In this review, we’re diving deep into the Brainworx bx_console AMEK 200 by Plugin Alliance. Forget the fluff and exaggerated claims often found in audio gear reviews. Here, we’re focusing on the meat of the matter: what makes the AMEK 200 stand out and whether it truly lives up to the claim of being the one channel strip to rule them all.
At first glance, the bx_console AMEK 200 seems like a formidable contender in audio plugins. Combining elements from the AMEK EQ 200, AMEK Mastering Compressor, and the gate/expander of the bx_console AMEK 9099, it promises a comprehensive solution for mixing and mastering. Let’s put these claims to the test and see if this channel strip can hold its own against the myriad of options in the market.
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What Is The bx_console AMEK 200?
Let’s take a second to break down the short and sweet of what this plugin is and what it’s used for, saving our more objective hot takes for later in this review.
Revolutionary Integration of Analog Features:
The bx_console AMEK 200 is a groundbreaking plugin that amalgamates the renowned AMEK EQ 200, AMEK Mastering Compressor, and the gate/expander of the bx_console AMEK 9099 into a single, streamlined digital interface. This plugin offers a virtual experience of using a high-cost, complex analog console, which would be challenging to replicate in the physical world.
It represents an innovative leap in analog-modeled technology, providing users with an efficient and advanced tool for audio production.
Mastering-Grade Precision Meets Analog Warmth:
As a successor to the bx_console AMEK 9099, the bx_console AMEK 200 inherits its legacy but with enhanced features. It simulates the sound of the Rupert Neve-designed AMEK 9098i Master Console, blending the clarity and precision of 80s mastering-grade equipment with the warm, distinctive ‘analog vibe’ that Brainworx’s consoles are celebrated for.
The plugin’s user-friendly interface enables effortless mixing and mastering, offering the tactile feel of working with high-end analog hardware.
Comprehensive Mixing and Mastering Toolkit:
The bx_console AMEK 200 is a powerhouse of audio processing capabilities. It includes a five-band version of the AMEK EQ 200, known for its legendary parametric equalization characteristic of 70s and 80s music production. The plugin also features the AMEK Mastering Compressor, renowned for its natural, logarithmic response. The inclusion of Tolerance Modeling Technology (TMT) adds unique analog variations to each mix, emulating the nuances of real analog consoles.
It aims to streamline the mixing and mastering process, significantly reducing the need for multiple plugins and CPU usage, thus enhancing the overall workflow efficiency.
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Key Features at a Glance:
- Gate and expander from the bx_console AMEK 9099.
- The sound quality of the AMEK Mastering Compressor.
- Five-band fully-parametric EQ based on the AMEK EQ 200.
- Additional shelving filters, a limiter module, and high/low-pass filters.
- Multiple routing options for filters and EQ modules.
- 72 unique TMT channels for authentic analog variations.
- Mono Maker and Stereo Width knobs for enhanced stereo imaging.
- Comprehensive input, output, and gain reduction meters with essential controls for input gain, phase inversion, mute, pan, and output gain.
What I Loved Most About The bx_console AMEK 200
It’s A One-Stop Shop!
While writing for this site, I’ve experimented with many channel strips; most fall just short enough to be frustrating. They claim to ‘do it all’ on paper but often require extra support from another plugin or two in my arsenal. The moment I have to leave the plugin searching for something else, the whole magic of a channel strip is lost for me.
But that’s not the case with the AMEK 200!
When I opened up the AMEK 200 on both single channels and overall buses for mixing, I felt like I was back in my old studio internship days, mixing on a console where everything I needed to mix the record was directly in front of me. Sure, the limited number of options might feel constraining to some producers accustomed to long processing chains. However, for me, the effective simplicity was more liberating than limiting.
Did it take some getting used to before I could confidently rely on this channel strip for the heavy lifting of my mixdowns? Absolutely! However, I recognized its potential within just a few days of using this plugin, whereas most channel strips show shortcomings much earlier in the process.
The Saturation Is Tasty
Tucked away in the top right-hand corner of the plugin, at the end of the channel strip’s chain, is the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). This small and unassuming module is a powerhouse, acting as the secret sauce for adding a warm veneer of analog richness to your mixes. It excels at adding density and tonality to the sound without overdriving it to the point of sounding like a busted tube.
I noticed that this module is quite input-dependent, much like actual analog gear. It performs optimally on dynamic instruments such as guitars, vocals, and drums. These instruments, with their significant peaks, drive the saturation more during louder moments of the performance, creating a far more vibrant result than with more static or hyper-compressed instruments.
And that’s just the beginning!
The VCA Clip offers mid-chain saturation that is surprisingly versatile despite its single-dial interface. It aids in evening out the signal, yielding a thicker sound with more perceived volume. It also adds a slight touch of the characteristic saturation of the plugin in which it’s modeled. While I didn’t use this module on every channel and instrument, it proved valuable for taming specific signals or warming up sounds when needed.
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It’s A Great Entry Into Analog
In an earlier section of this review, I mentioned the intuitive layout of this channel strip as a key factor in its appeal. Diving deep into the hardware emulation details and the specific sonic impact could be lengthy and tedious for the average reader.
Let’s focus on the plugin’s user-friendly layout. Mirroring a real console desk, its signal flow is logically organized from top-to-bottom and left to right. For beginners, channel strips, both as plugins and physical consoles, might seem daunting – a sentiment I shared when first encountering the Behringer 2600. Yet, understanding this channel strip’s signal flow can unlock immense creative potential, serving as an excellent primer for navigating larger outboard consoles.
What I Wasn’t Crazy About
There’s No NKS2 Support
This might be a bit of a princess request that only popped into my head because I received this plugin around the same time as I received the MK3 keyboard from Native Instruments. The NI MK3 prided itself on its NKS2 support, allowing you to use the keyboard to control popular VSTs like Kontakt (obviously), Diva, and other popular synths – most of which I had in my arsenal already.
But I was a bit discouraged because this premium plugin (whose price we’re about to talk about), made by a sister company, Native Instruments, hadn’t mapped the parameters and converted it into NKS2, at least by the time of writing this article.
That being said, this is far from a game changer and more of a massive missed opportunity, as being able to control this channel strip remotely through the myriad dials on my keyboard would single-handedly remove my temptation of buying something like Softtube’s Console 1 or suggesting to Izotope (another NI-adjacent company) to make an outboard controller for their Ozone Suite.
TLDR; If you don’t own an MK3 keyboard, skip this section!
The Price
This is a big one but often an avoidable one.
When writing this article, the plugin is priced shy of $300, a significant amount for a mixing plugin. Luckily, this cost is frequently avoidable, as Brainworx often hosts flash sales and holiday discount windows where you can purchase this plugin for much less than the regular sticker price.
So, keep your eyes open!
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Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Brainworx bx_console AMEK 200 is a robust and versatile channel strip, blending classic analog warmth with modern digital precision. While its price point might be a consideration, its performance and feature set offer significant value for amateur and professional audio engineers.
The intuitive design and comprehensive toolkit make it a strong contender in a crowded market. Overall, the AMEK 200 is a valuable investment for those seeking quality and versatility in their audio production workflow.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
