diff --git a/Source/SosciPluginEditor.h b/Source/SosciPluginEditor.h
index 5cb7f294..27b969dc 100644
--- a/Source/SosciPluginEditor.h
+++ b/Source/SosciPluginEditor.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public:
     VisualiserComponent visualiser{audioProcessor, audioProcessor, visualiserSettings, nullptr, false, true};
 
     std::unique_ptr<juce::FileChooser> chooser;
-    SosciMainMenuBarModel menuBarModel{*this};
+    SosciMainMenuBarModel menuBarModel{*this, audioProcessor};
     juce::MenuBarComponent menuBar;
 
     juce::TooltipWindow tooltipWindow{nullptr, 0};
diff --git a/Source/SosciPluginProcessor.cpp b/Source/SosciPluginProcessor.cpp
index 5621a1bb..2def84de 100644
--- a/Source/SosciPluginProcessor.cpp
+++ b/Source/SosciPluginProcessor.cpp
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@
 //==============================================================================
 SosciAudioProcessor::SosciAudioProcessor()
 #ifndef JucePlugin_PreferredChannelConfigurations
-     : AudioProcessor (BusesProperties().withInput("Input", juce::AudioChannelSet::stereo(), true)
-                                        .withInput("Brightness", juce::AudioChannelSet::mono(), true)
+     : AudioProcessor (BusesProperties().withInput("Input", juce::AudioChannelSet::namedChannelSet(3), true)
                                         .withOutput("Output", juce::AudioChannelSet::stereo(), true))
 #endif
     {
@@ -121,10 +120,7 @@ void SosciAudioProcessor::releaseResources() {
 }
 
 bool SosciAudioProcessor::isBusesLayoutSupported(const BusesLayout& layouts) const {
-    auto numIns  = layouts.getMainInputChannels();
-    auto numOuts = layouts.getMainOutputChannels();
-
-    return numIns >= 2 && numOuts >= 2;
+    return true;
 }
 
 // effectsLock should be held when calling this
@@ -171,21 +167,30 @@ void SosciAudioProcessor::processBlock(juce::AudioBuffer<float>& buffer, juce::M
     juce::ScopedNoDenormals noDenormals;
 
     auto input = getBusBuffer(buffer, true, 0);
-    auto brightness = getBusBuffer(buffer, true, 1);
+    float EPSILON = 0.0001f;
 
     midiMessages.clear();
 
     auto inputArray = input.getArrayOfWritePointers();
-    auto brightnessArray = brightness.getArrayOfWritePointers();
 
 	for (int sample = 0; sample < input.getNumSamples(); ++sample) {
         juce::SpinLock::ScopedLockType scope(consumerLock);
 
         float x = input.getNumChannels() > 0 ? inputArray[0][sample] : 0.0f;
         float y = input.getNumChannels() > 1 ? inputArray[1][sample] : 0.0f;
-        float z = brightness.getNumChannels() > 0 ? brightnessArray[0][sample] : 1.0f;
+        float brightness = 1.0f;
+        if (input.getNumChannels() > 2 && !forceDisableBrightnessInput) {
+            float brightnessChannel = inputArray[2][sample];
+            // Only enable brightness if we actually receive a signal on the brightness channel
+            if (!brightnessEnabled && brightnessChannel > EPSILON) {
+                brightnessEnabled = true;
+            }
+            if (brightnessEnabled) {
+                brightness = brightnessChannel;
+            }
+        }
 
-        Point point = { x, y, z };
+        Point point = { x, y, brightness };
 
         for (auto& effect : allEffects) {
             point = effect->apply(sample, point);
diff --git a/Source/SosciPluginProcessor.h b/Source/SosciPluginProcessor.h
index 9c096770..9311e614 100644
--- a/Source/SosciPluginProcessor.h
+++ b/Source/SosciPluginProcessor.h
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ public:
     std::atomic<double> currentSampleRate = 0.0;
     juce::SpinLock effectsLock;
     VisualiserParameters parameters;
+    
+    std::atomic<bool> forceDisableBrightnessInput = false;
 
     // shouldn't be accessed by audio thread, but needs to persist when GUI is closed
     // so should only be accessed by message thread
@@ -66,6 +68,8 @@ public:
 
 private:
     
+    bool brightnessEnabled = false;
+    
     std::vector<BooleanParameter*> booleanParameters;
     std::vector<FloatParameter*> floatParameters;
     std::vector<IntParameter*> intParameters;
diff --git a/Source/components/SosciMainMenuBarModel.cpp b/Source/components/SosciMainMenuBarModel.cpp
index c8a0fca3..614da7be 100644
--- a/Source/components/SosciMainMenuBarModel.cpp
+++ b/Source/components/SosciMainMenuBarModel.cpp
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
 #include "SosciMainMenuBarModel.h"
 #include "../SosciPluginEditor.h"
+#include "../SosciPluginProcessor.h"
 
-SosciMainMenuBarModel::SosciMainMenuBarModel(SosciPluginEditor& editor) : editor(editor) {}
+SosciMainMenuBarModel::SosciMainMenuBarModel(SosciPluginEditor& editor, SosciAudioProcessor& processor) : editor(editor), processor(processor) {}
 
 SosciMainMenuBarModel::~SosciMainMenuBarModel() {}
 
 juce::StringArray SosciMainMenuBarModel::getMenuBarNames() {
-    if (editor.processor.wrapperType == juce::AudioProcessor::WrapperType::wrapperType_Standalone) {
-        return juce::StringArray("File", "About", "Audio");
-    } else {
-        return juce::StringArray("File", "About");
-    }
+    return juce::StringArray("File", "About", "Audio");
 }
 
 juce::PopupMenu SosciMainMenuBarModel::getMenuForIndex(int topLevelMenuIndex, const juce::String& menuName) {
@@ -26,7 +23,10 @@ juce::PopupMenu SosciMainMenuBarModel::getMenuForIndex(int topLevelMenuIndex, co
     } else if (topLevelMenuIndex == 1) {
         menu.addItem(1, "About sosci");
     } else if (topLevelMenuIndex == 2) {
-        menu.addItem(1, "Settings");
+        menu.addItem(1, "Force Disable Brightness Input", true, processor.forceDisableBrightnessInput);
+        if (editor.processor.wrapperType == juce::AudioProcessor::WrapperType::wrapperType_Standalone) {
+            menu.addItem(2, "Settings...");
+        }
     }
 
     return menu;
@@ -71,7 +71,17 @@ void SosciMainMenuBarModel::menuItemSelected(int menuItemID, int topLevelMenuInd
             juce::DialogWindow* dw = options.launchAsync();
         } break;
         case 2:
-            editor.openAudioSettings();
+            switch (menuItemID) {
+                case 1:
+                    processor.forceDisableBrightnessInput = !processor.forceDisableBrightnessInput;
+                    menuItemsChanged();
+                    break;
+                case 2:
+                    editor.openAudioSettings();
+                    break;
+                default:
+                    break;
+            }
             break;
         default:
             break;
diff --git a/Source/components/SosciMainMenuBarModel.h b/Source/components/SosciMainMenuBarModel.h
index 024386aa..623303d3 100644
--- a/Source/components/SosciMainMenuBarModel.h
+++ b/Source/components/SosciMainMenuBarModel.h
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
 
 
 class SosciPluginEditor;
+class SosciAudioProcessor;
 class SosciMainMenuBarModel : public juce::MenuBarModel {
 public:
-    SosciMainMenuBarModel(SosciPluginEditor& editor);
+    SosciMainMenuBarModel(SosciPluginEditor& editor, SosciAudioProcessor& processor);
     ~SosciMainMenuBarModel();
 
     juce::StringArray getMenuBarNames() override;
@@ -16,4 +17,5 @@ public:
 
 private:
     SosciPluginEditor& editor;
+    SosciAudioProcessor& processor;
 };