Brainworx
If it transpired that God’s own compressor was the basis of Brainworx’ latest AMEK-branded plugin, we wouldn’t be surprised
>Although Brainworx’s first pair of Amekinspired plugins, the bx_2098 EQ and bx_console 9099, are based on specific original Amek hardware, the subsequent AMEK EQ200 and AMEK EQ250 plugins have no direct relationship with past Amek glories. Instead, they are a more general melding of the characteristics – and circuits – of vintage parametric EQs that are particular favourites of Brainworx’ head honcho, Dirk Ulrich.
The company has taken a similar approach with its new AMEK Mastering Compressor. The plugin’s circuit models aren’t based on any OG Amek hardware but are instead taken from Ulrich’s own GML 8900 compressor, a highly regarded and exclusive processor that has never – so far as we know – been modelled and plugin-ified before now. Brainworx has expanded on the original hardware’s somewhat austere control panel and added a suite of modern tools and features, and the result is a handsome plugin that doesn’t really resemble anything other than itself.
Multiple detectors
Each of the plugin’s channels boasts three true RMS detector circuits tuned to be sensitive to dynamic changes that happen over different periods of time. The Slow detector averages the signal over the longest period and is least
Deliciously thick yet smooth low ends, excellent control over transients and peaks, and tons of cohesion sensitive to transients, Fast measures across a shorter period of time and so is more responsive, and Peak has the fastest response, as you would expect.
A single Timing control determines the length of time over which the Slow and Fast detectors average the signal, which ultimately impacts those detectors’ attack and release times, whilst Peak has an instant attack and fixed release time. The response times of Slow and Fast decoders can be linked together using the oddly-named Release Hysteresis control – when the signal is above the RH threshold the Fast timing is used, otherwise the Slow timing takes precedence.
Variable character
Likening this to a compressor you may be more familiar with, this multi-detector setup is not dissimilar to a DBX 165A’s two-stage Over Easy compressor and Peak Stop limiter. Unlike the 165A, however, AMEK Mastering Compressor allows the relative influence of each detector to be adjusted, with the compressor’s gain reduction being calculated based on whichever detector is being pushed hardest at the time. This provides infinitely more nuanced dynamics control than is offered by DBX’s classic.
The actual amount of gain reduction applied to a signal is dependent upon the ratio mode. In soft knee
