Overview

bx_shredspread can control panning, stereo width, and the “tone” of your stereo guitar tracks and groups. It automatically avoids phase problems that commonly occur when using M/S technology thanks to Brainworx’s legendary algorithms for stereo width, EQ and pan.

Although mainly created for guitars, bx_shredspread can also be used on keyboard groups, organs, choirs, background vocals and other stereo or doubled tracks.

If only one channel (L or R) detects audio, for example during the guitar intro of a song, the M/S processing is bypassed automatically, giving you a perfectly clean mono sound until your wall-of-sound kicks in again!

A must-have for rock and metal producers.

Features

  • Intelligent M/S stereo width, panorama, and tone control
  • Individual controls for “tone” (shred), stereo width (spread) & mono low-end
  • SHRED/Tone control: an automated algorithm to balance out EQ settings and levels of stereo signals
  • SPREAD/Stereo Width Control: from mono (0%) to “wider than your speakers!” (400%)
  • Mono-Maker Tool: make only the bass frequencies mono for a huge, tight bottom end in your mixes!
  • Super-friendly UI – just slide the speakers for stereo width control

Industry Reviews

  • Robert L. Smith

    Robert L. Smith

    Emmy Nominated Producer/Engineer/Mixer (Lady Gaga, U2, Glee)

    I just wanted you to know I have bought most of your plug-ins in the last few months. Your gear is truly amazing! Can't mix and master without them. Thanks so much for making these excellent… Read More

  • Jody Wisternoff

    Jody Wisternoff

    DJ, Producer (Way Out West)

    Super useful tool for adding that extra dimension of width.

Customer Reviews

  • Width and separation

    ★★★★★
    by MiamiDude
    The best for width and separation. I use it on synths, leads and anything to spread away from the Center, and make space for the middle elements like kick, vocals, etc. Mono compatible also!

  • bx_shredpread

    ★★★★★
    by jnjbeatz
    I mainly use this tool on my melodic instrument bus to create space in the center and open up the stereo field of the mix. This also allows room for the singer’s voice in the mix. You can also use… Read More

  • Amazing

    ★★★★★
    by L.R
    I am really loving all of these amazing plugins! I can't wait to see what you are going to make next. Something dedicated to making vocals sound professional would be awesome, or even a resonance… Read More

  • A worthy tool in the audio engineering tool box.

    ★★★★★
    by usa423
    I read many of the reviews here about how this thing can give your metal guitar tone the thickness of the really big bands.
    I thought I would give it a shot (really liking the quality of… Read More

  • I love this Plugin!

    ★★★★★
    by Yael Hidalgo
    I have a great collection of PA plugins and I had never paid enough attention to this plugin so I decided to try it and it gave me very good result I love how it opens the stereo image without… Read More
View All Customer Reviews

Specifications

Supported Plugin Formats
AAX DSP, AAX Native, AU, AAX AudioSuite, VST2, VST3

Supported Operating Systems
macOS 15 down to macOS 12
Windows 11 down to Windows 10

Mac
Intel, or Apple Silicon

PC
x64-compatible CPU

System Requirements
Display resolution: 1440 × 900px or 1280 × 960px or higher
Memory: 2 GB RAM

Downloads

Use the links below to download your free copy of this plugin.

bx_shredspread Installers

Installation Manager

Manuals

ChangeLog

bx_shredspread

Brainworx bx_shredspread - Changelog

Version 1.18.1 (Oct 9, 2023)
- General: fixed CPU spikes on Mac OS
- Fixed compatibility issues with old sessions using VST3 plugin version 1.17 and lower

Version 1.18.0 (Aug 15, 2023)
- General: added native Apple Silicon compatibility for AAX
- General: added macOS Ventura support
- General: improved plugin loading time in the DAW
- General: fixed issue causing Logic to crash when closing the plugin UI
- General: improved font drawing behavior

Version 1.17 (Mar 15, 2022)
- General: added native Apple Silicon compatibility for VST3, VST2 and AU
- General: added macOS Monterey support
- General: added Windows 11 and Windows 10 21H1 support
- General: discontinued Windows 7 support
- General: discontinued macOS 10.9 and 10.11 support
- General: fixed metering behavior in block sizes of 2048 samples and higher

Version 1.16 (Mar 22, 2021)
- General: Compatibility with Logic on Apple Silicon devices via the Rosetta-2 layer
- General: Fixed possible artefacts when freezing or bouncing tracks in Pro Tools
- General: Fixed automation highlighting disappearing in Studio One
- General: Improved license dialog visibility in dark mode

Version 1.15 (May 27, 2020)
- General: Qualified for use with the Windows 10 May 2020 Update
- General: VST3: Fixed potential hangs in a DAW upon loading
- General: Fixed logical issues in undo / redo behavior
- General: Fixed UI resizing issues in Ableton Live on Windows
- General: Fixed audio processing initialization issues on amp and delay products

Version 1.14 (Nov 06, 2019)
- General: Qualified for use with macOS 10.15 Catalina
- General: Qualified for use with Windows 10 November 2019 Update
- General: Fixed plugin validation in Logic under macOS Catalina
- General: Fixed preset name restore in Logic when reopening a session
- General: Fixed opening authorization dialog triggering automation
- General: Improved instantiation times for plugins
- General: Improved license functionality and branding for subscription
- General: Removed 32-bit support on macOS and Windows

Version 1.13 (Jul 10, 2019)
- General: macOS 10.14.5 Update compatibility
- General: Windows 10 1903 Update compatibility
- General: Fixed activation issue in Windows hosts set to non-English language (e.g. Cakewalk)
- General: AU: Fixed issue with increased CPU and memory on reopening UI
- General: VST3: Fixed issue with adapting to host knob mode, and now prioritizing linear
- General: VST3: Fixed issue with VST3 preset permissions
- General: VST3: Improved synchronization between parameter states and some UI functions, e.g. toolbar reset


Version 1.12 (Nov 16, 2018)
- General: macOS Mojave compatibility
- General: Windows October 2018 update compatibility
- General: adding Windows High DPI support for VST2/3 plugins
- General: Fixed potential crashes in Cubase and other VST2 / VST3 DAWs
- General: Fixed potential CPU spikes and audio dropouts
- General: Fixed rendering in Pro Tools on the start of a session
- General: Fixed missing presets in Wavelab and other VST3 DAWs
- General: Improving keyboard control, fixing issues with catched keys preventing it from passing through to DAW
- General: Fixed parallel use of host sessions (e.g. with Live)

Version 1.11 (May 24, 2018)
- General: Microsoft Windows Redstone 4 compatibility
- General: Added computer keyboard control for plugin parameters
- General: Fixed Mouse scroll wheel not working in Windows 8
- General: Fixed an issue where plugins will not validate or load after a certain amount of plugins have been loaded (Windows)
- General: Fixed visual GUI freezes when adjusting DAW parameters, meters, analyzers (Mac)
- General: Fixed possible issue with Pick Pack licenses
- General: Small licenser stability fix

Version 1.10 (Oct 23, 2017)
- General: Mac OS High Sierra compatibility
- General: Fixed possible crash on online activation (Mac OS High Sierra)
- General: Fixed Logic Pro X not validating AU plugins (Mac OS High Sierra)
- General: Fixed CPU spikes and crashes with Cubase (Windows)
- General: Fixed bug that could lead to "AAE -6 error" in ProTools (Windows)
- General: Fixed crash with FL Studio
- General: Fixed crash when cross-opening plugins in various hosts
- General: Fixed crash when using mixdown in Audition
- General: Fixed crash in Final Cut Pro
- General: Fixed delayed parameter handling and crackling issues in Cubase with VST3
- General: Fixed bug where plugin settings were not saved in Harrison Mixbus
- General: Fixed bug that led to AAE error -9317 in ProTools when instantiating plugin
- General: Fixed bug where plugins did not render properly when "x ray" option is enabled in Sonar
- General: Modifications to factory presets were lost when reopening session
- General: Fixed mouse wheel behaviour with second monitor setup (Windows)
- Some plugins: Value labels do not appear every time when clicking on parameter in UI
- General: Faster instantiation time for plugins (Windows)
- General: Adding support for automation highlighting in Presonus StudioOne

Version 1.9.1 (Dec 20, 2016)
- General: Mac OS Sierra compatibility
- General: Fixed automation issues in AU and AAX
- General: Fixed license dialog use of special characters
- General: Improved AU preset support
- General: Performance improvements

Version 1.9 (Apr 1, 2016)
- General: Major UI codebase update
- General: Fixed possible crash when authorizing plugin
- General: Added gain reduction meter support for StudioOne 3
- General: Installers show version info in Windows "Programs And Features"

Version 1.8.0 (Jan 18, 2016)
- Fixed Solo Pan functionality
- General codebase update
- Removing RTAS/TDM/VENUE 32-bit format support

Version 1.7.3 (Jul 18, 2015)
- General codebase update

Version 1.7.2 (Jun 22, 2015)
- General codebase update

Version 1.7.1 (May 27, 2015)
- Fixed wrong installation path for 32-bit Win VST plugin version

Version 1.7 (Apr 14, 2015)
- Added AAX DSP format
- Fixed clipping indicator
- Fixed meter fallback
- Fixed parameter order in the generic view to comply with the GUI (422)
- Fixed metering code

Version 1.6 (Nov 18, 2013)
- Licenser update (V3): Fixes and new features
- Prevent wrong mouse wheel behavior in 32-bit hosts on 64-bit Windows (Windows bug) (87, 95, 156)
- Fixed keyboard events after text input in Pro Tools Windows (325)
- Fixed parameter value display in VST3 (330)
- Fixed toolbar triggering automation (335)
- Fixed window size issues (279, 327)
- Fixed possible preset issues in Pro Tools 11 (312)

Version 1.5.1 (Jun 28, 2013)
- fixed installer for 32-bit Windows

Version 1.5 (Jun 21, 2013)
- added support for Pro Tools 11
- licenser update: fixes and new features
- fixed automation with VST3 offline processing

Version 1.4 (Apr 05, 2013)
- otimized performance
- fixed issues with possible high CPU load
- fixed Brainworx toolbar features
- fixed Avid related issue in Pro Tools 10 that could lead to sporadic crashes
- fixed issue that could lead to values jumping in Ableton Live

Version 1.3.2 (Jan 16, 2013)
- added support for high resolution displays (e.g. Apple Retina)
- licenser: improved Pro Tools activation

Version 1.3.1 (Oct 31, 2012)
- fixed potential TDM automation issue under Mac OS
- licenser: minor fixes
- licenser: fixed activation issue under Mac OS 10.5 / Pro Tools 8
- licenser: fixed potential crash in online activation under Mac OS
- licenser: fixed issues with USB stick activation
- licenser: fixed file handling with offline activation
- change company string to Plugin Alliance

Version 1.3 (Jun 22, 2012)
- licenser update: added toolbar and USB activation
- fixed response issues in AU format

Version 1.2.2 (Mar 21, 2012)
- fixed licensing issue with trials turned into NFRs
- fixed AAX pagetables for hardware controllers
- fixed AAX issues and crashes with Icon controller
- fixed noise problem when using AudioSuite(AAX) format
- fixed AAX GUI issue - now reacts to first mouse click
- fixed GUI issue with AudioFinder - now reacts to single clicks
- fixed GUI issue with Final Cut Pro X

Version 1.2.1 (Jan 27, 2012)
- fixed crashes with AAX plugins

- fixed licensing with Venue
- fixed stuttering or distorted audio with NFR licenses
- minor fixes in licenser
- added feature to insert email address into login field by default

Version 1.2.0 (Jan 2, 2012)
- added 64-bit support (VST, VST3, AU)
- added AAX Native format
- added host factory presets
- added Plugin Alliance licenser

Version 1.1.3 (Aug 12, 2011)
- maintenance changes

Version 1.0.0
- Release version