Brainworx Audio has released a new standalone (no DAW required) mastering app aimed at producers, podcasters, and content creators of all levels – the bx_mastering studio.
The bx_mastering studio app is new in this standalone form, but it is not an entirely new concept.
The app utilizes advanced algorithms and machine-guided processes from the mastering.studio online mastering service.
Another enhancement, besides the standalone workflow, is that you can export your audio with a higher resolution (44.1 kHz/16-bit to 192 kHz/32-bit) than previously possible with mastering.studio (96 kHz/24-bit).
There are two mastering style modes available with the bx_mastering studio: Global and Per Track.
Using the Global style mode is perfect for batch mastering, whether that’s multiple episodes of a podcast or setting the core character of an entire album.
If you’re mastering an album, you can jump into Per Track mode to make adjustments for track-specific elements.
Setting the core character is easy with eleven distinct mastering styles, including Berlin Club, LA Punch, Miami Pop, and Podcast.
The bx_mastering studio app analyzes your tracks and applies the appropriate settings according to your chosen mastering style. You can then fine-tune the characteristics provided by the mastering style via the Tone and Dynamics tab.
Some parameters may show grey values above the knob; these are core values set by the mastering style, and any changes you make are in conjunction with those values.
If I have a very important project, I typically pass it on for mastering rather than tackling it myself because I’m not a mastering engineer.
I still master smaller personal projects and have tools like Ozone and Nugen Audio’s MasterCheck (which I really like), but although I get good enough results, I may not make the most of some fairly expensive products.
So, as someone who masters a conversational level, I find the bx_mastering studio workflow very beneficial, and having it for free makes it even better.
The Tone and Dynamics tabs offer enough control to get personalized professional results without being overwhelming for new users. The Tone tab features three EQ bands and resonance filters from bx_masterdesk True Peak. It also has a Mono Maker that sums your low end to mono up to the set frequency.
The Dynamics Tab features Harmonics, Compressor, De-Esser, and Limiter sections. Onboard metering makes it easy to achieve the desired loudness levels.
bx_mastering studio is nice to use; it gets good results, it’s fast, and it’s free. If you do any mastering at all, and you want something that produces solid results easily, I recommend giving it a try.
Since we’re approaching Easter, here’s a reminder that you can grab Caelum Audio’s DynaBunny dynamic bitcrusher plugin for free until May 5, 2025.
bx_mastering is available for macOS (12 and higher) and Windows (10-11).
Download: bx_mastering studio (FREE)
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Last Updated on April 17, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
