Plugin Alliance has announced availability of its 100% AAX DSP Bundle V1.4, offering a collection of 50 premier plugins.
The bundle including the new HG-2, emulating four different vacuum tube stages combined in series and parallel circuits to colour mixes and individual tracks with a wide range of rich and varied harmonics, and the just-released bx_subsynth, built around the heart of the legendary dbx 120XP Subharmonic Synthesizer to add sub, punch, and saturation to sounds.
The AAX (Avid Audio eXtension) DSP unified plugin format is compatible with DSP-accelerated Pro Tools|HDX systems, so users of any such systems seeking to add some serious AAX DSP plugin firepower to their setup need look no further than 100% AAX DSP Bundle V1.4. Offering 50 premier plugins from 10 world-class pro audio companies (including Brainworx, elysia, SPL, Millennia, Vertigo, and many more besides), it is the largest collection of AAX DSP production tools on the market, making it the most complete collection of AAX DSP plugins for anyone’s Pro Tools|HDX system! Saying that, those bundled plugins also support AAX Native, Apple’s AU (AudioUnit), and Steinberg’s VST (Virtual Studio Technology) standard plugin formats at no additional charge, so those Pro Tools|HDX system users handily have licenses for other systems that they may also use — for composing in other environments, such as Apple’s Logic Pro or Ableton’s Live, for instance.
It’s what’s within the latest incarnation of this mind-blowing bundle that matters most, though. With 100% AAX DSP Bundle V1.4, Plugin Alliance has taken the opportunity to introduce its latest development partner with the most spectacular plugin possible by including an authentic emulation of Black Box Analog Design’s HG-2 hardware, a line level stereo processor designed to add saturation, harmonics, natural compression, increased RMS (Root Mean Square) — used to characterise the ‘average’ of continuous varying signals — and enhancement during mixing and mastering. More to the point, it is designed to easily do what usually requires multiple hardware units and do it better! Heralded by celebrated mix engineers like Jack Douglas, Bob Horn, and Dave Pensado, this boutique processor’s multiple, diverse tube circuits not only make tracks sound fuller and richer, but they also make them sound bigger, louder, and altogether punchier at the same peak level. Much more than a mere distortion box, then, the HG-2 can impart subtle harmonic colouration and sparkle — and all without compromising fidelity, or add superior saturation that totally changes the sound characteristics. Closely collaborating with Black Box Analog Design, founding Plugin Alliance development partner Brainworx began by modelling the HG-2’s sweet-sounding tubes and creamiest of transformers, then added a whole host of powerful digital modifications to greatly expand the processor’s tonal palette and range of saturation-based compression when finally emerging from the Plugin Alliance stable as its HG-2 plugin namesake.
Also new to 100% AAX DSP Bundle V1.4 is bx_subsynth, a unique processing plugin built around the digital heart and soul of the (discontinued) dbx 120XP Subharmonic Synthesizer, using founding Plugin Alliance development partner Brainworx’s M/S (Mid-Side) matrix technology to control the stereo field and add sub, punch, and saturation to sounds. Inspired by its superior subharmonic synthesis, Brainworx began by making a meticulous model of the legendary hardware’s Waveform ModelingTM engine, which generates discrete bass frequencies one octave below whatever is fed into it. Indeed, this was the secret weapon of many DJs, audio post professionals, and mix engineers for adding clean and powerful low end to sounds while shaking anything and everything within earshot. But far from simply seeking to emulate what had gone before, Brainworx took to supersizing the feature set of the original processor from which it took that inspiration by implementing a whole host of fanciful features to take things even higher — or, better said, lower! The result? Tighter, clearer, bigger, and resonant sounding bass can be synthesized from even the most meagre of sounds, such is the unprecedented level of power brought by bx_subsynth. As an indispensable tool that can totally transform the way that low-end sound is designed and processed, bx_subsynth is truly the Holy Grail for bass junkies!
Jesting apart, another 100% AAX DSP Bundle V1.4 entry of note is the trailblazing bx_console channel strip. Tolerance Modeling TechnologyTM (TMT) not only enables this plugin to faithfully emulate Brainworx CEO Dirk Ulrich’s personal Neve VXS large-format mixing console, but also captures the natural unit-to-unit variations in individual channel strips! These variations are based on the stated tolerance specifications of the console designer and component manufacturer, making for a new standard of analogue realism for ‘in the box’ mixing.
Mixing material — music or otherwise — to the highest possible standard is but a click away with 50 premier plugins always at the ready, thanks to the latest 100% AAX DSP Bundle V1.4 from Plugin Alliance. Pro Tools|HDX system owners need never want for more!
100% AAX DSP Bundle V1.4 is available for purchase — as an AAX DSP-, AAX Native-, AU-, VST2-, and VST3-supporting plugin bundle for Mac OS X (10.8 through 10.12), Windows (7 through 10), and Pro Tools 10.3.10 (or higher) — from Plugin Alliance and select VSSD (Virtual Stock Software Distribution) retailers for an MSRP of $3,659.00 USD (save 57.37% over separately purchasing all 50 plugins included).
The bundle can also be paid off in 12 easy instalments with no interest charged; 100% AAX DSP Bundle V1.3 owners can upgrade for $160 USD, while owners of any Plugin Alliance product(s) will be offered a personal price discounted to reflect any already paid-for plugin(s).
Note that the proprietary Plugin Alliance Installation Manager means that all 50 plugins included in 100% AAX DSP Bundle V1.4 can be downloaded and installed in one seamless motion; all will run as 14-day fully-functioning demos with no dongle required — simply activate a Plugin Alliance account.
More information: Plugin Alliance
