the Mono- Frequency knob to select the frequency below which the output signal will remain mono), as well as making results sound more natural (by turning up the Hi-Damp knob to roll off the spatial effect in the higher frequency range above 5kHz).
Further flexibility is available onscreen with of the Stereo-Width knob (allowing adjustment of stereo width added to the mono signal to vary between 0% and 300%), Output Gain (-12dB to +12dB), plus a series of function switches. Toolbar functions include 32 steps of Undo/Redo and four settings per preset to set and recall momentary snapshots for automation purposes – plus USB flash drive activation tools unique to the Plugin Alliance.
Available in 64- and 32-bit versions, the Brainworx bx_stereomaker plug-in can be purchased and downloaded (in all Mac OS-X and Windows formats – VST 2.4, VST 3, RTAS, AU, AAX) for an introductory price of US$95.00 until 15 September, rising to US$129.00 thereafter.
