Plugin Alliance and Brainworx have announced bx_subsynth, a massive digital makeover of the legendary dbx 120XP Subharmonic Synthesizer.

OVERVIEW

bx_subsynth is the Holy Grail for bass fanatics. Integrating a mix of classic and modern processing, this 10-ton beast gives music tracks, cinematic special FX and DJs’ sound systems a bottom end that goes all the way to the Earth’s core!

In developing bx_subsynth, Brainworx initially made a meticulous model of the legendary dbx 120XP Subharmonic Synthesizer’s Waveform Modeling™ engine, which generates discrete bass frequencies one octave below what you feed in to it. They then supersized the 120XP’s feature set to create much tighter, clearer, bigger and resonant bass.

For starters, bx_subsynth generates subharmonics in up to three discrete frequency bands versus the 120XP’s two—the addition of a higher bass band for resynthesis lets you capture and nosedive the fundamental frequencies of a much wider variety of instruments, including snare drum and acoustic guitar. The Tight Punch control creates crystal-clear, body-thumping bass by adding a resonant sub-bass peak and filtering out unwanted lows below its cutoff frequency. Powerful Edge processing lets you select from two modes of operation—Smooth and Harsh—that compress and saturate your tracks, alternately delivering super-compact or explosively trashy drums and throbbing, in-your-face bass guitar. And of course, being a Brainworx plugin, bx_subsynth is a surgeon’s knife for stereo imaging: On stereo tracks, you can choose to process only the mid channel or both left and right channels, collapse the processed bass to super-tight mono, and stretch the stereo image a mile wide.

Let’s Be Clear
Bass EQ can’t do what bx_subsynth does. The discrete frequencies bx_subsynth generates leave more space across the bass-frequency band for other instruments, letting you jack up subsynth’s bass without muddying your mix. Plus, EQs can’t boost bass in a thin track that doesn’t have any bottom to begin with. bx_subsynth doesn’t just boost—it adds new bottom! And whereas psychoacoustic bass processors trick your brain into hearing phantom subharmonics that don’t actually exist—and which you can’t feel—bx_subsynth adds real sub-bass that will shake your body like an earthquake!

The applications are limitless. Retune your drum tracks: Dial in higher subharmonics for rack toms and lower ones for the floor tom for colossal, pounding drum fills. Boost different subharmonics on a kick drum and bass guitar to separate their sounds in the mix, for increased clarity and punch. Add subterranean thunder to sustained left-hand octaves on piano tracks. Automatically generate a perfectly synchronized bassline from the bottom strings played on an arpeggiated acoustic guitar track; two knob twists are all it takes to focus the bassline’s image dead-center and massively widen the guitar’s stereo image up to 400%.

Remastering engineers can use bx_subsynth to add a fat bottom end to thin vinyl masters and old recordings made on narrow-gauge multitrack tape recorders. Sound designers can pump up weak cinematic FX with terrifying lows. DJs can turbocharge their sound systems’ low end to woofer-shattering extremes. This is bottom end you can feel in your rattling bones.

Legal Disclaimer: dbx120XP and Waveform Modeled Synthesis are registered trademarks of Harman International. The bx_subsynth was developed by Brainworx based on its own modeling techniques. Harman has not endorsed or sponsored the bx_subsynth in any manner, nor licensed any intellectual property for use in this product.

FEATURES

• Models the dbx 120XP Subharmonic Synthesizer’s elemental sound, with dramatically expanded processing capabilities and controls
• Adds thunderous lows to music tracks, cinematic FX and DJ sound systems
• Separate controls independently boost synthesized subharmonics in three bass-frequency bands, each of which can be soloed and feature an output-level meter
• Helpful signal indicators show you at a glance which subharmonic bands to boost for most dramatic effect on different sources
• A signal-boosting input-trim screw for each bass-frequency band helps generate strong subharmonics from dry bass signal that would otherwise be too weak
• Master volume knob controls summed subharmonics’ output level
• Tight Punch provides resonant high-pass—with adjustable cutoff frequency—for accentuated punch while taming excessive low end
• Low End control adjusts total bass output for perfect balance with mids and highs
• Two types of Edge processing—Smooth and Harsh—can be shaped with Low Cut and High Cut filters and fine-tuned with individual controls
• Mono Maker control sums bass band to mono below user-adjustable corner frequency for laser-like focus
• Stereo Width control adjusts stereo image from mono to mile-wide stereo
• Four fully automatable banks instantly recall alternate plugin settings for A/B/C/D comparisons

At the heart of bx_subsynth lies a meticulous model of the original hardware's Waveform Modeled Synthesis technology, which generates discrete bass frequencies one octave below its input signal. To this quintessential subharmonic generator Brainworx added a ton of powerful, new features that create even tighter, clearer, bigger and more resonant bass. The result is a modern-era processor with vintage soul that gives mix engineers, sound designers and DJs horsepower and control in sculpting a bone-rattling bottom end.

A multiband sub-bass generator, bx_subsynth offers exacting control over the distribution of energy in the audio spectrum's bottom two octaves. Separate knobs independently boost synthesized subharmonics in three discrete bass-frequency bands (versus the 120XP's two bands); the addition of a higher bass band for resynthesis allows bx_subsynth to capture the fundamental frequencies of a much wider variety of instruments. Helpful signal indicators show at a glance which subharmonic bands to boost for the most dramatic effect on different sources, while a signal-boosting input-trim screw for each band helps generate strong subharmonics even when input signals are weak. A solo function and output level meter for each band further guide the user in achieving the perfect balance of bass energy, and a master-volume knob adjusts the output level of the summed subharmonics.

An additional Edge processing block offers two unique modes that compress and saturate the signal to powerful effect. Smooth mode compacts the low end and reduces room tone—great for tightening and beefing up percussive tracks such as snare drum. Harsh mode clips signal peaks and increases average levels for a fuller, more saturated sound on pitched instruments such as bass guitar and for creating explosive, trashy-sounding drum tracks. Squeeze and Drive controls tame transients and adjust saturation depth for both modes, dialing in the perfect dynamic response and coloration in the sub bass. Adjustable Low Cut and High Cut filters focus the Edge processing in an optimized frequency range.

Yet more filters—and imaging controls—add to bx_subsynth's feature set. At the plugin's input, a Tight Punch control adjusts the cutoff frequency of a resonant highpass filter, simultaneously accentuating punch and taming excessive bass before subharmonic synthesis. The Low End control provides boost or cut around 55 Hz to sculpt the generated subharmonics' bottom-end response. And of course, being a Brainworx plugin, bx_subsynth is also a surgeon's knife for stereo imaging: On stereo tracks, users can choose to process only the mid channel or both left and right channels, collapse the processed bass to super-tight mono below an adjustable corner frequency, and widen the stereo image up to 400%.

Whether adding punch and weight to select tracks in music production, extending bass response on thin vinyl masters and old recordings made on narrow-gauge multitrack tape recorders, pumping up weak cinematic FX with theater-rumbling lows, or turbocharging a DJ sound system to woofer-shattering extremes, bx_subsynth gives users control in crafting the perfect, powerful bottom end.

Brainworx bx_subsynth is provided in AAX (native and DSP), VST and AU formats for Mac OS 10.8 or higher and Windows 7 through 10.

Pricing and release TBA.
Audio examples and more: https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/bx_subsynth.html
YouTube.com/watch?v=d6aVmGwyuUQ

 

Last edited: Jan 20, 2017