https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/bx_masterdesk_classic.html



Use code: BX-FOR-FREE (expires November 24)

 

oh nice

 

nice!!

 

Interesting. What is it's protection scheme?

 

"
DH: Tell me about the authorization scheme—why did you choose this approach and how does it work?

DU: Just as we were about to start the Plugin Alliance we decided that, rather than spending tens of thousands of dollars on commercially available security systems every year and then still see cracked version appear, we would rather create an activation scheme that’s as easy to use as possible. We feel that the best copy protection is offering a smooth authorization process and high value products. In other words, make your products easier to buy than they are to steal.

So we started Plugin Alliance, and it was a big success. When we started we had less than 10,000 individual user accounts and within one year I think we had 40,000 user accounts. We combined all our products, and everybody was able to demo them without a dongle at that time, which was a big deal, and people could combine plugins from various partners, create their own bundles etc. While we developed our own authorization system, which includes security protections, our emphasis has always been, and always will be, on customer experience. We want the process of authorizing demos and purchases to be as easy as possible for users and this balance has served us well as we now have over 150,000 user accounts."

"DH: This activation scheme seems especially well-suited for live sound engineers out in the field.

DU: Yeah. From day one we let people activate up to three machines with our licenses and not just one. And one of them could also be not just a computer but actually any regular USB thumb drive. So you just buy a $5.00 USB drive and you put your plug-in files on it plus the activation files which you can copy conveniently from our system to that stick and then just plug it into a live console.

Let’s say you’re mixing an open air concert without any internet connection. You can just copy the plug-in files, use them because the USB stick holds your activation and when you’re done with your show and the next band comes on you just pull the USB stick out. You can even leave the plug-in files on that machine. They just won’t work anymore if the USB stick is not inside. It’s similar to the dongle based workflow that many live sound users are already familiar with, but the difference is that you can use any USB stick and if it breaks or if you lose it you just tell our website and then you get a new activation with basically no questions asked unless you come up with a stupid amount of reactivations. Then somebody might ask you what you’re doing, and if you need some help."

The whole interview:

http://www.avidblogs.com/inside-brainworx-and-plugin-alliance-with-dirk-ulrich/

 

Last edited by a moderator: Nov 9, 2021

Yeah plugin alliance stuff is great licensing wise, no sad comparisons with alternative solutions that load faster and use less memory... and no calling home or offline issues.

I've picked up lots of the unfiltered audio stuff from them, some of which (G8, Sandman Pro) is best in class imo, and most of which were very cheap or free during their regular 30 dollar voucher promotions.

There's a phenomenal stealth deal on Thorn at the moment, I picked it up today for 15USD which is just bonkers for a synth of this quality. Comes with preset expansions included too. to get at that price you need the code DS-TH-3999 and then spend a few minutes filling in their 2021 user survey, which gives you a stackable 25 USD credit. Highly recomnd this synth - like a child of spire and razor, with lots of the ds tantra glitchy modulation and effects inside

 

Plugin Alliance is the only company that I have always supported, and which I believe deserve all their great success. Great audio quality, CPU optimization, very fair prices and objectively fantastic sales. I bought perpetual licenses of almost all the plugins, (I don't have only AMEK 9099i, the new Neold and cryspytuner), replacing all the R2R licenses from 2019, and of course adding the new plugins, which I found really satisfying.

 

When the Thorn was released in 2017, it was $ 119. How Plugin Alliance is driving down prices is their business secret. I think the manufacturer Dmitry Sches should be better paid.

free image upload

 

Well hopefully they will sell 10 times as many at this price... I've been playing with it every chance I can get today and I think finally I've found my additive wife... Has clicked with me in a way few other synths ever have. It's like one giant sweet spot for pc music style pads and arps, and the massive harmonic synthesis knob in the middle of the page does something really unique.
My theory for why people have slept on this synth is that it lacks visual feedback. I really enjoy looking at vital, and pigments etc. But what I've found actually playing it is that it's laid out so thoughtfully, and the modulation is so deep yet accessible, that I'm playing it like an instrument and making music with my ears and hands rather than my eyes.

Also picked up the bx masterdesk but having too much fun with this bad boy to even open it yet!

 

Cool ! Thanks

 

Please, give me a link. I see 199$ right now. Where is this offer?

 

again, like people said, 15 $ price is 15 $ (or less) quality, you don't bs anyone with your little plugins

 

@Olymoon, I think you just missed it "Offer ends November 8 - 11:59 PM California Time"
It was the "Weekend Warrior" offer - 39$ (so 15 with some voucher)

The good news is Thorn is often on sale.. I say you'll be able to pick it up for similar or better price till the end of the year

 

The best premium plugins have never been sold for less than 30 dollars+VAT. I bought the AMEK 200 for 86 euros, and is the best competitor to the Weiss Eq1.
P.S The Lindell TE-100, 18 euros on sale, and not a premium plugin, is always on the master chain of Max Martin and his awesome crew.

 

Hey your mamma had no complaints about my little plugin. 15 dollars rarely better spent!

@Olymoon sorry didn't realise it was so time limited. On the plus side, at least now that it is back to 199 @babuk will give it some respect. I'll be keeping an eye on BF sales at plugin alliance myself, the user survey 25 dollar voucher is def worth grabbing as it stacks with deals like this one and it's good until Feb 2022.

USERSURVEY21QFK8H0T9 appears to be the generic voucher code for that if you are allergic to completing surveys.

 

Forget about people who speak without trying, not even knowing how to program a synth.

I agree that 199$ for Thorn is way too much given what we can have today for similar price, ie: Parawave Rapid, but it's a good synth with a good sound, and enough possibilities, that worth more than 15$ .

 

I like Brainworx, some of their stuff is Excellent,
but this is very Snake Oily to say the least..

"Dial in professional sounding masters with tastefully curated chains of some of the best mastering gear available"
What does that even mean, chains consisting of which gear?
No references or specific models to mention?

And how do you select/choose between the different chains, mix/match components, or enable or disable them?
You don't, because there's nothing to select on this plug, except the type of Compression applied..

"It shares all the same pro-quality mastering chains with the original version"
Again talkin about something that doesn't exist..

"the sound you deserve quickly."
Shampoo spots also mention what potential clients "deserve"..


I see this as a too rough/overly Simplistic view on what Mastering is.
Yes you may adjust Volume in mastering -> but that does nothin in the Digital realm..

Yes you may use Compression or a Limiter -> but certainly it will have to be a much more carefully selected compressor,
with the right topology/feature set, and dialed-in/tweaked to the absolute limit of perfection..

Not just three random and less than transparent compressor emulations with nothing but a gain and mix knob..

The rest of the Tone and Foundation features is also BS,
yes you may want to adjust the eq/tonal balance of a mix -> but you will do so with much better and proper EQ units,
carefully selected and dialed to perfection.. not just three invisible bands that you roughly adjust like you did on your Grandpa's 70's radio..

And I don't know what the resonant filters are, but they sound like a$$..

Certainly it's got some Grit/Coloration you can get from this unit,
but it's like thinking you're gonna be propelled directly to the Olympus of pictorial arts, just because you're getting a box of Crayons..


Do your Mastering, by all means,
not trying to discourage anybody here..

Use EQ's, but use a better, and more closely adjusted Master EQ..
Balance the M/S signal (if necessary), but you can do it more precisely than this..
Use Compression (Stereo or M/S), or even Multiband comp, but use a better/more transparent unit than this,
and much closely/precisely dialed-in..
Use a Limiter or a Maximizer, but again you can do better than this, much better/precise and featured units exist..
Use harmonic exciters, or stereo image enhancers, no problem with any of it..

But if you want to have a really Proper, or optimal result, you will have to put more effort/attention than this..

You wouldn't put weeks/Months of arduous work on a composition/production,
and then send it all through a Fisher-price/Nerf Soundgoodizer that you have just set up in like 5 minutes.. would you?
Same thing


(Not to bash Brainworx tho,
I like some of their stuff and they mostly do it right. But this is just BS..
In fact I'd recommend getting the Elysia Alpha Compressor as it is by far the best Master Bus compressor that exists IMO..)

(Conceptually it reminded me of IK's Lurssen Mastering Console,
very Snake Oily in itself too, and equally if not more useless..
Although at least in that one the "mastering chains" are shown/reported,
even tho you cannot mix/match different units or adjust them at all..
And boy talk about a serious Performance hit,
it completely destroys my 8 Core CPU no matter what I do,
but it's not giving me any special result that I couldn't get some other way..
therefore I can only assume it's badly programmed?)

 

Last edited: Nov 9, 2021