Control Listening Tool & M/S Matrix
bx_control V2 is a powerful monitoring tool and an M/S matrix with built-in Mono Maker & Stereo Width control. bx_control V2 also features high resolution metering for Peak and RMS levels in AES 17 and square wave formats.
This handy little M/S tool can be used for a wide variety of sophisticated applications: control the stereo width of any stereo audio track by simply routing it to the Brainworx M/S matrix. You can also use the bx_control V2’s unique Mono Maker tool to set a threshold frequency below which the stereo signal of your track or mix becomes mono with no loss of power or fidelity — great for managing the low end of your mixes. As a monitoring tool, the bx_control V2 offers solo monitoring to M (mono sum), phase-corrected S (stereo difference signal), and L or R (left or right) mono channels on both speakers, or " soloed in place" using the four dedicated solo buttons — another Brainworx invention. You can also easily swap channels with the L/R flip button.
bx_control V2 is also a perfect M/S Recording Tool featuring a latency-free M/S matrix that’s ideal for recording sessions, and even chaining other plugins into the Brainworx M/S world.
Overview
Features
- High resolution metering for Peak and RMS levels
- (AES 17 and square wave formats)
- New and innovative solo modes
- M/S inside… M/S stereo width control on any stereo channel
- Stereo Width Control from 0% (mono) to 400% (“wider than your speakers”)
- Mono Maker Tool (Great for managing the bottom end of your mixes)
- Solo in Place for Left, Right, Stereo Difference or Mono
- Fully automatable
- Dedicated BYPASS switch in the plugin GUI
- "Mouse Over" feature: adjust parameters by holding the mouse over any knob and simply turning the mouse wheel.
- Direct access: just type in any valid number into the text fields for direct access to the exact value
Audio Examples
Industry Reviews
Dave Reitzas
I just wanted to tell you that I was blown away with the Brainworx plugins! I can't remember the last time I got a smile from ear to ear when I started tweaking the parameters of a plugin. I think… Read More
JC Concato
bx_control is the first plug-in on my master channel and is an essential part of my monitoring section when mixing or mastering in the box.
James Wiltshire
As the whole world goes M/S, this little beauty is an essential blade on your production knife.
Benjamin Rice
I love the bx_control, not only because it is such a quick and handy tool for monitoring M/S when I'm mixing ITB, but also because it's an immediately effective way to both tighten and widen… Read More
Steve Mac
I always use this to control my mono signals. Where I have stereo bass, I can just dial in the amount of mono I want so the sub and hard hitting stuff stays in the mono area and the tops go to the… Read More
Customer Reviews
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good tool
★★★★★This plugin is very practical for adjusting the stereo and its width, but also especially for isolating the Middle/Side (before an effect, to optimize its settings) or inverting the R/L… Read More -
Excellent Channel Utility
★★★★☆Ive become pretty accustomed to using Ableton Live's 'Utility' tool. Control is a worthy replacement. Having Mid/Side control makes this a hit. The one and only thing that's missing here (and it… Read More -
bx_control V2
★★★★★I think it's the one plugin I don't want to live without anymore! If you take it away from me, I have to cry :-) -
Reliable Workhorse
★★★★★This plugin is simple, clean, efficient and powerful.
It's not a complex plugin, in fact it's rather simple. But it's utility and ease of use speeds up my sessions and gives me more control and… Read More -
In 2020
★★★★★Its 2020 and this plugin is still one of the most important plugins for me.
Specification
Supported Plugin Formats
AAX Native, AU, AAX AudioSuite, VST2, VST3
Supported Operating Systems
macOS 13 down to macOS 10.11
Windows 11 down to Windows 8
Mac
Intel, or Apple Silicon
PC
x64-compatible CPU
System Requirements
Display resolution: 1440 × 900px or 1280 × 960px or higher
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Downloads
With the Installation Manager you can select, download & install all the Plugin Alliance products. Select any and all formats you need for your system! Mac & PC.
bx_control V2 Installers
Installation Manager
Manuals
ChangeLog
Brainworx bx_control V2 - Changelog
Version 2.16.0 (Aug 15, 2023)
- General: added native Apple Silicon compatibility for AAX
- General: added macOS Ventura support
- General: improved plugin loading time in the DAW
- General: fixed issue causing Logic to crash when closing the plugin UI
- General: improved font drawing behavior
Version 2.15 (Mar 15, 2022)
- General: added native Apple Silicon compatibility for VST3, VST2 and AU
- General: added macOS Monterey support
- General: added Windows 11 and Windows 10 21H1 support
- General: discontinued Windows 7 support
- General: discontinued macOS 10.9 and 10.11 support
- General: fixed metering behavior in block sizes of 2048 samples and higher
Version 2.14 (Mar 22, 2021)
- General: Compatibility with Logic on Apple Silicon devices via the Rosetta-2 layer
- General: Fixed possible artefacts when freezing or bouncing tracks in Pro Tools
- General: Fixed automation highlighting disappearing in Studio One
- General: Improved license dialog visibility in dark mode
Version 2.13 (May 27, 2020)
- General: Qualified for use with the Windows 10 May 2020 Update
- General: VST3: Fixed potential hangs in a DAW upon loading
- General: Fixed logical issues in undo / redo behavior
- General: Fixed UI resizing issues in Ableton Live on Windows
- General: Fixed audio processing initialization issues on amp and delay products
Version 2.12 (Nov 06, 2019)
- General: Qualified for use with macOS 10.15 Catalina
- General: Qualified for use with Windows 10 November 2019 Update
- General: Fixed plugin validation in Logic under macOS Catalina
- General: Fixed preset name restore in Logic when reopening a session
- General: Fixed opening authorization dialog triggering automation
- General: Improved instantiation times for plugins
- General: Improved license functionality and branding for subscription
- General: Removed 32-bit support on macOS and Windows
Version 2.11 (Jul 10, 2019)
- General: macOS 10.14.5 Update compatibility
- General: Windows 10 1903 Update compatibility
- General: Fixed activation issue in Windows hosts set to non-English language (e.g. Cakewalk)
- General: AU: Fixed issue with increased CPU and memory on reopening UI
- General: VST3: Fixed issue with adapting to host knob mode, and now prioritizing linear
- General: VST3: Fixed issue with VST3 preset permissions
- General: VST3: Improved synchronization between parameter states and some UI functions, e.g. toolbar reset
Version 2.10 (Nov 16, 2018)
- General: macOS Mojave compatibility
- General: Windows October 2018 update compatibility
- General: adding Windows High DPI support for VST2/3 plugins
- General: Fixed potential crashes in Cubase and other VST2 / VST3 DAWs
- General: Fixed potential CPU spikes and audio dropouts
- General: Fixed rendering in Pro Tools on the start of a session
- General: Fixed missing presets in Wavelab and other VST3 DAWs
- General: Improving keyboard control, fixing issues with catched keys preventing it from passing through to DAW
- General: Fixed parallel use of host sessions (e.g. with Live)
Version 2.9 (May 24, 2018)
- General: Microsoft Windows Redstone 4 compatibility
- General: Added computer keyboard control for plugin parameters
- General: Fixed Mouse scroll wheel not working in Windows 8
- General: Fixed an issue where plugins will not validate or load after a certain amount of plugins have been loaded (Windows)
- General: Fixed visual GUI freezes when adjusting DAW parameters, meters, analyzers (Mac)
- General: Fixed possible issue with Pick Pack licenses
- General: Small licenser stability fix
Version 2.8 (Oct 23, 2017)
- General: Mac OS High Sierra compatibility
- General: Fixed possible crash on online activation (Mac OS High Sierra)
- General: Fixed Logic Pro X not validating AU plugins (Mac OS High Sierra)
- General: Fixed CPU spikes and crashes with Cubase (Windows)
- General: Fixed bug that could lead to "AAE -6 error" in ProTools (Windows)
- General: Fixed crash with FL Studio
- General: Fixed crash when cross-opening plugins in various hosts
- General: Fixed crash when using mixdown in Audition
- General: Fixed crash in Final Cut Pro
- General: Fixed delayed parameter handling and crackling issues in Cubase with VST3
- General: Fixed bug where plugin settings were not saved in Harrison Mixbus
- General: Fixed bug that led to AAE error -9317 in ProTools when instantiating plugin
- General: Fixed bug where plugins did not render properly when "x ray" option is enabled in Sonar
- General: Modifications to factory presets were lost when reopening session
- General: Fixed mouse wheel behaviour with second monitor setup (Windows)
- Some plugins: Value labels do not appear every time when clicking on parameter in UI
- General: Faster instantiation time for plugins (Windows)
- General: Adding support for automation highlighting in Presonus StudioOne
Version 2.7.1 (Dec 20, 2016)
- General: Mac OS Sierra compatibility
- General: Fixed automation issues in AU and AAX
- General: Fixed license dialog use of special characters
- General: Improved AU preset support
- General: Performance improvements
Version 2.7 (Apr 1, 2016)
- General: Major UI codebase update
- General: Fixed possible crash when authorizing plugin
- General: Added gain reduction meter support for StudioOne 3
- General: Installers show version info in Windows "Programs And Features"
Version 2.6.4 (Jan 18, 2016)
- General codebase update
- Removing RTAS/TDM/VENUE 32-bit format support
Version 2.6.3 (Jul 18, 2015)
- General codebase update
Version 2.6.2 (Jun 22, 2015)
- General codebase update
Version 2.6.1 (May 27, 2015)
- Fixed wrong installation path for 32-bit Win VST plugin version
Version 2.6 (Apr 14, 2015)
- Fixed switch graphics behavior (348)
- Fixed metering code
- Fixed plugin effect category
- Minor GUI fix
Version 2.5 (Nov 18, 2013)
- Licenser update (V3): Fixes and new features
- Prevent wrong mouse wheel behavior in 32-bit hosts on 64-bit Windows (Windows bug) (87, 95, 156)
- Fixed keyboard events after text input in Pro Tools Windows (325)
- Fixed parameter value display in VST3 (330)
- Fixed toolbar triggering automation (335)
- Fixed window size issues (279, 327)
- Fixed possible preset issues in Pro Tools 11 (312)
Version 2.4.1 (Jun 28, 2013)
- fixed installer for 32-bit Windows
Version 2.4 (Jun 21, 2013)
- added support for Pro Tools 11
- licenser update: fixes and new features
- fixed automation with VST3 offline processing
Version 2.3 (Apr 05, 2013)
- otimized performance
- fixed issues with possible high CPU load
- fixed Avid related issue in Pro Tools 10 that could lead to sporadic crashes
- fixed issue that could lead to values jumping in Ableton Live
Version 2.2.3 (Feb 25, 2013)
- fixed presets
Version 2.2.2 (Jan 16, 2013)
- added support for high resolution displays (e.g. Apple Retina)
- licenser: improved Pro Tools activation
Version 2.2.1 (Oct 31, 2012)
- fixed presets
- fixed potential TDM automation issue under Mac OS
- licenser: minor fixes
- licenser: fixed activation issue under Mac OS 10.5 / Pro Tools 8
- licenser: fixed potential crash in online activation under Mac OS
- licenser: fixed issues with USB stick activation
- licenser: fixed file handling with offline activation
- change company string to Plugin Alliance
Version 2.2 (Jun 22, 2012)
- licenser update: added toolbar and USB activation
- fixed response issues in AU format
Version 2.1.2 (Mar 21, 2012)
- fixed licensing issue with trials turned into NFRs
- fixed AAX pagetables for hardware controllers
- fixed AAX issues and crashes with Icon controller
- fixed noise problem when using AudioSuite(AAX) format
- fixed AAX GUI issue - now reacts to first mouse click
- fixed GUI issue with AudioFinder - now reacts to single clicks
- minor GUI fixes
Version 2.1.1 (Jan 27, 2012)
- fixed crashes with AAX plugins
- fixed licensing with Venue
- fixed stuttering or distorted audio with NFR licenses
- minor fixes in licenser
- added feature to insert email address into login field by default
Version 2.1.0 (Jan 2, 2012)
- added 64-bit support (VST, VST3, AU)
- added AAX Native format
- added host factory presets
- added Plugin Alliance licenser
Version 2.0.3 (Mar 21, 2011)
- maintenance changes
Version 2.0.2 (Dez 2, 2010)
- maintenance changes
Version 2.0.1 (Jun 25, 2010)
- fixed high CPU load
- fixed processing issues
Version 2.0 (Jan 28, 2010)
- Release version