B.S Audio Tools has released B.S Audio Utility, a free Max for Live device designed to replace and improve upon Ableton’s stock Utility plugin.
I don’t use Ableton Live myself, so I haven’t tested this one firsthand, but the developer reached out about it, and I figured it definitely looks like a handy upgrade for Live users.
The same developer released several other Max for Live tools, both free and paid, that are worth checking out if you’re into building a custom Live workflow.
B.S Audio Utility keeps the original Utility plugin’s core features but adds a bunch of enhancements aimed at improving stereo control, phase accuracy, and tonal shaping.
Key additions include true stereo panning (instead of basic balance control), a tilt EQ for quick tonal adjustments, and advanced bass mono options that avoid the phase issues you might get when summing both channels.
Instead, you can select only the left or right channel for mono conversion in the low end, which is a smart move if you want to preserve punch without introducing weird artifacts.
There’s also a phase correlation meter built in to help you keep tabs on stereo phase issues, especially in the low frequencies. Another cool addition is the safety section, which includes several soft-clipping options like Soft Clip, Hard Clip, TanH, and Limiter to tame sudden level spikes.
Other features include auto-muting, which cuts the signal when playback stops, DC offset filtering to protect your speakers, and a Mid/Side mode you can toggle by clicking the Width control.
It’s worth repeating that this is a Max for Live device and not a VST or AU plugin. You will need Ableton Live 12 Suite or Standard, with Max for Live support, to run it.
As I said, I don’t, so I couldn’t test this one, but I’d love to hear what Ableton users think about this one in the comments.
If you like fine-tuning your signal chain, this definitely looks like a great free utility to have on hand. You can download it now from Gumroad with an optional donation.
Download: B.S Audio Utility (FREE for Ableton Live)
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Last Updated on September 1, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
