Brainworx bx_digital V2 User manual

3
1. What is bx_digital?
2. What is M/S technology?
3. What is M/S good for in Mastering?
4. But what´s so new about the V2 then?
5. Features of bx_digital V2:
6. How do I get started with bx_digital V2 in a typical
mastering session?
7. Overview and Details
8. Troubleshooting
Index
4
5
6
6
7
9
12
27

4
1. What is bx_digital V2?
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

5
1. What is bx_digital V2?
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.

6
3. What is M/S good for in Mastering?
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… :-)

7
4. But what´s so new about V2 then?
Also, while there were quite some M/S - tools released after
bx_digital V1 first came out, one original BX feature is the possi-
bility 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

8
5. Features of the bx_digital V2
by international mastering engineers to help you get
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 frequen-
cies. 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 frequen-
cies 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)

9
6. How do I get started with bx_digital V2 in a
typical mastering or recording-session?
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 performances 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

10
6. How do I get started with bx_digital V2 in a
typical mastering or recording-session?
your music that you might want to correct / adjust, so why don´t
you just do it?
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

11
6. How do I get started with bx_digital V2 in a
typical mastering or recording-session?
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!).

12
7. Overview and Details
7. Overview and Details
bx_digital V2 - Screenshot
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

13
7. Overview and Details
• 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
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
• 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

14
7. Overview and Details
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.
3. The BRAINWORX logos in the GUI
Click them to get credit
info, release versions,
etc.
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.

15
7. Overview and Details
5. Auto Listen Modes, Auto Solo Modes, Channel
swap (L<>R) , Linked features & EQ on/off, Solo
•
• 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.

16
7. Overview and Details
tPls see “22” (Undo/Redo).
• EQ on/off:
Here you can switch ALL EQ bands on or off, this will not
bypass the De-Esser, the Mono-Maker or the SixPack master
section (Stereo Width, etc.) though.
tIf you need to bypass the whole bx_digital please use the
dedicated Bypass switch in the top left corner or use your
audio sequencer´s plug-in bypass.
• AUTO LISTEN MODE(s):
One of the new features of bx_digital V2 and a powerful tool
to select proper center frequencies in audio material that is
hard to judge (Tom Toms, Vocals, Bass sounds, etc.).
• The AUTO LISTEN POP-UP MENU:
When you click on the letters next to the blue Auto
Listen LED a pop-up menu will appear. In this menu
you may choose which Auto Solo Listening features
you want to use. 3 different functions of each EQ
band can be switched to Auto Listen Mode:
t “Q f G” (initial setting):
Will make bx_digital V2 auto solo all EQ features each time
you click on either a G (Gain), f (Frequency) or Q (Quality)
knob.
t“- f -”:
For example will only enable the Auto Listen features for the
f (Frequency) knobs, but not automate G & Q, and so on…
AUTO LISTEN MODE “Q”
This auto listen mode will boost or cut the respective EQ band´s
gain to either (+12dB with positive Gain settings and “zero”) or
(-12dB with negative Gain settings) whenever the Q knob is being
clicked or touched (via a touch sensitive controller). As soon as
you release the EQ band´s Q knob the gain setting will jump back
to the actual G (Gain) setting. Clipping is avoided automatically.
Notice that the temporarily EQ setting of the AUTO LISTEN MODE

17
7. Overview and Details
is always being displayed in ORANGE color while the actual EQ
band´s gain setting is still being displayed in RED color.
tYou HEAR the ORANGE setting when you see it.
tMouse wheel control:
Notice that changing knobs using the mouse wheel (just
place the cursor above any knob of bx_digital V2 and turn
the wheel!) will not engage the Auto Listen Mode. This is a
nice way to avoid bypassing the Auto Listen Mode for small
changes that you prefer to do without this mode.
Whenever bx_digital boosts
AUTO bands to +12 dB tempo-
rarily the overall output volume is
always being controlled and
adjusted intelligently to avoid
clipping automatically!
Auto listen “Q” with Auto listen “Q” with
positive gain NEGATIVE gain
AUTO LISTEN MODE “f”
This auto listen mode will play a very steep (narrow)
and inversed notch filter sound of the actual audio
signal as long as you click a knob or grab a (touch
sensitive) controller pot or fader.
This lets you hear the center frequency you are
searching for exactly – and all this without the multiple
mouse clicks or controller moves that needed to be done without
the Auto Listen feature.
tGain up to the max, Q to a very narrow setting, sweep
through the frequencies, re-adjust the Q, re-adjust the gain,
etc… you know what we´re talking about… :-)

18
7. Overview and Details
AUTO LISTEN MODE “G”
This AUTO LISTEN MODE finally is pretty easy to explain… as long
as you click a Gain knob (or grab a touch sensitive controller pot
or fader) all other bands of that EQ will be bypassed. This way all
you hear is the touched EQ band solo-ed, without other EQ bands
eventually effecting / overlaying your EQ setting.
This may or may not be wanted, so remember: you have the
choice to activate or deactivate each and every AUTO feature (Q,
f or G) or any combination of these 3 features using the Auto
Listen pop up menu. (see -12- above)
The Auto Listen Mode can be switched off using the blue LED.
6. EQ-Section R (Right) or S (Stereo/S-signal)
depending on the selected mode
The same 7-band EQ
section as for the L
section (or respectively
the M section, depending
on the selected mode),
please check “1”.
7. Window switch
You may hide the graphic EQ curves if you want to save
some screen space (we know bx_digital is not a small
plug-in…), or if you simply prefer EQ-ing without seeing
the EQ curves. Just click the “arrow” symbol.

19
7. Overview and Details
8. & 9. LEDs for the L/R or M/S sections
We have included a digital level control in bx_digital V2 that
the hardware does not have. Red LEDs indicate potentially
distorted signals in the respective signal-path and should be
avoided…
10. & 11. Bass Shift
The Bass Shift is an „intelligent“ EQ band
for the bass frequencies of your mix. We
call it Bass Shift because 2 different
frequencies will be „shifted“ against each
other with the turn of just one knob. The
frequencies have been pre-set and cannot
be changed. If you are looking for a
sweepable Bass- (and Presence-) Shifter please check out
bx_hybrid (available individually).
The Bass Shift EQ can be used to easily adjust the overall bass
sound of your recordings in a professional yet easy & fast way…
turning the Bass Shift to the right will „push“ your bass down one
octave by boosting one part of your bass frequencies while at the
same time cutting other (higher) bass frequencies. Turning the
BASS SHIFT to the left will cause the opposite…
tPlease check the EQ panels (17. & 18.) to actually see what
you are doing when working with the Bass Shift!
Turning your BASS SHIFT to the right will result in a more
„indirect“ and „deep soft“ bass sound, while turning to the left will
result in a „dryer“ bass sound.

20
7. Overview and Details
tA lot of contemporary pop & rock productions can be
enhanced with „phatter“ guitar / keys sounds by turning the
Bass Shift to the right up to 2 or 3, and the same setting will
make your bass drums sound huge!
12. & 13. Presence Shift
A similar function to what the Bass Shift
EQ does to your bass signals for the high
end of your recordings.
Turning the Presence Shift EQ to the right
will put more „air“ into your mixes without
making them harsh!
tFor M/S-modes: Try filtering out all the harsh frequencies of
your mix in the M section with your EQ M and the M section
of the De-Esser M (14.) and then make sure your mix doesn‘t
sound dull by putting back some high frequencies into the
mix via the EQ S (“6”) or the Presence Shift.
tThe Presence Shift boosts frequencies above the ones that
usually cause sibilance problems with voices. So you can try
to de-ess your main voice (most likely to be in the center of
your mix) with the M section of the bx´s De-Esser (“14”) and
then set your Presence Shift of the S channel to 3 or 4.
14. & 15. De-Esser (L/R or M/S, depending on the
selected mode)
The bx_digital De-Esser
works with dynamic EQs
that you can adjust to the
needs of your mix. With
the Solo buttons of the
De-Esser section it is

21
possible to listen to only the frequencies that you want to filter out
of your mix.
• When working in L/R-mode you should link the two channels
to avoid unwanted permanent “panning” of your stereo-signal
caused by uneven volume changes in the L or R channel.
• Solo the respective section of your De-Esser on the bx2
panel. Turn up the De-Esser knob until you start hearing
some high frequencies. Adjust the frequency to be filtered
with the „f DSR“ knob and set the De-Esser knob to a value
where the De-Esser will deduct as many high frequencies as
you need to be filtered out.
• Use the De-Esser´s LEDs to control the De-Esser´s gain
deduction.
• When the De-Essers of both channels have been linked in
L/R-Mode, the detection signal for both channels will be a
mono-mix of both channels. (L&R)
16. MONO MAKER
The Mono Maker will mono out the bass
frequencies of your stereo mix, adjustable
from 20 Hz up to 22 kHz, using
M/S-technique even when the bx runs in
L/R-mode.
The Mono-Maker will cut off bass-frequencies of the Side-Signal
(S-channel) and will compensate this automatically in the
Mid-Section (M) of the stereo mix with a dedicated shelving EQ
in the mono-sum.
tThis is a great tool for vinyl mastering, since it is essential
to make sure that your lowest bass frequencies are mono,
otherwise the needle could jump off the groove of the vinyl
record.
Especially when you master electronic music or modern heavy
metal sounds with huge stereo bass sounds (synthesizers, low
7. Overview and Details