Brainworx & Plugin Alliance are back under my personal leadership.

If you've been wondering what the future of Brainworx & Plugin Alliance will look like, today I have some answers.

I'm proud to share that on July 15, 2026, I have re-acquired Brainworx and Plugin Alliance under the umbrella of RCKFRC, my new company which already includes Apogee and Manley. Expect to hear more about these brands soon, as part of the new PA/BX universe.

This marks the beginning of a new chapter – not only for the companies, but also for the millions of producers, engineers, musicians and creators who have trusted our products over the years.

 

Why I Came Back

When I released the first Brainworx plugins 20 years ago, I had one simple goal:

Build audio tools that professionals could rely on every day.

That philosophy led to Brainworx, Plugin Alliance (2012) and partnerships with many of the most respected brands in professional audio ever since. Over the past months, I received hundreds of messages from customers around the world. Interestingly, most of them weren't asking about the next plugin.

They were asking about the future of PA/BX.

• Would their software continue to work?
• Would their licenses remain valid?
• Would the products continue to evolve?

Those questions mattered to many of you, it seems.

When the opportunity came to bring Brainworx and Plugin Alliance back under founder leadership, I didn't hesitate.

This isn't a restart. It's a continuation – with renewed focus and renewed responsibility.

I'm not looking to recreate the past. I'm looking to build the future.

 

What Happens Next?

Our priorities are simple and clear:

We'll protect what our customers are relying on. Your plugins, your licenses and your projects will remain our highest priority.

We'll continue to innovate. Brainworx has always been built by engineers solving real-world problems for professional users. That won't change.

We'll communicate transparently and directly with you.

We'll introduce the new team behind the next chapter.

We'll share our future roadmap. And we'll keep you informed along the way.

 

Looking Ahead

Today's announcement is just the beginning.

Over the coming weeks, we'll introduce the people behind the new Brainworx & Plugin Alliance, explain our vision in more detail and share what we're working on.

This page will be updated as we reach milestones.

 

Chapter 2 – Jul 23, 2026

What This Means for You

For those catching up: in 2021 Plugin Alliance and Brainworx joined the Native Instruments group. On July 14, 2026, I bought both companies back and they're fully independent again, under private ownership and leadership, as part of my new Rockforce group (which includes Apogee and Manley).

Since my first message to you all we've heard back from thousands of you - through emails, social media, forum posts, text messages, and the comments regarding our announcement. No matter where the conversation started, the key questions we saw were almost always the same. Thank you for the feedback!

Instead of answering them one by one, let me answer them here.

Will all Plugin Alliance licenses keep working?

Yes.

Every license you own remains fully valid. There's nothing you need to reactivate, no new agreement to accept, and no action required on your end.

If it worked yesterday, it works today. And tomorrow.

What about the PA subscriptions, will they continue to work without interruption?

Yes.

All existing subscription plans will continue exactly as you’d expect them to run. No need for you to change anything.

What about Plugin Alliance’s online support?

Our support will continue without interruption. If you already have an open support ticket, it will be handled by our team. Please don’t open multiple tickets for the same case. 

We also know that support response times haven't always lived up to the standard you expect – or the standards we aim for in the recent past. Improving that is one of our top priorities.

In the past 4 years, many services were shared between NI, Izotope and Plugin Alliance. We are actively working on the transition, and the teams at PA, NI and IZO are helping each other to get that done asap.

Can you still install and activate your plugins?

Yes.

The Plugin Alliance Installation Manager, our downloads and activation services will continue to operate as normal. Same application, same technology. We understand that this matters. 

Keeping that infrastructure reliable isn't optional. It's one of our highest priorities and the foundation everything else at PA is built on.

Why is this so important to me personally?

Because I know these aren't “just plugins” for you.

They're part of your daily work, and they are “your sound”. They're on single tracks, complete albums, film scores, broadcast productions, used in live shows and on countless personal projects. They're tools you've invested in and have relied on for years.

That’s how it will be.

Before we talk about new products, new features, or what's next, I want to make sure the foundation is exactly where it should be.

• Your software works.
• Your licenses are secure.
• Your projects remain accessible.
• Our support is there when you need it.

That's where our focus is today.

In the next chapter, I'd like to introduce you to the people who have joined and re-joined me on this journey, and share the vision we're building together for the future of Plugin Alliance.

 

Chapter 3 - Hello Future

November 6, 2026

In my last letter, I focused on your questions about licenses, subscriptions and support. Today, I’d like to share where we’re heading.

When I brought Brainworx and Plugin Alliance back into private ownership, I already had plans for how they could work together with Apogee and Manley.

Many of you already use tools from these companies side by side. We now have the opportunity to bring the teams behind them closer together—and develop new ideas together from the start.

From Plugin to Hardware?

For almost 2 decades Brainworx has brought analog hardware models into your DAW. With Manley ecliptic, we’re exploring whether that journey could also go the other way. Developing new mastering-grade hardware is expensive and time-consuming, and only a limited number of people can usually test an analogue prototype. With a plugin, our reach is around the globe to millions of users, and instantly.
So, Manley ecliptic begins its journey as the first ever original Manley EQ plugin. Manley ecliptic is a unique approach to M/S tone-shaping with a single set of controls, and it’s 100% based upon analog transformer models, filters and EQs, of course. 

I have worked on Manley ecliptic with four parties as a team: our new RCKFRC software team based out of Canada and the US, the original Manley hardware designers that are responsible for Manley’s flagship hardware products, and of course the Brainworx & Plugin Alliance teams to include our patented TMT and the infrastructure needed for a world-wide release.

Now, instead of showing an analog prototype to about 6 different studios… then build 50 units and hope for the best…  we’d like YOU to help shape Manley ecliptic. Use it, tell us what you love and let us know what you’d like us to refine. Your feedback will help guide its final development. 

The ultimate goal is to make the concept perfect for you, then put a hardware version on Manley’s roadmap! If enough people want to see Manley ecliptic become a piece of Manley hardware, the hardware team will be up for the challenge. Please welcome Manley ecliptic.

Build Your Studio

Bringing our brands together is also about making your experience better. 

We’re building an ecosystem around Brainworx, Plugin Alliance, Apogee and Manley. We're bringing our plugins, subscriptions, and hardware closer together – building a connected ecosystem that makes your creative journey easier. And we're just getting started.

In the meantime, here’s something you can use right away: a curated bundle of six FREE plugins – including one from Apogee. All you need is a free account, and they’re yours to keep.

Whether you’re building your first setup or adding to a studio you’ve used for years, I hope you’ll find something that inspires you.

Explore the free bundle

The People Making It Happen

Our teams are developing these new projects while also doing the work needed to operate independently again after the recent split from the NI group.

That work involves engineering, product development, customer support and the people running our websites and services. Much of their work happens behind the scenes, but you depend on it every time you use our tools.

I want to thank everyone involved for their commitment and the work they’re putting in.

And thank YOU for your feedback, your patience and your continued trust. I am looking forward to shaping the future of all our brands together with you!

Dirk Ulrich
Founder, Brainworx & Plugin Alliance