Overview

The bx_saturator V2 is an M/S & multi-band saturation tool that’s ideal for mastering, mixing and sound-design.

It features Brainworx´s “True Split” crossover technology, which ensures that the Mid and Side channels are always perfectly in phase, resulting in focused, huge-sounding mixes and masters.

From subtle mix glue to insane crunch, the bx_saturator V2 lets you fatten and distort Mid and Side signals of your mix independently. You can dial in analog warmth and subtle overdrive on individual tracks, or apply it to the stereo bus to thicken an entire mix.

You can also bring out delicate nuances previously lurking in your vocal tracks, acoustic guitar tracks, and even percussion sub mixes, without increasing their level and without heavy-handed EQ-ing. Louder Mixes, Smarter Saturation

Each of the four XL frequency bands have dedicated gain, drive and XL (mix) controls allowing you to increase the perceived volume of the signals without boosting its actual output level, giving you louder, punchier mixes.

Features

  • Add saturation in different amounts and in different frequency bands
  • Increase the perceived volume of mixes without clipping
  • Mono Maker mixes low frequencies mono, so you can widen the stereo field without phase issues
  • Improved audio algorithm in V2
  • AAX DSP support

 

 

VENUE AAX format is no longer available for this product. As of May 24th, 2018, the VENUE AAX format will not be part of the license. Current VENUE users don’t need to worry, everything that currently works will continue to do so. Only further development and support will end.

Audio Examples

Industry Reviews

  • Rafa Sardina

    Rafa Sardina

    Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Dr. Dre, The Roots

    I really really dig so many of the bx plugins. Can’t live anymore without the bx_digital V2 and bx_saturator V2 among others

Customer Reviews

  • saturator v2

    ★★★★★
    by claudio smith
    WHoah my vocals were sounding all muddy and could not make them pop out of the mix had forgotten i had this hidden gem. pop it in my chain lowered the low sides raised the side his and wala made them… Read More
  • actually

    ★★★★☆
    by NU
    supersonic.
  • My favorite Saturator for Vocals

    ★★★★★
    by Alexey Soloviev
    I use bx_saturator V2 a lot for parallel distortion/saturation on vocals. It helps me a lot to add body and weight and crisp to any kind of vocals very easily so all of the vocals i'm working with in… Read More
  • Great Perceived Loudness Enhancer

    ★★★★★
    by Elliott S.
    I love to use bx_saturator to increase perceived loudness of an element or the whole mix.
    Awesome to be able to dose differently for Mid / Low Sides & M/L Mids.
    Master XL & Drive as well… Read More
  • Alround M/S saturator

    ★★★★☆
    by B. van kaa
    With all the saturators out there it's easy to forget how good some already are. Especially the M/S functionality. Still really useful for drums and bass & guitars.
    It's not as gentle as some… Read More

Specifications

Supported Plugin Formats
AAX DSP, AAX Native, AU, AAX AudioSuite, VST2, VST3

Supported Operating Systems
macOS 14 down to macOS 11
Windows 11 down to Windows 10

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.

ChangeLog

bx_saturator V2

Brainworx bx_saturator V2 - Changelog

Version 2.12.1 (Oct 9, 2023)
- General: fixed CPU spikes on Mac OS

Version 2.12.0 (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 2.11 (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 2.10 (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 2.9 (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 2.8 (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 2.7 (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 2.6 (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 2.5 (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 2.4 (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
- Fixed bypass activating Mid Solo
- Fixed memory leaks
- Fixed bug that caused Waves LV1 Mixer to hang

Version 2.3.1 (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 2.3 (Apr 1, 2016)
- Added SoundGrid support
- 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"
- Fixed auto-solo behaviour for Venue (BXBUGS-1241)

Version 2.2 (Jan 18, 2016)
- General codebase update
- Fixed AAX DSP load issue (BUGS-1113)
- Non abbreviated names in compensation context menus (BUGS-1075)
- Removing RTAS format support

Version 2.1.3 (Jul 18, 2015)
- General codebase update

Version 2.1.2 (Jun 22, 2015)
- General codebase update

Version 2.1.1 (May 27, 2015)
- Fixed wrong installation path for 32-bit Win VST plugin version

Version 2.1 (Apr 14, 2015)
- Fixed mono view
- Fixed meter fallback
- Fixed metering code

Version 2.0 (May 07, 2014)
- Release Version