Masterdesk PRO Brainworx - Honest review!
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- Опубліковано 25 тра 2023
- #plugin #mixing #review #compressor #limiter #2023
How does bx_Brainworx Masterdesk Pro all in one solution work? We will test all the features and listen to how it sounds. Is really a one stop shop for mastering your own songs?
Free 14-day trial here: www.plugin-alliance.com/en/pr...
High end analog mastering chain in a single plugin
The same simple 3-step workflow as prior versions, with expanded controls for further refinement
Includes the limiter algorithm and meters from bx_limiter True Peak
Adjustable link settings and release times for compressor and limiter
Fully variable Compressor Mix control
Additional TMT compressor models
CLIPPER - shave off loud transients to get a much louder signal
GLUE - analog style compression to gel the mix together in punchy but elegant way
Extensive preset list for immediate results
Expanded parametric EQ
New stereo enhancement controls
XL knob for added harmonic saturation
Improved GUI for even easier control
Featuring Tolerance Modeling Technology (TMT) with Analog and Digital modes
©Massivebeatzz 2023 - Наука та технологія
What is your mastering plugin chain?
0) Plugin Alliance AMEK Mastering Compressor
0) Acustica Audio JAM (Mastering Saturator)
0) Acustica Audio Diamond DS (Mastering Saturator - "CounterHarmonic")
0) Softube Weiss DS-1 MK3 (Digial DeClipper)
0) Tone Empire BlackQ v2 or PluginAlliance HG-2 Black Box Mid-Side Edt.
1) Charles Schwabe Gold Clip (no box tone, modern, modern) (Lavry Gold ADDA Converter emulator)
2) Plugin Alliance/BrainWorx bx_masterdesk PRO (Chop Shop ITB Digital Analogiser Mastering)
3) Submission Audio Flatline (default settings except OS is 16x) (Analog XO Filtre)
4) A.O.M Invisible Limiter G2/G3 or Acustica Audio ASH (Gray 8 ADDA Converter modulex, Clean with True Peak 4x OS)
4) UrsaDSP Boost (clean master gain)
5) Plugin Alliance MetricAB
6) Voxengo Recorder (audio streaming pipeline to 3rd party app to capture WYHIWYG audio signal)
In order from top to bottom.
Master desk is a gem.... my -14 lufs was the same as a commercial - 9lufs
I know what you mean about companies coming out with new plugins instead of updating/upgrading existing ones. My take on this is, if they updated or upgraded a plugin to add new features, then it's not the same plugin anymore, is it? Changing anything "under the hood" would probably change the "sound" and "feel". If they replaced Masterdesk with Masterdesk Pro (i.e. make Masterdesk unavailable/unsupported) they'd probably get some customers saying they ruined it.
yes, but they could simply "upgrade" to MK2 and let you keep M1. Just like Logic 5 isn't the same as Logic 10, but with Logic 10 you still could run 5. They are not upgrading anything - they sell you a new product.
how this compares to master plan? that would be a great video
I think I must have about every Bx plugin they've done and a lot of it has done good work. But Masterdesk I never got around to using. As I learned how to mix (and I'm still learning that's for sure!), I got used to and liking having separate Fx for compression, EQ, saturation, stereo widening, limiting etc on the master channel. Masterdesk seemed only suitable for a very quick result but even then I wasn't that impressed with the results. And anyway I had Izotope Ozone 9 for knocking up a quick master channel mix. I did though find myself using bx_limiter True Peak as a limiter I liked a lot, so that was good. And now this Masterdesk PRO has arrived, but it seems to me to take something good (bx_limiter True Peak) and mash it in with a lot of other stuff that is probably better done,. and is more easily understood and adjusted, using separate plugins. For those though who are new to mixing, this new product might appear seductive, and they may fall in to using it without discovering the fun of working with separate Fx (including trying out different ones) for each element in the master channel Fx chain. So really, this product is I think not really where aspiring mix engineers would be well advised to go. I mean, Ozone will do a very capable job at producing a quick master channel mix, and it will use separate components to do it that are nicely laid out, easy to inspect and to adjust so that you can learn what each is doing. And even then, I prefer to do my own Fx chains from a wide range of options rather than be confined to Izotope. So I think, sadly, this product is probably just warmed over beas (and not the tastiest of beans either). Which is a shame, becuase with my loyalty voucher and todays offer I could get it for about $29.But if all it does is clutter up my Fx collection, muddy the waters, lie around unused or else require me to learn yet another mysterious plugin, then its a false bargain really 🙄
Greta thoughts Mike -"and is more easily understood and adjusted, using separate plugins." Exactly - I think getting good at each of the separate plugins, and knowing them well, could almost be easier than learning this one here. The way it is laid out makes me think actually more, rather than less. If they would reorganize the elements, and make them clearer (and be able to rearrange the order) then it would be a great beginners as well as advanced user tool. Bow we are caught somewhere in the middle.
@@massivebeatzz I tend to agree. It could be a great learning tool if they invested more in helping the user to understand that they are working with modules, and maybe allowing those modules to be reorganised/resequenced. Other products do this kind of thing (scheps omnichannel as just one example). Autogain and Delta, like you said, would be good too. I think BX have just taken stuff they already have, stretched the rubbery cover of true peak limiter, and stuff them all underneath it 🙄😆
Thanks for the review, its a little hard to follow, you tend to get sidetracked a lot, maybe have a friend kind of do an anti-sidetrack check so it stays on track. Couldn't figure out why you had all the other plugins going if you were reviewing the masterdesk pro. But overall, it was helpful.
the anti side track check - I like that! I need that.
Later in your video (around 4:55) you said, when comparing Masterdesk and Masterdesk Pro and Masterdesk True Peak, "They all don't sound the same". That's exactly my point. Previous versions have their sound (warmth, harshness, coloration, and "feel" etc.) locked in. So yeah, a NEW version makes sense over an "updated" version. Makes sense?
You can upgrade a new version anyway you want. Sometimes they sound the same, sometimes there are new features with new sounds...Sometimes there is a "legacy" switch that disables new features. We can make all excuses we want for these guys..They are not upgrading anything - they sell you a new product in this case here. Just keep the legacy product available. But still, no charge for existing owner. They already had your money for 5 years . Many companies do honest business like that.
I find the old version more than adequate. If I'm honest... the thing I like most about bx_masterdesk is its simplicity. e.g. the Tilt-EQ ("Foundation"). I don't find the limiter in Masterdesk Pro very good, it doesn't stand a chance against Fabfilter or Limitless. That's why it's more for very fast masterings, otherwise I prefer individual plug-ins.
masterdesk is just great, the pro is a kind of marketing stuff. Masterdesk was given for free a few months ago. Masterpiece
Friend, question: How much should the input signal be for this type of plugin to work optimally?
You don't have to worry too much about it, since you can adjust it (and the plugin will automatically follow internally) - but I would say between -12 and -6 peak, for most types of music. The longer answer is that we need to look at dBFS and RMS levels (the whole -18dBFS thing), but the plugin is really designed to deal with pretty beefy signals.
@@massivebeatzz Gracias
Yeah, the top end has a shrillness to it with it in every demo I've heard. The original doesn't have the issue. Passing on this one.
(own countless PA stuff plus top end analog)
yep ! and nothing gets past the Audio Janitor - what a cool name :)!
can't for masterdesk pro super plus v4 .. P.A just money grabbing for beginners
lol...keeping it real!