AudioThing Type X is a faithful emulation of the dbx® Model 1BX dynamic range expander for macOS, Linux, Windows, and iOS.
Plugin developer AudioThing is well-known for its synthesizer and effect plugins. Collaborations with YouTuber and experimental musician Hainbach are particularly popular.
The latest AudioThing plugin is called Type X and falls into the mixing and mastering area, where I have less expertise, to be honest.
AudioThing Type X
Type X is a faithful emulation of the dbx Model 1BX, a compact hardware dynamic range expander from 1978, the golden age of consumer hi-fi audio.
Like the original, AudioThing Type X is designed to add life, punch, and presence to any track by dynamically increasing the difference between loud and soft passages.
AudioThing’s emulation is, however, not a 1:1 emulation. For example, the plugin has more modern flexibility with the audio sources. While the original was designed to enhance playback from compressed sources, such as tape or broadcast, Type X offers you more ways to work with it thanks to additional features.
One of the additions is the option to choose between the main input and an external filtered sidechain. The latter has highpass and lowpass filters, allowing precise control over what drives the expansion.
Then, you have additional parameters for the internal attack and release times, giving you deeper shaping capabilities beyond the fixed response of the original hardware. There is also a soft clipper on the output stage.
Like the other AudioThing plugins, it also comes with an easy-to-use preset browser with a built-in randomizer.
First Impression
At first glance, it appears to be a handy plugin that can add life and punch to the tracks. I think it is especially interesting for those who are interested in the characteristics of the original hardware.
AudioThing Type X is available now for an introductory price of 29€ instead of 59€. It runs as a VST, VST3, AU, CLAP, and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel), Linux, and Windows.
Owners of Type A or Type B get an additional discount. The iOS version with AUv3 plugin support is available on the Apple AppStore for $8,99.
More information here: AudioThing
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